It was a day of great ideas and conversations. On Sunday, 2,500 Hyderabadis decided to converge at TEDx Hyderabad 2018 to find some inspiration. And they were not disappointed. With the theme of the event being ‘Rethink’, the day witnessed some powerful and compelling talks by some of the best in the city and country, across diverse fields including acting, cooking, fashion, art, rhythmic gymnastics, the Armed Forces and even agriculture. Here’s encapsulating some of the most captivating talks at TEDx Hyderabad this year.
The journey isn’t always smooth: Lt Cdr Aishwarya Boddapati
Hyderabad-based Navy officer Aishwarya Boddapati shared her experiences of how she started off with a fear of water to riding the oceans and circumnavigating the earth. She shared her beautiful relationship with the ship Tarini which she called, “a friend and a companion” that stood by her through thick and thin.
Lt Cdr Aishwarya Boddapati
Aishwarya mentioned that initially, she thought it would be a pleasure ride on a luxury raft but it was only when she was put on watch during the night that she wondered what she had gotten herself into. “But I don’t regret anything,” said Aishwarya, adding, “Out in the oceans, the weather gets really cold, winds pick up, the clouds approach you and everything goes haywire.”
“It was then that we realised that the journey would not always be smooth.” She stated that she really began to value things amidst all the challenges and hardships. “We were in the middle of the ocean and did not have water to drink. Luckily, it started raining and we collected the water in vessels and did rainwater harvesting,” she recounted, adding, “Marine animals would come very close to the boat, and became very friendly with the crew, just like in the movie Life of Pi. But as the temperature kept dropping, officers kept adding layers till finally, everyone was wearing 10 layers in all!”
Aishwarya concluded by saying, “The sea is not merciful just because you are a woman. Gender was the last thing on my mind when I took up this voyage. Always value what you have and don’t limit your capabilities to your comfort zone.”
Things never go as planned: Tabu
A first-time speaker at TEDx, actress Tabu said, “I never thought I would be an actress or get the Padma Shri, and I had no clue where films and my career would take me. You can only hope for an outcome, but you cannot expect the same to happen.”
Tabu
Citing the theme of the event, she said, “Rethinking is as natural as life itself.” Delivering the shortest speech of the entire event, Tabu said, “Immersing myself in every character has been most gratifying, although the creative process can be frightening. A few of my characters even broke me, like in Maqbool, The Namesake and Haider. These roles have the power to deconstruct you, and allow you to be born again. I allowed my characters to do that to me.”
Expressing gratitude for all her roles, she added, “Sometimes when you are scared of experiences, they turn out to be good. Tough roles taught me to disengage, and as clichéd as it may sound, things never really go as planned.”
Age is just a number: Meghana Gundlapalli
It’s been a long and hard journey for India’s only rhythmic gymnast, Meghana Gundlapalli who started off by saying, “Being beautiful takes a lot of effort and hard work.” From watching her brother learn gymnastics to becoming India’s sole representative at the Commonwealth Games, Meghana watched YouTube videos and other players to learn the sport.
Meghana Gundlapalli
While most gymnasts start training at four or five years, Meghana recalled that at age 11, she headed to the US where the coach refused to train her as she was “too old.”
Her first competition was in the UK, but it took her three years to win in India. “At the National Games in India, I couldn’t get the right training facilities or equipment. I used to train on a regular carpet which is risky. We used to train in the dark too, it was hard. But still, I managed to win a gold medal in 2015,” she recalled.
Mentioning that the hardest part of her journey was finding mental balance, Meghana added, “Staying away from home and training was hard. There was pain, but I fell in love with the sport even more.”
Stop using swear words that mention mother or sister: Harish Sadani
Harish Sadani, the founder of Men against Violence and Abuse (MAVA), recounted being called a sissy. “As a child, I was called a sissy for working with my aunts at home. Often times, young boys grow up thinking it is okay to hit a woman if they refuse to cook or have sex or do some work. This mindset needs to change.”
Harish Sadani
He appreciated the late actress Smita Patil who questioned female stereotypes through her performances. “I used to speak to her through letters and she would always respond. Men cannot be excluded to fight women’s issues. They need to be part of the process of change,” he said.
Pointing out that men are often a part of the problem, he said, “Men are not violent by birth, but they are conditioned by society’s patriarchal mindsets and imagery.”
Through MAVA, Harish has been working for 25 years to curb gender-based violence. He noted, “How patriarchy impacts men and boys is not studied. We must reflect on their upbringing as it plays a significant role.”
He concluded by saying, “Stop using swear words that mention mother or sister. Intervene when you see any injustice rather than being a spectator. Don’t be a party to misogynist remarks. Each one of us can bring about a change in the psyche of society.”
Kitchen is best playground on earth: Sanjay Thumma
Celebrity chef Sanjay Thumma recalled, “I was intrigued by my mother’s cooking and felt that the kitchen was the best playground on earth. When I was eight years old, my mom was hospitalised and for two months, I was cooking three meals a day. In the eyes of my father, I was a superstar but society was not so generous towards me.”
Sanjay Thumma
After earning a degree from the Institute of Hotel Management, the YouTuber chef said, “Taking inspiration from saints who stand out in their bright orange robes, I decided that my chef's dress would also be orange. And just like them, I wanted me to be called an awesome chef, so I picked the Telugu word ‘Vah’ and coined the title Vahchef for myself.”
Amidst hearty applause, Sanjay added, “People watch my videos for many reasons. Interestingly, for every 100 km, a new cuisine is added and for every 100 years, 70 per cent cuisine changes, but we associate it with culture and religion.”
Sanjay, who currently runs a chain of restaurants called Indi Blaze further said, “Put your heart into anything and you will be successful. The secret to an awesome recipe is to make sure you enjoy the ingredients immensely! That's the recipe to success in life too!”
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