Theme: Igniting Minds

There is no force more fierce than an ignited mind chasing a dream. We here at TEDxMSUniversityOfBaroda believe that ideas and words can change the world. The theme of the event, hence, is “Igniting Minds” where we strive to bring together some of the smartest and the most inspiring minds from across the country to spark inspiration and engage our audience with their words. We believe in the power of ideas and in the potential of every individual to think, hold, and spread ideas that change the world. Get ready to get inspired, engaged, and #igniTED

Sun City Club & Resort
Effluent Canal Project Rd, Gotri-Sherkhi road
Vadodara, Gujarat, 391330
India

Alyque Padamsee

Actor, Indian theatre personality and ad film maker

Alyque Padamsee is a multi-faceted genius who is known as the Brand Father of Modern Indian advertising and has built over 100 Brands. The Padmashree Awardee has been named as Advertising Man of the Century by the Advertising Club. His best-seller book on Advertising entitled a ‘Double Life’ is prescribed in business schools. He is the Chairman of The London Institute of Corporate Training.

Dhruv Deshpande

Freelance Writer at All India Bakchod (AIB), Stand-Up Comedian

Dhruv Deshpande, is a stand up comedian and freelance writer working for the YouTube sensation All India Bakchod (AIB). He has worked for over two years at Vir Das’ comedy consultancy, Weirdass Comedy. Apart from this, he also finished his MBA at NMIMS, "just as his hobby" he says! During his graduation, he realised that Pharmacy wasn't what he wanted to do, so he told his parents, "the only medicine I want to make is laughter". His brilliant dialogue didn't have the effect he intended, as his mother started crying and his father cancelled his early retirement plans, but here we are: he's 22, eager for the challenging writing projects. He has also performed stand-up comedy at various venues and has taken up a variety of writing assignments ranging from TV shows, live comedy shows, magazine articles and Bollywood award shows to boring brand advertisements.

Dr. Suman Sahai

Gene Scientist

Dr. Suman Sahai, who has had a distinguished scientific career in the field of genetics, is a recipient of the Padma Shri , the Borlaug Award, Outstanding Woman Achiever awards, the Birbal Sahni Gold Medal and the Order of the Golden Ark of the Netherlands. Dr. Sahai is founder Chairperson of the Gene Campaign which is a leading research and advocacy organization, working on issues relating to food, nutrition and livelihoods. She has published extensively on science and policy issues and is a member of several national policy forums on scientific research and education, biodiversity and environment, biotechnology and bioethics as well as intellectual property rights.

Gundecha Brothers

Padma Shri, Drahupad Singers, Spreading their traditional music across the globe

Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are the leading exponents of the Dhrupad style of music. They are among the most active performers in Indian and international circuits. They were conferred “Padmashri” in 2012 by the Govt. of India for their contribution in the field of Dhrupad and Indian Classical Music. Born in Ujjain in Central India, both were initiated into music by their parents. Gundecha Brothers received conventional university education and learned the Dhrupad vocal art under the renowned Dhrupad vocalist Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and also with Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (the distinguished performer of Rudra Veena) under guru shishya paramapara in Dhrupad Kendra Bhopal. The Gundecha Brothers have sung great Hindi poetry by Tulsidas, Kabir, Padmakar, Nirala in Dhrupad style.

Isha & Shukanto

Young Social Entrepreneurs in Emergency Health Care Sector (Vadodara: A Smart City, A CPR City)

Isha and Shukanto are associated with nation changing work of Baroda based Lifeline Foundation that pioneered Emergency Medical Services (EMS) through a universally accessible helpline number; they are championing a tectonic shift in of First Aid & Basic Life Support training and improvement of ambulances in India. Isha Popat, 28, has an academic background of Disaster Mitigation from TISS and has worked with GSDMA. Isha, also a student of Kathak, heads Lifeline’s training vertical. Shukanto Das, 22, who Mastered in Life Sciences with top honours from MS University is a 2nd generation EMS proponent working with his parents, Sushmita & Dr Subroto Das, a Padma Shri awardee for Highway Trauma Care. Shukanto, a culinary science enthusiast, works as Program Manager with Lifeline. The duo is institutionalizing Bystander CPR in India starting with their city. Actively advocating sustainable EMS, they aim to improve Bystander intervention in road accidents and out of hospital cardiac arrests.

Janki vasant

Fonder of Samvedana Organization, Survivor Of PanAm Flight 73 terror Attack

Ms Janki Vasant is a social activist based in Ahmedabad. She is one of the survivors of the Pan-Am 73 Hijack as depicted in the movie 'Neerja'. A promising and compelling founder, she is the visionary behind Samvedana. Ms Janki Vasant, did her graduation with Economics in 1984 from St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, thereby studied Business Management in 1985. She also pursued her Post-graduation in Law, in the year 1988. Ms Vasant always seeks new opportunities for service to give a meaning to the purpose of life. Her vision is to touch the lives of economically challenged communities with a focus on their holistic development by means of education, nutrition and skill development as a means for grooming a balanced personality, thus working towards a awakened empowered India.

Kunal Newar

Mentalist, Mind-Reader and Illusionist

Ever since childhood, Kunal has always been interested in magic. Although in the beginning, he did not perform, he always used to enjoy the feeling of amazement that magic provides. At the age of 11, his father bought him his first magic kit and it was only then that he performed his first magic effect. Since then he used to perform small effects. But amidst his studies and completion, his passion was buried deep inside. After completion of engineering, he went for a job in Pune. When his friends came to know about his passion, they started encouraging him. Fuelled by his ignited passion, he started performing for different occasions, parties and gathering. After being deprived of magic once again because of his second job, he quit the job and started pursuing what he had been dreaming ever since his childhood, that is Magic. Kunal Newar, is now a full-fledged mentalist/magician and has performed at many events, corporate parties, institutions, schools, etc.

Mayur Puri

Dialogue & Screenplay writer, Actor

Mayur Puri is a screenwriter, lyricist, actor and film-maker based in Mumbai. He wrote songs, screenplays, and dialogue for several movies, including Om Shanti Om and Happy New Year. As a songwriter, Mayur has closely worked with composer Pritam on the albums for Race 2, Singh Is Kinng and Pyaar Ke Side Effects and others and also with AR Rahman on 2 songs.

Raul Rodriguez

Neuroscientist, entrepreneur, private psychotherapist

Raul V. Rodriguez is an author, a neuroscientist, an entrepreneur, private psychotherapist, and a keynote speaker. He provides training and consulting services for National Law Enforcement, INTERPOL, government agencies, and large corporations and firms throughout Europe and Asia. Some of his clients are present Mumbai Crime Branch, Interpol, CBI Reliance, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Sula, among others.

Rufus Reynolds

Traveller, Photographer, Founder of Streets Of India

Born and brought up in Mumbai, and having spent three years in Europe, Rufus Reynolds is a travel photographer and the founder of the photography page called 'Streets of India'. He has a degree in Hotel Management but after spending 32 years of his life, without a clue of what he wanted to do, stuck in a 9-to-6 corporate job, one day he found his love. His friend gifted him a DSLR camera and the same friend took him around Bombay and they clicked lots of photos. From that moment on, he knew what he wanted. He learned photography on YouTube and from his friends and after a year of learning, he had garnered the confidence to quit his job and become a full-time photographer. Since then, Rufus Reynolds aka Ramu Kaka has travelled all over India and has captured moments from his travels and has attracted the love and fan-following of thousands of people on social media.

Sanjukta Sinha

India's leading Kathak Artist

One of India’s leading Kathak artists of her generation and disciple of Padmabhushan Kumudini Lakhia, Sanjukta Sinha is known for her technical expertise and immense artistry. A solo dancer of distinction, she has also performed in ensembles as well as collaborated with several leading international names across various dance forms, keen to create contemporary expressions of dance based on Kathak.

zafar sareshwala

chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Educationalist and Founder of Parsoli Corporation

Zafar Yunus Sareshwala has been the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Parsoli Corporation Ltd., since July 2006. Mr. Sareshwala has more than two decades of experience. He serves as a Director of Parsoli Corporation Ltd. He holds a diploma in Mechanical Eng. and Marketing Management. He is the Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad. He is also known as a champion of Islamic investment in India. Mr. Sareshwala is a Tablighi activist and also a close confidante of Narendra Modi, the current Prime Minister of India.