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).

S.J.E.C.
St.Joseph Engineering College,Vamanjoor
Mangalore, Karnataka, 575028
India

Capt. Aarohi Pandit

Indian Pilot

Capt. Aarohi Pandit, a 23-year-old pilot from Mumbai created history by becoming the first woman in the world to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo in a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA). In a strong message of women empowerment, the Indian pilot performed the feat on the midnight of May 13, 2019. She achieved the record by landing her aircraft at Iqaluit Airport in Canada. She flew the 3,000 km long flight under some extreme weather conditions after taking off from Wick, Scotland (UK) with a couple of stopovers in Greenland and Iceland. Ms Aarohi also set a world record for flying across the second largest ice sheet (Greenland icecap) on the planet. Aarohi is flying around the globe as part of the WE! Women Empower Expedition: the first all-female team to circumnavigate the world in an LSA. She traveled in an eco-friendly, ultralight Sinus 912. Capt. Aarohi is a true inspiration for all Indian Women and Women across the world to believe in themselves and chase their dreams.

Dr Girish Bharadwaj

Engineer And Social Innovator

Fondly called as Sethu Bandhu or the Bridgeman of India, Shri Girish Bharadwaj has built more than 130 bridges in villages across various states of the Country. His bridges have enabled rural communities, isolated due to their inability to cross rivers, to be connected to the mainland, thus bringing development and prosperity. In his career as a grassroots engineer, Shri Girish has helped at least 200,000 hapless villagers ’ cross rivers safely. Shri Girish Bharadwaj and his bridges are an example of technology-enabled empowerment. A recent recipient of the country’s highest award, the Padma Shri, the 70-year-old hails from a remote village of Sullia taluk in Mangaluru. A graduate from PES College of Engineering, Mandya, most of his projects are in the rural parts of the country. Currently, along with his son, Shri Girish Bharadwaj runs Ayasshilpa, a steel fabrication workshop which also repairs farm machinery and indulges in the construction of Biogas plants.

Dr Smitha Hegde

Scientist / Teacher

A multifaceted personality, Dr Smitha Hegde has excelled in everything that she has set out to achieve. As a teacher par excellence, a reputed scientist, and as an active environmentalist, Dr Smitha Hegde has done immense justice to the causes she has attached herself to. With interests in Molecular biology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Plant and Environmental Sciences, and Higher Education, her work over the past two decades is testimony to her commitment and intellectual capabilities. Her research on the varying green coverage in the Mangaluru area has been recognized by the Forest Department through multiple awards. Dr. Smitha Hegde has also dedicated her time and effort to geo-tagging of trees in College Campuses and her efforts are lovingly recognized by Students who have nicknamed her as Salumaradha Smithakka! As a wonderful orator, who can through her natural wit and sensibilities take her audience on a journey of words, is a delight to listen to.

Mr Abhiraj Rajadhyaksha

Chief Storyteller At Following Love / Travel Writer And Author

Abhiraj is a filmmaker and YouTuber. Several of his short and strong video messaging on social media about current issues have gone viral. Film Making has always been his passion. Abhiraj has worked as an independent DPCE i.e., Director-Producer-Cinematographer-Editor in Mumbai under his banner Experimental Films, since 2013. He has worked with reputed brands such as MTV, Lakshya Media, Submerge, HUL, Tata Motors, Kotak Bank, and many more for various advertising and filming projects. In November 2017, Abhiraj founded Following Love. A platform on Facebook to showcase the things he is most passionate about - travel, food, people, and most importantly, what they love. Along with his wife, their travelogue and related stories on their escapades across India are interesting to watch and highlights the rich diversity of this country. Learn more about Abhiraj and Niyati on: Abhi and Niyu on YouTube and https://www.following-love.com/.

Mr Gladson Peter

Musician

It is rare for anyone to come across a creative force like Gladson Peter, who is an international singer/songwriter from Mumbai. He has been taking his unique music to different parts of India and other countries. Given that he is a multi-instrumentalist, he plays over 45 musical instruments. Gladson Peter has appeared on various popular TV shows like India's Got Talent & The Kapil Sharma Show. He has also been on various Radio stations like Red FM, Radio One, Radio Mirchi and is an International Speaker/Performer and encourages and motivates folks of all age groups. To see him perform on stage is a fascinating experience in itself. He is best known as the only ONE MAN BAND in India and can play over 13 instruments simultaneously; including a combination of popular instruments like the guitar and drums and the lesser-known kazoo. He plays at several festivals, shows, weddings and events and has inspired many aspiring musicians with his unparalleled talent.

Mr Omkar Pai

Engineer And Nature Enthusiast

Omkar Pai is a passionate nature enthusiast. An engineer by qualification, he has decided to pursue his passion for nature and wildlife conservation. Western Ghats is his home and playground. He can identify all 300 species of frogs to the level of genus that thrive in Western Ghats. Of the 270+ species of snakes that exist in India, Omkar has documented 48+ species. He has also documented 100+ butterflies and has carried out documentation of reptiles is Rajasthan, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Goa. Omkar devotes his time to instill a love for nature among the youth and carries out awareness programs on wildlife and eco-conservation. An avid photographer, Omkar has a collection of mesmerizing photographs of snakes and frogs that showcases his patience, his skills, and his love for nature. His ambition is to start a Nature Education Center in his native place that helps nature enthusiasts research on wildlife and ecology.

Mr Prithesh Bhandary And Team

Actor / Director

Prithesh Bhandary is a Mechanical Engineer and an alumnus from St Joseph Engineering College. Prithesh started Pursuing theatre from 2012 and has performed in over 120 shows. He is a filmmaker with his films being selected in festivals in France and Italy also premiered in National Film Archives of India. The cast for the play at TEDxSJEC included: Laban TP: An Engineering Student now Pursuing acting Full time. Has been a part of Major Productions like Red Oleanders. Prasanna K: An IT professional also pursuing his interest in Theatre. Pragya Yadav: A college student pursuing her interest in theatre. Sagarika Rao: A fitness trainer by Profession. A theatre actor, Dancer and Mover by passion. Puneet: Runs a Business by the day and Pursues theatre at all other times. Rama: Professionally a Software engineer, his interest lies in theater as it gives him an opportunity to play different characters. Shikha Chowhan: Professionally a consultant, Educator, Choreographer and performer.

Ms Corrine Antoinette Rasquinha

Social Worker And Founder Of White Doves NGO

Ms Corrine Rasquinha is a ray of light in the darkness that engulfs hundreds of deprived people in the city of Mangaluru. With motherly love, she drives around the lanes of the city feeding the hungry and providing shelter to destitute without any discrimination of caste, creed, religion etc. Her love for the deprived is limitless and unbound. Breaking free from the clutches of death and overpowering cancer, Ms Corrine Rasquinha has dedicated her life to the destitute and helpless. She is the founder of White Doves that runs two rehabilitation institutions’ (one for women and one for men - in temporary premises) caring and sheltering the abused, destitute and mentally challenged by providing selfless support. Ms Corrine Rasquinha who is considered to be a loving “Mother” by the helpless are identified by her as the Children of God.

Ms Niyati Mavinkurve

Chief Storyteller At Following Love / Travel Writer And Author

Niyati is a Chartered Accountant by qualification. She was born on 18th December 1990 in Mumbai and studied in N M College. After becoming a CA, she realized that writing is her true passion and she started her freelance writing career. She writes about travel and finance for various companies. Apart from traveling, she feels deeply connected to all the environmental issues. Through their videos, Niyati along with her husband tries to focus on solutions and individual actions that can make a difference in the world.

Mx Ria Sharma

Model / Speaker / Storyteller And A LGBTQAI + Youth Activist

Mx Ria has been working towards creating awareness about issues of gender and sexuality at various platforms through workshops, advertisements, and short films. Ria was a speaker at Unplugged by TEDxGateway 2019 and has spoken on the life of a gender incongruent person - ‘girl with a beard’. Ria has also been a speaker for the youth organization - The Plane Jar for the past 3 years for their C.A.A.S.A program and is presently the social media head at Jimme Foundation. Ria has acted for the campco chocolate campaign for their advertisements and was also a part of a documentary film - ‘closet’, screened at the Kashish Film Festival.

Vidushi Preethikala

Bharathanatyam artiste

Vidushi Preethikala, daughter of Sri K. Sudhakar, Smt. Prema Sudhakar and wife of Vidwan B Deepak Kumar, is a disciple of Guru Vidushi Smt. Yasha Ramakrishna, Hejje-Gejje Manipal. Preethikala, who has done Bachelors in Arts, completed her Vidwat Grade examination in both Bharathanatyam and Karnatic Music with flying colors. Preethikala did her Arangetram in Bharathanatyam successfully on 6th December 2008 at Rajangana, Shri Krishna Mutt Udupi. She has given more than 500 stage performances She has also given many music concerts, both classical and semi-classical. She is an artist of AIR, Mangalore. Preethi has also to her credit singing in Bangalore Doordarshan for ‘Noopura Nada’, a program related to classical dance and she has a unique quality of doing Nattuvangam along with vocal simultaneously.

Vidushi Mahima S Rao and Team

Indian Classical Dancer

Mahima considers herself a student of Bharathanatyam, Kuchupudi, Mohiniyattam, Folk dance and Yakshagaana. She learnt the basic steps of Bharathanatyam from Smt. Sindu Bhaskaran (Natyalayam) and Folk dance from Sri Babu Neeleshwaram. Currently, Mahima is practicing Bharathanatyam, Kuchupudi and, Mohiniyattam in Natya Nilayam, Manjeshwara, under the Guidance of Natya Guru Sri Balakrishna Manjeshwara. She is also Practicing Yakshagaana in Sanathana Yakshalaya Mangaluru under the guidance of Yaksha Guru Sri Rakesh Rai Adka. Mahima has completed her Junior Grade Exam (with First Class), Senior Grade Exam (with Distinction) and Vidwath Grade Exam (with First Class) in Bharathanatyam conducted by Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board. She has participated in Kerala State level Youth Festival 2014 and secured A grade in Bharathanatyam. She has performed in various cultural programs in Mumbai, Madras, Bangalore, Hassan, etc. and won prizes in various Inter-Collegiate events.

Vidwan Deepak Kumar

Bharathanatyam artiste

Vidwan B Deepak Kumar, son of Sri D. Bhavani Shankar and Smt. Shashi Prabha is an avid Bharathanatyam artiste hailing from Puttur, Coastal Karnataka, who is committed towards the propagation of Indian dance traditions. His unique distinction in depicting the NATYA-YOGA is a remarkable one. His passion for dance was discovered and nurtured at a tender age under the guidance of Guru Ambale Rajeshwari of Madikeri. His dancing skills in Bharathanatyam were honed by late Guru Smt. Narmada, Bangalore in Tanjore style and Guru Sri Ullal Mohan Kumar, Mangalore in Pandanallur style. He has also attended workshops where he has received intensive guidance from internationally acclaimed Gurus and dancers like Smt. Savitri Jagannathan, Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan, Smt Bragha Bassell, Smt Ramaa Vaidyanathan, Smt. Priyadarshini Govind, Sri C V Chandrashekar and Padmashri Adayar K Lakshmanan.