OVERVIEW
TEDxVJTI is an independently organized TED event operated under the license from TED. Like all TEDx events, this event also focuses on bringing people together on a common platform, make connections and share knowledge on the relevant topic of discussion. The main idea behind TEDxVJTI is to take inspiration from engineering minds to explore innovation under constraints.
At TEDxVJTI, we will have innovators and speakers, from different walks of life, uncovering their amazing ideas, impact and their inspirational journey.

Why Attend TEDxVJTI?

You’ll be surrounded by smart people who are driven and inclined to exploring newer ideas
You’ll meet the amazing speakers during the breaks/networking high-tea session. Meeting them in person is a much more enriching experience. Format that allows for interactions. TEDx events are planned with elaborate breaks to ensure that the attendees get time to absorb the ideas and also interact during the breaks. Given the diversity of the speakers you are likely to find at least one or two who will change your perception on a topic/inspire you or motivate you and most importantly leave a significant impact on your life.

Qudrangle
V.J.T.I. College
H R Mahajani Marg, Matunga
Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400019
India

Abhishek Kankan

A mechanical engineer, submariner, technocrat, project manager, administrator, marine commando, SCUBA diver, paratrooper and mountaineer, Cdr Abhishek Kankan is currently one of the most popular & sought-after motivational speakers, corporate trainers and coach in India. Cdr Abhishek Kankan is one of the rare “Achiever – Trainers” in India, whose inspirational affirmations and motivational perspectives are drawn from real-life experiences. He summited Mt Everest in 2004 creating a number of records including one of the first Submariners in the world and first Navy in the world. He was awarded the coveted NaoSena Medal (Gallantry) by the then honourable President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on Republic day, 2005. Whilst serving in Indian Navy for 21 years, he has lead teams in high technological projects of submarine construction including Nuclear, in stifling conditions of Submarines as well as in warzone. An IIM Indore alumni with international exposure, having expertise in strategic planning, policy decision making, project management, operations, Human resource management, stakeholder management, training & development, and overseeing international contracts and documentation A passionate outdoorsman and extreme challenges junkie. , He is one of the first Indians to do Water Para jumps with US Navy SEALs. He has been leader of Kailash Manasarover Yatra, 200 km rafting expedition on Brahmaputra and many other treks and outdoor activities.

Ashish Puntambekar

Currently employed as head of Strategic Planning and Design Thinking at a Fortune 500 Company. My main responsibility is to think up New Projects and to lead Design Thinking initiatives across all business verticals of the firm. Towards this end I have authored India's first corporate Design Thinking Standard. Earlier in the CEO's office, I have been the coordinator of an International Advisory Board consisting of Leading Diplomats, G–7 finance ministers, Economists from Harvard and Senior Executives from around the world. There are three large initiatives which have won me National recognition over the last Five years. The first is the Defence Industrial Corridor ( DIC ) project of which I am the Lead Designer. This project has recently received an investment commitment of Rs 40,000 Crores ( Approx US $ 5.5 Billion ) from the Govt of India. The Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi personally launched this massive project at Two Locations ... in Bundelkhand and along the Chennai – Bangalore route. The Second initiative has been company focused. I have set up a Design Lab at my employers facility to drive New product development and crash time to Rev00 prototype. The Centre of Design thinking which I head, is also transcribing ideas from world leaders such as Google, 3M and WL Gore and modifying them for execution within the firm. The third initiative is in the area of Smart Cities Financing. I was recently invited by the Asian Development Bank ( ADB ) to make a presentation in Manila on the subject of raising very large amounts of capital without recourse to the Govt. budget. Over the last 25 years, I have worked with some of the finest talent globally and specifically in the area of large Project Design. Along the way I have also acquired a deep knowledge of Financial markets during a 5 year assignment as a crude oil derivative trader. Helping Organisations achieve Transformational Growth is my abiding professional interest.

Bharti Jaffrey

She's a legend's daughter. Acting is in her genes, but she only won her first award at the age of 70. Her father, the iconic Ashok Kumar, did not want his daughters to act and she respected his wishes, explains his eldest daughter, Bharti Jaffrey. Later, when she took up acting -- with sporadic forays into theatre and film -- her father was impressed by her talent. After winning the Best Actress award for My Pot Of Gold at the seventh Dadasaheb Phalke film festival, she wants to enjoy her second innings as an actress. Bharti Jaffrey believes her father would have enjoyed watching films like Piku and PINK. She would like, she tells A Ganesh Nadar, to see an award instituted in his name.

Dipesh Tank

We bring to you, the story of one such hero Dipesh Tank who had promised Nirbhaya to do all he can to secure women and is living up to his promise now.With the help of his sunglasses with inbuilt cameras which records the acts of the perverts, the man is on a mission to make Mumbai local trains safer. In 2012, the gruesome Nirbhaya gangrape and murder incident took place, which shook him. He promised Nirbhaya that he will create a safer space for women around him.Dipesh grew up seeing his mom paying extra attention to the female employees. Seeing women being harassed in Mumbai locals he too Came up with a unique idea.Thinking his mom too travels in the same locals, he has set out on this mission of making traveling for women as safer as possible. In August 2013, Dipesh along with 9 other friends started this campaign called ‘War Against Railway Rowdies’ (WARR) and started a survey at Malad station with a questionnaire to know how safe women feel at the station or in the train.“85% of the women told us that they feel unsafe at the station where they are vulnerable to regular sexual harassment,” Dipesh was quoted by TheBetterIndia. A copy of the survey was sent to RPF, GRP, Prime Minister and the President of India. The WARR team also kept video recording the acts at the station and posting them on social media. After six months of continuous efforts, finally, WARR got the support of the railway police and 40 constables were allotted to coordinate at each station starting from Malad.Along with the 40 cops, a two-day drive was conducted where the offenders including people who perform stunts on trains, hit other passengers were also nabbed apart from those who were harassing women.

Gangadhar Tilak Katnam

Commuting on Indian roads is not a cakewalk; Potholed roads pop up as a most surprising element and roars at us like a giant to tumble us into the graveyard. Potholes are the common element we all have managed to accept as if it is part and parcel of our road journey and move to the destination. As per the statistics released by Ministry of Road Transport in the year 2015, 10,876 people were killed due to accidents caused by potholes on roads and highways. While authorities have a blind eye towards these ‘mini-monsters’ we as common people accept it as part of our daily chores to maneuver and avoid these potholes while commuting. But here we have an incredible human being who on witnessing these potholes on streets, gears up with action to get rid of them by using a crowbar, spade and broomstick and filling them with any unattended tar or gravels available in the neighborhood without bothering about the apathy or surprise gesture of people around him. This persona by name Mr. Gangdhara Tilak Katnam is a retired railway officer from Hyderabad who has taken up this social cause of providing pothole free roads for commuters. Mr. Tilak has taken up this mission from January 19th, 2010 and his relentless passion has not subsided even after 7 years of long journey. In fact, the mission that started as a weekend ‘Shramadhan’ (Voluntary Service) has become his full-time mission.

Krishna Prakash

Krishna Prakash is an IPS officer from the 1998 batch. Prakash, who served the highest duty in the state, had also been appointed as Additional Commissioner of Police of Southern division of Mumbai in 2012. Currently, he serves as the IG VIP securities in Mumbai. He has completed the ‘Ironman’ challenge in France. He becomes the first Indian civil servant to complete the intense race. It took Prakash about 14 hours and 8 minutes to complete the triathlon.

Reena Wani

Dr. Reena Wani (Nair Hospital) in Mumbai. Gynaecologist & Obstetrician Doctors with Address, Contact Number, Photos, Maps. View Dr. Reena Wani (Nair Hospital), Mumbai on Justdial. One of the leading gynaecologists of the city, Dr. Reena Wani (Nair Hospital) in Mumbai Central has established the clinic and has gained a loyal clientele over the past few years and is also frequently visited by several celebrities, aspiring models and other honourable clients and international patients as well. They also plan on expanding their business further and providing services to several more patients owing to its success over the past few years. The efficiency, dedication, precision and compassion offered at the clinic ensure that the patient's well-being, comfort and needs are kept of top priority. The clinic is equipped with latest types of equipment and boasts highly advanced surgical instruments that help in undergoing meticulous surgeries or procedures. Locating the healthcare centre is easy as it is Dr Ananadrao Nair Marg

Sanjay Meriya

Sanjay Meriya, known as The Spindoctor, has established himself as a premier DJ spinning music that keeps people on the dance floor. He creates and performs electronic dance music, including remixes of club and hip hop favorites, house and amalgamations of other styles. A turntablist with various skills such as beat mixing, scratching, beat juggling, drumming, sampling etc., which allows him to teach the art of turntabilism at Audioqube, The True School of music and Party Map DJ Academy. The Spindoctor began disc jockeying back in college while studying for his medical degree. He participated in multiple DJ-ing competitions, won several of them, & earned himself his nickname. His love of the turn tables lead to him playing at college festivals, corporate parties & other social events. In a short span of time he began to DJ in prominent clubs such as Blue Frog, Fbar, Kitty Su, Tryst, Liv etc, and leading music festivals like NH7 Weekender, Ziro Music Festival, Taalbelia, Awestrung, Rongaali Festival, Bollywood Music Project, Dfusion & The Secret Garden Weekend. He has also opened for international artists like Dj Premier (USA), Stretcharmstrong(USA), DJ Niros(USA), The Perez Brothers (Israel), DJs from Mars(Italy) , DJ A-ROCK(USA), RAJA KUMARI (USA). He is currently a part of the hip hop act “Gully Gang” as their official DJ with Sony Music Artist (Rapper) Divine and has performed at Saavn, NH7 weekender, BBC PopUp & Hip Hop Homeland (101 India) with Gully Gang. The Spindoctor is featured in The Rising Mixtape Vol -1 by Hardkaur providing his skills of scratching in his debut track feature. His Official Remix of Britney Spears track “Make me” is released on Saavn. Along with his Club gigs, Band gigs & Festival he also plays for corporate parties and destination weddings all over India(Mumbai/Jaipur/Pushkar/Ahmedabad) as well as internationally(Abu Dhabi/Dubai/Bangkok). A natural talent with enormous passion for music and entertaining, his energetic stage presence has been known to leave his audience wanting more

Shital Mahajan - Rane

Shital Mahajan - Rane, is an Indian extreme sportsperson, skydiver and the holder of Six World records and 17 National records in the sport. She is known to be the first woman to have done her first ever parachute jump without any training over the Geographical North pole in minus 37 degree Celsius from 2400 ft, and first accelerated free fall jump without any trials over the Antarctica - South pole from 11,600 feet, in minus 38 degree Celsius the youngest woman to jump over both the North and South Poles, and the first woman jumper to perform it without trials. The Government of India honored Mahajan in 2011, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri.

Sunil Khandbahale

Sunil Shivaji Khandbahale सुनील शिवाजी खांडबहाले (born June 1, 1978) is a MIT Sloan Fellow, Innovator and Entrepreneur from Nashik, India. He is best known as a founder and CEO of KHANDBAHALE.COM, a free multilingual digital dictionary and translation platform for 23 languages in 16 domains with an extensive vocabulary of 10 million words and phrases.The platform is being used by over a hundred million users worldwide. He has also founded KHANDBAHALE.ORG an organization which develops language-related projects such as Global Language Networking, Global Language Heritage, Global Language Friendship, Global Language Environment. He is a founder and secretary of the Global Prosperity Foundation, an NGO that focused on education, health and environment. Public confers him with the honorary title of 'Dictionary Man' and 'Wordsmith',and a Youth Icon by Times Group. He was recognized by the President of India for his contribution to research and development of Indian languages. On 27 December 2013, he co-founded Kumbhathon with MIT Professor Ramesh Raskar, an innovation platform to spot problems and probe solutions in Nashik. The platform has now grown to stimulate impact ventures that empower newly digital citizens in non-metro Tier II cities

Varada Sambhus

Just like all Puneites, Varada Sambhus too has grown up watching the warkaris (pilgrims) visiting the city every year. And hence when she picked up the topic for her PhD, she was back to her childhood days. Sambhus, who is doing her PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi, presented her research a paper at the Second Global Conference on pilgrimage held at Mansfield College, Oxford University, UK, from July 3 to 5. The paper was titled ‘Pilgrimage as Public Performance of Bhakti: A study of Maharashtrian Wari.’ The event, which was organised by the Interdisciplinary.net, saw 35 research paper presenters from 18 countries across the globe. After doing her graduation from city-based SP College in 2008, Sambhus shifted to Delhi to pursue her masters from JNU. The topic for her dissertation for MPhil, which she did from 2010 to 2012, was “The debate over Maharashtra Dharma: Views of R Bhagwat, MG Ranade, V K Rajwade”.

Vinod Rawat

Ten monsoons ago, a group of 50-odd bikers were scaling the Lonavala ghats, and one among them was Vinod Rawat. Riding a 350cc chopper motorcycle, Rawat was advised to stay off the treacherous Rajmachi stretch, hailed as the prep ground for challenging biking expeditions. But the gritty man skilfully pulled himself and his bike to the end point. Until that night when the bikers retired in their tents, no one knew that Rawat did it on a prosthetic leg. “It’s true that I lack a limb, but not the confidence and strength. However, I was rejected from the club once they found out. Though the members appreciated my riding skills, no one was ready to ride with me,” recalls Rawat, who is based out of Mumbai. “That rejection hit me hard. My eyes welled up on the ride downhill and I decided to start a biking group for people like me.” That’s how Convoy Control Club (C3), a motorcycle community for the differently-abled, was born. Vinod Rawat : Giving wheels to dreams With nearly 100 riders and seven chapters across the country, C3 members go on regular long-distance biking, marathon, cycling and trekking expeditions. “It’s all about mobility and being able to see the world again. Physical disability should never be the reason for confinement. I believe in giving wings to your dreams, and in our case, it’s the wheels that take us to our dream destinations,” says Rawat. “One of our first bike rides was to Ladakh in 2011. It was a charity ride titled ‘Beyond Barriers’ and we raised approximately ₹18,00,000 to help six families in Ladakh rebuild their houses damaged in a cloud burst.” Since then, there has been no looking back. Rawat has done a number of challenging cycling and biking fêtes in some of the most unforgiving terrains. Vinod Rawat : Giving wheels to dreams Every year, Rawat has been taking groups of differently-abled people on a trek to the Kalsubai peak, the highest in Maharashtra at 1,646 metres. “Kalsubai is extremely steep and narrow, and people do a lot of preparation treks. But I went directly with novices, including people with Cerebral Palsy, who have difficulty in balancing themselves. With the help of one volunteer per person, I supported them to do something that’s daring.” Rawat is also a motivational speaker and works with Jaipur Foot in providing prosthetic limbs to people free of cost. “I get calls from hospitals and homes to inspire amputees. When I narrate my story to them, they gradually accept living limbless. We have members in the club who have lost a hand or leg in the Mumbai bomb blast, some are accident victims,” says Rawat, who lost his left limb in a road accident when he was six years old. “But none of them feel bad about themselves any more. I believe that’s my biggest achievement.”