The fifth edition of TEDx BITS Pilani presented an impressive and unconventional line-up of speakers on the 19th of January. The theme, Squeued (a play on the word ‘skewed’), celebrated the revolutionary and unconventional and was exemplified by the speakers’ themes. Each of the speakers, in their own right, has defied conventional norms and transformed their respective fields for the better.

Amla Ruia

Widely known as the Water Mother of India, Amla Ruia, the founder of the Aakar Charitable Trust, is a social activist known for her work on water harvesting. Her work has helped more than two lakh villagers generate nearly ₹ 300 crore per annum towards improving their livelihood and achieving water security. In her talk, she shared her journey and the challenges she faced in establishing her organization. She also highlighted the importance of water conservation and elaborated on her role in building dams in drought-prone areas of Rajasthan.

Francois Castellino

A laureate of the National Award for Best Non-Feature Film Narration and one of the country’s most celebrated voice artists, Francois Castellino is the voice behind the video advertisements of some of the most popular global brands. In his talk, he shared the inspiring story of how he entered the business and rose to the top of his field. He also elaborated on how he prepared for some of his most famous voice-over roles.

Gunjan Ahlawat

An award-winning graphic designer and self-taught painter, Gunjan Ahlawat is the creative mind behind the book covers of some of pop culture’s most celebrated novels. He worked on the cover of Amitav Ghosh’s latest novel Gun Island and currently heads the Design Department at Penguin Random House, India.. In his segment, Ahlawat explained the creative thought processes behind some of his most acclaimed works and the unique challenges that each assignment posed to him.

Dr. Latika Nath

Dubbed The Tiger Princess by National Geographic, Dr. Latika Nath is a researcher, wildlife photographer, biologist, and big cat conservationist. She has spent over 25 years working towards tiger conservation, has had her work featured on National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, and has had films published by the BBC. In her talk, she shared her experiences in wildlife photography and working with big cats, regaling the audience with stories of her friendships with the magnificent animals. She went on to describe various species to the audience, focusing not just on their physical differences, but also on the deviations in their characters and intrinsic personalities.

Pablo Naranjo Agular

Celebrity chef and avid traveler, Pablo Naranjo Agular is a globally recognized culinary artist and an alumnus of the reputed culinary school Le Cordon Bleu of Paris. The Colombian chef has worked at several Michelin Star Restaurants and currently runs Le 15 Café in Mumbai. His work has been featured on Fox Traveler, Vogue, and Condé Nast Traveler, making him one of the most popular names in the Indian culinary scene. His talk was centered around our deep connection to food and featured an interactive element, with him making his version of chai on stage during the talk. At the end, he revealed that he had sprayed the auditorium with a chai scent to trigger feelings of nostalgia among the audience members. He then spoke on our psychological connection to tea, a simple beverage, yet one that is simultaneously an inherent part of our cultural identity. A nuanced blend of the culinary arts and experimental psychology, his talk was well-received by the audience, who were almost certainly left craving a cup of chai.

Dr MR Rajagopal

A Nobel Peace Prize nominee and the Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Policy and Training on Access to Pain Relief, Dr Rajagopal is one of the world’s leading palliative care physicians. He promotes better, more dignified healthcare for critically ill patients. Rather controversially, he has also advocated for universal access to the narcotic painkiller morphine. In his sobering talk, he highlighted the poor status of healthcare in India, emphasized the role of community in healthcare, and explained how his organization Pallium India has helped improve the situation of critically ill and disabled individuals. 

Avinash Sontakke

A physics major at BITS Pilani and the student speaker of the event, Avinash is an aspiring scientist who plans to work in the domains of optical and quantum computing. He has worked on projects involving the simulation of satellite trajectories as well as the development of systems that recognize walking patterns for biometric identification. He spoke about his love for physics and tried to introduce the audience to a different lens through which to view physics.

Sanjay Prakash

With a commitment to energy-conscious architecture, eco-friendly design, and public participation in planning, Sanjay Prakash is one of India’s leading green architects. In his talk, Mr Prakash spoke about the importance of building structures with consideration for the surroundings, sustainable design, the aesthetic appeal of structures, and the necessity of technological integration in architectural projects.

Dar Gai

Best known for her work on the films Teen Aur Aadha, which was produced alongside Anurag Kashyap and Namdev Babu, Dar Gai is a Ukrainian director, screenwriter, and producer. With 35 international film festival nominations and twelve awards, her work has been internationally acclaimed for its originality, emphatic storytelling, and inimitable edginess. In her talk, Dar Gai spoke about conveying messages to the community through her art and methods to translate one’s own emotions to the audience through film.

The event ended with the organizers extending a vote of thanks to the speakers for sharing their wisdom and insight with the students of BITS Pilani and for making the event an enjoyable and enriching experience for all present.