By Joseph Varghese
Staff Reporter
Novel concepts and innovative ideas, ranging from sustainable economy to raw health to creative computer applications among others, were some of the topics discussed during a Ted Talks event held at Birla Public School.
The speakers included experts in banking, environment, health, computing and some of them flew in from different parts of the world for the event. The 100-plus invited audience had an earful of ideas to listen to and much more words of wisdom to take home from the event that lasted for about three hours.
The school had put up special props and other necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the programme. The audience included a cross section of the community and represented all walks of life. BPS students also participated in the event.
The curator of the event, Aditya Karkare, a Class XI student, introduced the theme of the evening ‘Be the Change’ and highlighted how the great Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi, was able to bring in change, fighting a number of issues, all alone.
He also spoke about the need for innovation by pointing out to the invention of gramophone, though Thomas Alva Edison was almost deaf by the time he invented it.
Opening up the event, Dr R Seetharaman, Group CEO, Doha Bank, highlighted the need for a compassionate approach towards the environment as well as to fellow human beings on the topic of sustainability in global economics.
“We have to create a better world and for this we need to have right policy frameworks. Therefore, sustainable economy is an outcome of a sustained policy on different factors such as sustainable environment,” he said.
The banker observed that advocates of economics and politics have to go together to come out of the present financial crisis in many parts of the world. “This crisis is an opportunity. This must be an opportunity for empowering the younger generation, ensuring food security for millions around the globe, alleviating poverty and enforcing specific steps to counter global warming and climate change. This is where governments have to come out with concrete actions to make sure that sustainable economy is the outcome of sustainable actions from all around the world,” he added.
During the event, three videos were screened highlighting three aspects of TED - technology, entertainment and design. The speeches that were delivered at different TED events enlightened the audience on several aspects and gave a peek into the world of innovative idea worth sharing.