Theme: Think Ahead

This year, the theme 'Think Ahead' is about extending the inspiration of TEDx Shekhavati 2010 by opening people's minds to new topics, new conversations and new ideas. The topics will vary--from ICT in rural villages to puppetry changing the world--the people are in for some great ideas and new perspective on issues that would usually go unnoticed.

Fatehpur, Sikar
India

Rajeev Lunkad

He is the Project Director at Jal Mahal Resorts Pvt Ltd. Rajeev has dedicated better part of the last 15 years to architecture, design and environment. Rajeev’s work found international acclaim through two international exhibitions--The Silk Route in Washington and The Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona. His other interests lie in eco-tourism with a project under development in Himalayas, design-led modular furniture and high-end crafts. With a commitment to build sustainable environments that outlive life itself, he took on the Jal Mahal project in 2004. He also chairs the Craft and Heritage Revival Society in Jaipur.

Manpreet Kaur

She is an Assistant Professor of Literature at St Stephen'sCollege, Delhi University. Her M.phil Dissertation: “Puppet in the City: aesthetic and semiotic experiments in new spaces” studied the contemporary evolution of puppet and its shifting aesthetics in the new urban landscape of Indian theatre. As a culture studies scholar, her involvement in theatre and lived culture extends to both research and practice. She is working on some independent performance and dramaturgy projects, and hopes to bring them to stage soon.

Osama Manzar

He is a convert social entrepreneur spearheading the mission to overcome the information barrier between India’s rural sector, and the so-called developed society, through Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF). Osama has a credit of covering at least 100 ICTD cases in India and South Asia, has traveled more than 1000 villages in India and South Asia, including 18 countries.

Nakul Shenoy

Being one of few performers dedicated to mentalism and psychic entertainment, he relates to the corporate world having spent over 10 years with some leading software product companies as a user experience researcher understanding the users. A Master of Science in Communications, it is no surprise then that Nakul connects with each in his audience, charming them all with ease as he presents his ingenious acts of mind-reading and psychic phenomena.

Nusrat Naqvi

She graduated from Rajasthan University with a Masters degree in Sociology. Nusrat has 17 years of experience working for social causes. Currently, she is working with Muslim women of Rajasthan under the project “Muslim Women Initiatives”, which covers all issues related to Girl Education, Heath and socio-economic condition of Muslim women in Rajasthan. The project also encircles health issues, counseling against domestic violence and enlightens the community about government and non-government benefits provided for minorities.

Dr. O P Kulhari

He was born in a farmer’s family in a small village named ‘Bishanpura’, located in Jhunjhunu district in Shekhavati region (Rajasthan). His parents were illiterate and the family’s main source of income was agriculture and rearing cattle. Two of his elder sisters left school in early grades due to resistance from his grandmother towards educating girls. Now, a distinguished educationist himself, Dr. Kulhari works towards training girls who are not sent to school or are forced to drop-out early, so that they can be inducted into the regular education system.

Rajyavardhan Rathore

Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is an Indian shooter who won the silver medal in Men's Double Trap at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He is the first Indian to win an individual silver, after Norman Pritchard who won two silver medals at the 1900 Paris Olympics. He was awarded Arjuna award in 2003-2004. In 2004-2005, he also got the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (highest sporting honour of India). Rathore is also a recipient of the Padma Shri, a civilian award from the Government of India.

Bhawri Devi and Mishri Devi

Bhawari Devi is a resident of a village called Banjaari, in Jawaja (Block) District Ajmer, Rajasthan. She was the first woman from her village to accept the idea of Aloe Vera cultivation as an alternative source of income and become a part of the project by initiating cultivation in her own land. After GAPCL, she started actively participating in the activities and now serves as one of the Board of Director of the company making crucial business decisions. >>>> MISHRI DEVI is known for her active leadership and ensuring that the voices of women of her community is heard at Panchayat level platforms. She is also a Director at GAPCL.

Sandeep Sethi

His team of performers from the National School of Drama will present a play depicting how some teachers kill creativity in children.