Theme: #WhyNot?

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).

Hyatt Regency Pune
Sakore nagar
Pune, Maharashtra, 411045
India

Akshay Saxena

President/Founder

Akshay Saxena, Cofounder and President Avanti, wishes to ensure that the students from low-income households have realistic access to higher education. Akshay is a sociologist who is creating an affordable alternative to the expensive tuition classes that currently serve as a threshold for students to pass their college entrance exams. His approach relies heavily on social workers who facilitate the classroom while structuring learning through peer education.

Artist Wajid Khan

Artist

Artist Wajid Khan, an Indian artist, portraitist, sculptor, inventor and patent holder. He has specialized in carving canvas with nails; and recognized in Guinness Book of World Records, Limca Book of Records, and Asia Book of Records. Wajid Khan has been commissioned to design a unique sculpture for 2022 FIFA World Cup, to be held in Qatar. One of his artworks is part of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official home of the President of India.

Muzaffar Ansari

Tourist Guide/Historian

Muzaffar Ahmad Ansari, widely recognized as Kalley Bhai is the only tourist guide in Chanderi licensed by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation.For more than 20 years, Muzaffar Ansari has been dedicated towards retracing the history of Chanderi and rediscovering its lost significance. He has acquired vast knowledge in the fields of archaeology, epigraphy, paleography and numismatics.

Rwitwika Bhattacharya

Founder

From Harvard to working with MPs in rural constituencies, Rwitwika Bhattacharya paves the way for today’s youth, Swaniti is an NGO founded by the 29-year-old Rwitwika that focusses on providing end-to-end solutions to MPs and MLAs on development issues. Rwitwika says that her team diligently tracks programmes to learn and improve while also assessing the programme’s impact. Their work through more than 100 MPs has positively impacted at least 65,000 lives. Additionally, their work in 15 MLA constituencies has improved 7,000 lives.

Sarang Gosavi

Founder

Sarang Gosavi, a thinker, a change seeker and change maker, who has been in Kashmir since 2001. He is the founder of Aseem Foundation. He is helping the Kashmiri Youth to become entrepreneurs by providing training; and on the larger front helping establish a bond between Kashmiris and the rest of the India.

Sonali Kataria

Educator

Dr. Sonali Kataria, a visionary and a change catalyst. She was a medical practitioner at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi. She left her job with an aim to build a world of acceptance and positivity for autistic children. Dr. Sonali Kataria MBBS, MD (AIIMS), DNB, MNAMS has a story of becoming a teacher from a doctor.

Sumitra Nayak

Captain, Rubgy Team

Sumitra Nayak, a dreamer, achiever and a trend setter. She led her team to the under- 13 World Championship in Rugby when she was in standard 10 and won the Championship as Team India. She is currently in standard 12 and wants to play for the Indian team and be recognized as the best Rugby player in scrum position.

Tanvi Kulkarni

Chairperson/People for Animals Pune

Tanvi Kulkarni is driven by her love for animals. She beiieves firmly in the principles of sahjeevan, a peaceful coexistence between all species. She is always passionate to talk about our own urban environments and how we treat our cohabitants. She is the Chairperson, people for animals, Pune.