Theme: Beyond E.D.G.E.S.

The edge is the farthest point before the unknown. On one hand it embodies the limits of current status quo, while on the other, it symbolises the starting point of exploration and discovery. “Beyond the Edge”, will celebrate venturing out into the unknown for the expansion of human knowledge to create a better society.
The theme will envelope new developments made in various disciplines, such as education, healthcare, business, environment, entertainment and social welfare.
The theme will help us attract individuals who have stepped beyond the edge in their fields, and now serve as leaders guiding us through the unknown on the path to a better future.
It will align with India’s holistic growth across multiple sectors in the contemporary times, and its attempts to go “beyond the edges” – to establish itself as an economically developed, scientifically progressing and socially secure nation.

Ravindra Natya Grah
RNT Marg
Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 452001
India

Arindam Chaudhuri

Arindam Chaudhuri is an Indian author and the director of IIPM Think Tank at Indian Institute of Planning and Management. He has produced movies that have collected three National Film Awards. He has authored total 5 books and some of his great works include ‘Count Your Chickens Before they Hatch’ He has been awarded Best Hindi Film for Do Dooni Chaar, National Film Awards, 2011 and best Feature Film in English for The Last Lear, National Film Awards, 2007.

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi

Now Archarya Maha Mandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi Ji of Kinnar Akhada has mutliple feathers in her cap being a Kinnar/hijra social activist, dancer, actress, celebrity. Laxmi’s aim is to bring about the recognition of human rights of sexual minorities, especially transgender persons, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Through media appearances, national, regional and international consultancy, cooperating with various NGOs across the country and presiding over the CBO Astitva Trust, Laxmi is at the forefront of social work and advocacy in India. She was the first transgender person to represent Asia-Pacific in the UN President’s Office Civil Society Task Force on HIV/AIDS. She also the founder member of Maharashtra Trithiya Panthi Sangatana – MTPS. She is also core founder member of APTN – Asia Pacific Transgender Network. She was impleader in the recent path breaking Supreme Court case of India and subsequent judgement on upholding rights of hijras and transgenders in India. She also was the core community representative and in the planning commission of the AIDS 2014 conference in Melbourne representing Asia Pacific region. She was also the intervener in the Nasla Petition filed for Transgender Rights and recognition in Supreme Court of India Judgement in April 2014 . She was part of the steering core committee set by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for Transgender Rights and upliftment. She was also the core member on the UGC committee set for Right of Education of Transgenders. Her work and personality were an inspiration for numerous literary, cinematographic and photographic enterprises. Her Book 'Me Hijra Me Laxmi' tells you an insight of her life. She is also author of other book called ' Red Lipstick - Men in my Life' which is un apologetic way of potraying the male patriachy and how she have used it for her benfit.

Major Vandana Sharma

Major Vandana Sharma is an Army veteran, a senior industry leader, offering 20 years of rich and diverse experience across Strategy, HR, Resource Management, General Management, and Operations. She has played a vital role in logistics and inventory management in the Kargil War, 1999. Her contributions include many value chain projects and people initiatives across organizations like Indian Army, Wipro, GMR Group, TNT and Myntra.

Nidhi Agarwal

Nidhi Agarwal up till recently was the CEO of KAARYAH.com, now she is an advisor to start ups and Angel Funds. Before launching KAARYAH, Nidhi was Director, Strategy at Honeywell India where she helped build their Space & Missiles business. Prior to that she worked with Bain&Co. and Airtel and was an auditor at KPMG. She is a Chartered Accountant and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management where she earned the prestigious Dean's Service Award. Nidhi has been named among India’s Top 30 Business Women 2016 by Business World, and featured in Cosmopolitan’s list of 30 Inspirational Women Entrepreneurs. She also made it to ET’s Coffee Table Book on “India’s Most Promising Entrepreneurs” and the ‘Make in India’ special issue by GQ & Condenast.

Piyush Mishra

Piyush Mishra is an Indian film and theatre actor, music director, lyricist, singer and a scriptwriter. He started his career in Hindi theatre in Delhi. Over the next decade, he established himself as a theatre director, actor, lyricist and singer. He shifted to Mumbai in 2002 and received recognition for his acting in Maqbool and Gangs of Wasseypur. His transition from playwright to screenwriter happened when he wrote the dialogues for Rajkumar Santoshi's 2001 film The Legend of Bhagat Singh, which was inspired in part by Mishra's critically acclaimed play on Bhagat Singh – Gagan Damama Bajyo. It won him the Zee Cine Award for Best Dialogue (2003).

Vinay Menon

Vinay Menon is the only English stand-up comedian from Kerala, one of the very few who pursue this genre from this part of the country. He is a software engineer- turned- comedian, and focuses mainly on observational humor. He is also an English Professor and mainly emphases on the Myths of Indian Education System.