It’s important to remember that setbacks, failures, and tragedies are a part of life. But finding joy and success in the daily struggle of life is largely dependent on our ability to persevere through even during the toughest adversity without ever giving up.
Jaipur witnessed various stories during TED’s first Global , ‘TEDx Anchor event in Jaipur –The Unseen’ by speakers who were in Pink City for the event at Hotel Clarks Amer on Saturday 25 Feb, 2017. They tried to tackle society’s toughest questions, answering with innovation, and optimism. Let’s meet top 7 speakers who have embraced the pain and burnt it as fuel for their journey called LIFE.
- Harsh Songra- Different Ability
A 20-year-old founder of My Child App, an app that screens developmental disorders in 10 seconds was developed by Harsh, who himself was Diagnosed with Dyspraxia at the age of 9. It took years for parents to understand their boy is suffering from. Having a child with disability and dealing with the stigma in our society is still a big deal. For a 10 year boy, not going to play outside, not being able to eat noodles on his own and repeatedly told by teachers to parents to look for some school for disabled children for their son was neither easy to understand nor to deal with. But for some there is positivity in everything and here he was ; who became best friend with his computer and at the age of 19, Harsh created ‘My Child’ App to help parents diagnose developmental disorders in their children in just 45 seconds. The app helps in connecting those millions of parents who had similar questions about their children suffering from development disorders.
2. Mallika Ahluwalia– Preserving Memories
For all of us history is all about the rulers, the monuments created by the ruling king but Mallika is one such person who made us realize that history all about the people who lived during those times and who have no mention in history books. When we read about the History of partition, it is only about Jinnah, Nehru or other political leaders but what about the people who lived during those times? During India Pakistan partition, the people living at both sides just moved leaving their past behind holding no future in hands. This thought led Mallika to create the world’s first museum to remember the Partition of India. The Partition Museum has opened its doors at the Town Hall in Amritsar. She shared her heartwarming story about her own great grand father and other family members who had shared the trauma of displacement when they left Lahore packing life in one suitcase with a thought that they will soon be back and the rest is history. The memories they never shared with anyone. Now the museum treasures memories of migrated families who braved themselves to stand up again from scratch after migration.
3. Manisha Koirala–Take Life as God’s Gift, value it
She was the face with which we all were familiar. Dressed in long dark brown frilled kurti with neatly tied hair in a bun, she looked strong and content. Her success story we all have seen and heard but what she shared was her battle for life, for career, for health. Manisha Koirala lost everything. It was a trying time, when she was diagnosed with cancer, and it was this battle with cancer, which caused her to look deep within herself & find a new way of living, the way of joyful living.
She further shared- During her illness, one lady used to visit her in the hospital everyday, she asked her the reason for her regular visits, knowing she is not even her fan or family or friend. Her answer touched her –so that you too can do this for someone one day. She realized and made it a point to be with the person who will be happy to have you on your side especially during the troubled times. As that is the one way you can give back to the society.
4. Nidhi Chaphekar – An eye for an eye is not the answer
Nidhi, a Jet Airways Crew member became one of the most iconic images of the Brussels Terror Attack. Overcoming the horror of that fateful day, Nidhi believes that the attack made her rethink and discover the true meaning of life. Though she cannot forgive the attackers but she strongly advocates that revenge is not an answer. When for the first time she looked in the mirror after the terror attack she couldn’t believe that it is her face. The trauma was enough to think it’s better to die than to live. But with family support and her own will power, she gathered the strength to live and today her words were more than inspiring to motivate all of us present at TedX.
5. Jagdeep Chhokar –Truth about democracy
Former Director – in Charge of IIM, Ahmedabad and co-founder of Association of Democratic Reforms
Prof. Chhokar has been central to ADR’s success in bringing political parties under the ambit of RTI and the Supreme Court ruling barring convicted criminals from contesting elections. He talked about the grave issues like black money, to improve governance and strengthen democracy by continuous work in the area of electoral and political reforms.
He talked about the legitimacy of our elected representatives. Do our elected representatives really “represent” us? In his speech, he insisted, if you favor none of the party during elections don’t compromise select ‘NOTA’ as that will force political parties to bring worthy candidates for contesting elections.
6. Vikas Agnihotri – Decoding Human Behavior
Google search is nothing new for any one of us but what insights came from Vikas was really mind boggling depending upon the human behavior. At the time of New Year, googlers were more specific to what should be their New Year resolution, followed by Diet, health and Exercise in the first month of the year, the online behavior keeps changing with changing month and with Valentine month the googlers were inclined towards – How to Kiss, What to gift … itwas seriously hilarious but true.
7. Laxmi Aggrawal – Stop Acid Attacks
She was just 15 years old when attacked by a 32 year old man. An acid attack survivor, Laxmi took the cause and struggled to win the case in Apex Court on restrictions on the sale of acid. Despite the regulations, not much changed on ground and acid continues to be available in open market. Laxmi is now fighting another battle by means of Right of Information Act and acquiring data concerning acid sale in each district in India. She aims to apprise the Supreme Court of the actual ground situation with this data.
The ideas shared have the power to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world!
Jaipur Beat 