Meet the Speakers.
Dr. Saleel Kulkarni
Singer, Composer
Renuka Kirpalani
Racer, Talk Show Host
Dr. Satish Pande
Doctor, Environmentalist
Samir Dhurde
Physicist
Raj Dagwar
Mental Health Worker
Ajay Phatak
Cyclist
Through the Spheres of Filmmaking | Saleel Kulkarni
This Marathi voice which continues to stir our emotions through his songs uncovers various hidden aspects of filmmaking and art direction. He speaks on how films are a junction where the varying interpretations of artists from different fields come together..Expressing the importance of art direction which can be as simple as having a guitar in the background, he also articulates the importance of ambience in films as simple sounds setting the tone of any given scene. Narrating us through his process of composition, he speaks about how he uses small details and elements from the script to compose music such that it truly resonates with the spirit of a film.
Drive to be Driven | Renuka Kirpalani
Renuka Kriplani is a trailblazer in the field of car racing, a talk show host and a professional racer. Taking an extra lap in her first race amongst 18 men, winning it and leaving everyone awestruck her story is worth hearing. Having Mister Lalwani written on her trophy, she declined to change it keeping in mind the change she had to bring. Through her passion for cars and the racing world, she not only won the trust of her father for supporting this budding woman car racer but also teamed up with him to deep dive into the associated mechanics and today she tunes her own car. At TEDxPICT watch her share her ecstatic story right from stepping into the automobile world up to judging eminent car shows and her flag continues to soar high. She also talks about her immense passion for cars and the wonderful life lessons that driving has taught her.
Conserving Mother Earth: Science and Hearts | Satish Pande
A TED talk filled with discussion on ornithology and wildlife by Dr Satish Pande.The speaker shares anecdotes in this field while working for the conservation of eagles, owls and vultures. The joy which he had while hatching the eggs in the incubation centre is no less than giving new birth. Getting engrossed in hours of research and study on various bird species to understand the importance of education to have sustainable development and conserve the wildlife. Instead of scolding a kid for involving in taming, he chose to touch his heart by telling how the separation of a mother and child was morally wrong and the reception of a quick and honest answer from the kid that nobody has told him it was wrong, told Mr Satish how far he had to go. Using ethnobiology as a tool for the conservation of vultures by relating their presence to Jatayu- Sampati from the holy scriptures of Ramayana and inculcating a sense of awareness and educating people from various countries through podcasts, the speaker has left no stone in the conservation of Mother Earth.
Galileo and You: A learn it yourself approach | Samir Dhurde
"What is it that Galileo did that we cannot?" Based on this intriguing question, Samir Dhurde takes us through the daring and innovative journey of Galileo, the astronomical advances made by so many dedicated astronomers and the undying spirit of learning it yourself that connects them all. Advocating an enthusiasm for learning as much as you can by yourself, he also demonstrates how incredibly easy it is to build your telescope and explore the wonders of the universe above! An astronomer, educator and humanist, Mr Samir Dhurde is at heart just a huge admirer of everything that goes on in the sky above us.
Tell me your story and I'll give you ₹10 | Raj Dagwar
Health is an important aspect of all of our lives but unfortunately, the vast majority of attention is given to physical health. With physical health, it's really obvious if and why something is wrong but more often than not, this is not the case with mental health. Talking about mental health is generally considered taboo and “powering through” our turbulent emotions with our willpower is prescribed as the medicine. At TEDxPICT, Mr Raj Dagwar shares his experience with it all. From being a bright kid with a bright future to crashing down in college with poor academics, bad relationships and feelings of being stuck and useless, he describes all the events in his life that lead to him standing on FC road with a board saying “Tell me your story and I'll give you 10 Rs”. Mr Dagwar advocates the importance of taking professional help from psychologists and dispels the social stigma around it. The challenges of life take their toll on all of us, especially in situations like the Covid pandemic, but as Mr Dagwar emphasises throughout his talk, the crucial thing is to have honest, heart-to-heart talks and to simply ask for help whenever you feel yourself losing control.
Sustainability: Are we asking the right questions? | Ajay Phatak
Mr Ajay Phatak’s talk deals with questions. Questions that we don’t even think of asking but still affect us every day. Do we want to buy a car or do we want to be transported from one place to another? Do we want to own an air conditioner or do we just want to sit at a comfortable temperature? Do we want a water purifier or do we want pure water? More importantly, are we asking the right questions and… are we solving the right problems? At TEDxPICT, Mr Phatak argues that we are using technology like IoT to sell products to consumers that they don’t even really need. Instead, he proposes a better solution, better use of technology and products that lead to less stress on our planet’s natural resources and solves the right problems. Check out his talk to find out more.
