How does one solve the problems of the present? Not by looking to the future, but by looking around to find solutions that already exist. This will be the focus of TEDxChennai 2018, an independently organised event that will bring over 15 speakers from various backgrounds to the city to talk on the theme, ‘Revolution’.
Looking forward
Kritika Jain, the young licensee and curator of TEDxChennai, says, “When it comes to changing the course of the future, there is technology available today to help solve the crises we are facing right now. But these solutions aren’t mainstream for a number of reasons — cost, politics, etc. When we conceptualised the event, we wanted it to be a platform for workable solutions that exist.”
The one-day event will be divided into three sessions, with five to six speakers each. Speakers include Samyak Chakrabarty, who started #AdoptIndia, a movement to enable young Indians to adopt and to trigger a policy change on the Right of Child. He says, “I will be talking about how to build a movement, using tactical messaging, working with the establishment and moving beyond social media activism.” The 12-year-old child innovator Gitanjali Rao will speak about volunteering for Children’s Kindness Network, which spreads an anti-bullying message, and promotes the importance of kindness.
Changing lives
Jaspreet Bindra, senior VP - digital transformation at Mahindra Group of Companies, in his talk, will explain how blockchain can transform India. “And it won’t be just about crypto. There are applications in agriculture, energy and even governance,” he explains. As for the human element of change, Trishya Screwvala will recount how she started the Lighthouse Project, which is a platform to encourage volunteering in India. “The idea of looking to change the world should come from within, and volunteering can play a huge part in that,” she says.
Apart from the talks, there will be a poetry reading by Tishani Doshi, a fusion performance by IndianRaga and a satirical take on sexual harassment and body image issues by a mystery female comic.
Jain adds, “Tech and art installations will also be on display, along with photos by Saumya Khandelwal and a VR experience designed by Dr Shannon Olsson, which will let you see the world from an insect’s point of view.”
On March 11, from 10 am, at Sir Mutha Venkata Subba Rao Concert Hall. Tickets at ₹750 for students, ₹1,500 for the general pass and ₹6,000 for patrons, on in.bookmyshow.com. Details and schedule on tedxchennai.in. 9660055055