Theme: Crumbs of Ingenuity

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Nirma University
Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway
Chandlodia, Gota
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382481
India

Anuja Kapur

Criminal Pyschologist

Anuja Trehan Kapur, an Indian-based Criminal Psychologist who is also a counselor, social activist and Advocate, is the recipient of a number of accolades including:- Indian Icon Awards by Time India News, 2015 India Excellence Awards by Time India News, 2016 - "KAF Business and Entertainment Global Award" in the Best Criminal Psychologist Category 2016 - "Best Criminal Psychologist Award" at the Women Excellence Achiever’s Award (WEAA) held in Jaipur by Harish Soni. Appointed as the Special Police Officer for Delhi Police, North West Delhi, 2016. As a psychologist she shares inputs in various Psychological and Mental issues related to Abnormal Behavior, Child Psychology, Divorce, Bullying, Re- marriage and its effects on children, Social media and networking boon or curse, as well as Relation breakup issues. Anuja founded a non-governmental organization named “Nirbhaya-Ek Shakti” which is the Center for Victim Assistance.

Balaji Viswanathan

Writer + Author + Entrepreneur + Engineer

Balaji Viswanathan is an Indian writer, author, entrepreneur and engineer.. He is popularly known for his answers and posts on the question-and-answer site Quora. He has been the top-writer for the year(s) 2013, 2014, 2015 2016 and 2017 with over 20 articles published on Forbes, Slate, Business Insider and other places. He is the author of From Tryst to Tendulkar: The History of Independent India, a book on the history of contemporary India. During his college days, he was a three times winner of the prestigious medal from the National Design and Research Forum - for my research. As a student, he was invited to meet the most famed President of India Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam at his office for one on one discussions. Balaji is the founder of NalandaU, CEO & co-founder of Be Limitless Inc and Zingfin.com. He joined Microsoft after graduation as Software Design Engineer. Presently, he is the VP of products at Invento and product manager at Black Duck Software.

Dilip Chhabaria

AUTOMOBILE DESIGNER

Dilip Chhabria is a person who has always challenged conformism. He has been a trailblazer, and a pioneering personality in the field of automotive design. His body of work epitomizes the spirit of Innovation and an uncompromising attitude towards excellence. In a span of 19 years since inception, DC has designed and built over 700 concepts all of which also ply as regular road cars. The company has on the one hand as its valued customers auto majors like Renault, GM, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Toyota, Fiat, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Auto, Ashok Leyland, as well as celebrities and high network individuals on the other. Besides being an exceptional designer, Dilip Chhabria is also a keen artist. Having achieved the pinnacle of design namely automobile design, his passion has also spread to paintings and sculptures.

Dr. Mahesh Desai

Robotic Surgeon

Dr.Mahesh Desai obtained his MBBS and M.S. in General Surgery from B.J. Medical College and Pune University. He received fellowship (FRCS) from the Royal College of Surgeons of London and Edinburgh. In U.K.he obtained specialized training in Urology. Soon he realized the importance of institutionalized treatment for various kidney diseases in 1976 and he joined hands with Dr. V.V. Desai and established Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital (MPUH) in a rural area Nadiad in the State of Gujarat in India with the aim of providing most modern treatment for the common man. Dr. Desai and his team have performed around 750 highly successful robotic procedures since 2010 when the Centre for Robotic Surgery was first established. He has published 750 Scientfic papers, 230 workshops, published 174 scientific papers in national and international journals and contributed in more than 32 books. He is the first Indian to be elected as a member of American Association of Genito-Urinary Surgeons.

Dr. Richa Mishra

Disruptive Educator DISRUPTIVE EDUCATOR, AUTHOR AND CHRONIC IDEATOR

An ardent believer of transformative power of an educator, Dr Richa Mishra is the Section head of Humanities of Institute of Technology, Nirma University. She calls herself ‘muggle-born’ as teaching humanities in Engineering colleges require all wits and guts. She practices radical pedagogies, and is an avid scholar of teaching –learning practices especially in Higher Technical Education institutes. .She is recipient of Indo-Shastri Canadian Grant for the year 2015-16 and was a visiting scholar to an Atlantic Canadian University, Canada. She has worked on a funded research grant on Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in Higher Education. An expert curriculum and course designer, her team conceptualized and designed the course ‘Critical thinking’ and ‘Creativity and Innovation’ for Higher semester engineering student. She has won the award of ‘Content Guru’ from Infosys for designing of this course.

Ishaan Dixit

Design Educator + Blogger + Entreprenuer

Ishaan is Design Educator, Blogger and Entrepreneur with a history of Architecture and Visual Communication. He is Founder & CEO of Chitrakosh & The India Design Project, an initiative to explore collaborations & discussions contributing to various aspects of Indian Design (Education, Research & Documentation). Ishaan was awarded Tierney Fellowship by prestigious Tierney Foundation (New York) in 2011. The India Design Project is an initiative to explore collaborations & discussions contributing to various aspects of Indian Design (Education, Research & Documentation). With an emerging market of over a billion people, there is a need to understand the opportunities it provides to present day designers, architects and craftsmen. Ishaan Dixit, as a founder of the IDP, is dedicated to provide a platform to collaborate and address such issues and projects. Indian Design Education doesn't have a detailed documentation of evolution.

James Joseph

Founder JackFruit365

James Joseph did something that only a few are brave enough to do. He quit his high-paying job as a Microsoft director to start a venture based solely on a fruit. Taking his love for jackfruit to a whole new level, he started Jackfruit 365, a company that sells the fruit in a packaged, freeze-dried form, and aims to promote all things Jackfruit. James has over 20 years of Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing experience in India, North America, and Europe with Globally reputed organizations like Microsoft, 3M and Ford. In his last role as the Director, Executive Engagement at Microsoft India; he was responsible for strengthening Microsoft’s relationship with the senior executives of top 200 enterprises in India. Before joining Microsoft UK, he held manufacturing, supply chain, business development, sales and marketing positions at Minda, 3M, Ford Motor Company, i2 Technologies and Informatica. James is also an author.

Meher Moos

Solo Traveller

For more than five decades, Meher has been on a never-ending adventure across the world, travelling far and wide in a quest to quench her wanderlust. While Meher’s job did take her places, she wanted to travel more, especially to offbeat places. Born and brought up in Maharashtra, Meher did her schooling from St. Joseph’s Convent in Panchgani. After that, she completed her BA (Hons.) from Sophia College, followed by LLB from the Government Law College in Bombay (now Mumbai). In 1965, at the young age of 21, she joined Air India as an air hostess. The list of unusual and exotic places Meher has been to in the world is staggeringly long: most of the mountain chains of the world, Andes, Sierra Nevada, the Rockies, the Alps, Atlas, Himalayas; the remotest islands of Indonesia, Melanesia and Polynesia; across all oceans and several rivers, the Amazon, Congo, Zambesi, Mississippi, Yangtse, Ganges; a total of more than 185 countries with over 18 passports.

Nikhil Mahajan

FOUNDER & CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, BLUE DROP FILMS

Nikhil Mahajan is a filmmaker based in Mumbai. He has made two Marathi feature films viz. Pune 52 and Baji. He has won the very prestigious Maharashtra State Film Award for best director for his debut film, Pune 52. He has secured a degree in Film Direction from the International Film School Sydney, Australia. He has been a part of the prestigious Hinduja Group's film wing as a script supervisor and has worked on multiple projects, the most notable being the Tamil blockbuster BILLA 2. His debut feature film, Pune 52 has won multiple awards and was showcased at various film festivals. His second feature - action adventure film, BAJI, was released on 1500 screens in Maharashtra. Nikhil recently wrapped shooting for the Hindi feature film, Poster Boys starring Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol as a creative producer. Currently Nikhil is working on multiple projects including the directorial debut of Varun Grover that he is producing.

Nima Srinivasan

Founder, Berylitics

Nima Srinivasan is an established profiler and Culture Consultant who identifies “accurate” stereotypes and makes “fair” judgments. What that means is to ask, listen and understand what people believe and do. To go beyond basic research that asks why we buy a certain brand of cereal, car or dress and get to the core of who we are, who we want to be and how that relates to what we buy. She is also a professional moderator – on both offline and online platforms and has successfully established thriving communities that help explore how marketers, brands and consumers co-create and connect more realistically – in the language of social media. After working for more than a decade in the US, she set up Berylitics in India - an insights-based boutique partner that works with marketers to go beyond the widespread misconception that “Indians are like this only” and gets to the root of who we really are and why we are the way we are. Her clients include Asian Paints, Google, Reliance etc.

Ritam Bhatnagar

Founde, Indian Film Project

Ritam Bhatnagar is the founder of The India Film Project and wWhere, and also a known Producer and Distributor in Gujarati Cinema Circuit. He has been a pioneer of producing and distributing some amazing regional movies.He is a marketing and a product person, providing entrepreneurship guidance and mentorship to many budding entrepreneurs. Ritam is an electronics guy, with a management degree, studied marketing, and ended up making films and mobile apps that again teaches MBA students. Ritam is mainly known for his contribution in Gujarati cinema and entertainment field. He has co-produced two Gujarati movies and distributed 4 movies. Ritam has also founded India Film Project, which is the largest film making event of Asia. Over last six years, India Film Project has grown to become Asia"s Largest Filmmaking Event from a small competition in Ahmedabad to more than 40000 filmmakers and lacs of followers from over 22 countries.

Shivam Patel

Mathematician + Computer Science Student

Shivam Patel pursued Number theory course on MIT Open Courseware at age 8. Starting from that, he has completed over 130 courses from online teaching websites like MIT OpenCourseWare , Coursera and EDX from Topics ranging from Pure Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Cryptography, Sociology, Literature, Theology, and Philosophy. Shivam Patel had his first scientific international publication when he was 12, making him the youngest working mathematician in the world. At 14 his research Paper was accepted in the International Congress of Mathematics in Seoul, South Korea.He has solved over 130 Problems in the famous computation problem sites Project Euler. Ranking under Top 40 in India.He was also given the original handwritten manuscripts of Srinivas Ramanujan to read , study and examine for 4 days during his visit at Indian Institute of Mathematical research. He has over 14 international publications.