The X factor

Mona

The first outing of TEDx in Chandigarh inspired Somveer Singh, who came up with Pindfresh, a hydroponics-based green company that offers solutions for growing vegetables and herbs without the use of soil. He is more than excited to be part of the second outing of Tedx, being organised at the Indradhanush Auditorium, Panchkula, where 1,200 people are expected to be in attendance. Entry is by invitation. 

“When I heard Ravi Singh speak, I knew life’s not going to be same hereafter,” shares Somveer. This mechanical engineer and an MBA, who had his fair share of corporate stint, left his banking life in the US to start a viable organic farming project with his father, Jaspal Singh. Five years down the line, he’s happy sharing his knowledge and experience with the ones keen on eating ‘clean’. His company aims to guide others at a much lesser cost than the original — a whopping Rs 1.5 to 3 crore — investment required per acre for such a project. 

His father, a typical Punjabi fought cancer, and now only eats organic. “Listening to Ravi Singh, I realised that on our own we were good, but together with like-minded people we could be so much better — an unstoppable force.” This father-son duo is looking forward to sharing their inspiring story on January 21.

Beat it

It’s indeed tough for a woman to play the dhol, but for 19-year-old Jahan Geet Singh it is her passion and she has been making waves for last five to six years.  Loud and vibrant the dhol is; so is this feisty girl who is pursuing law. It takes physical strength and quite a chunk of her personal time, but Jahan is rather proud that she has inspired other girls to follow her lead. “When I give stage performances, many girls come and ask me, ‘didi where did you learn playing this,’ or when I am practicing with my ustad, others request to teach them too – so like other men-only fields, these age-old barriers are being broken.”

Just like Jahan and Somveer, TEDx event will showcase many inspiring stories, including that of our own famed singer Satinder Sartaaj.

Top shots

Based on the theme “Past-Present-Future”, the second edition of TEDx Chandigarh will have eminent speakers from India and abroad accentuating the message -‘Remember the Past, Embrace our Present and Build the Future’. Internationally renowned speakers to grace the stage include Laura Jana, one of world’s leading paediatricians (USA), Urvashi Sahni, Founder, Study Hall Educational Foundation, World Economic Forum (USA), Acharya Balkrishna, CEO of Patanjali, Arundhati Bhattacharya, former chairman of SBI, World’s 25th Most Powerful Woman (Forbes 2016); Satinder Sartaaj- renowned Sufi poet, singer, writer, actor and scholar, among others.

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