Hyderabad, December 09, 2024…Can you transplant a temple, just like a tree? Dr E Sivanagi Reddy, an archaeologist and historian has a profound legacy in heritage conservation. A master of traditional sculpture, he transplanted over 100 historic temples, including some in Telangana, and constructed more than 100 new ones across Andhra Pradesh.

Just like him, 13 other distinguished individuals with strong connections to Hyderabad addressed the 10th Edition of TEDX held on Sunday at Shilpakala

They include Shikha Goel, the Director General of Police, Telangana who leads key wings including the CID, Cyber Security Bureau, Forensic Sciences, and Women Safety Wing; the most travelled Indian Ravi Prabhu, Tankbund Shiva who rescued the lives of many who tried to jump into the lake and commit suicide; Nag Ashwin, the visionary film-maker; Dr Prahlada Ramarao, a renowned aerospace scientist; Uma Sudhir, Executive Editor at NDTV, a pillar of integrity and fearlessness in Indian journalism; Chef Sanjay Thumma, Vah-Chef fame behind the globally celebrated cooking site, Vahrehvah.com; Aziz Naser and Mast Ali, the duo who brought Hyderabadi humor to the big screen and made people laugh out; Rajya Sabha MP Ayodhya Ramireddy, the visionary entrepreneur and founder of the Ramky Group and a trailblazer in green energy and waste management; Mayur Patnala, visionary social entrepreneur and Founder & Global CEO of Nirmaan Organization; Rubina Nafees Fatima, a social entrepreneur and the founder of Safa India, empowering marginalized women and youth and Kavita Palancha the co-founder of MAKSPay, bridging the gap between financial institutions and underserved communities.

Telangana tops in India in refund efficiency of money lost in cybercrimes said Shikha Goel, Director General of Police, Telangana. The Cyber Security Bureau is aware that 170 different sections of fraudsters can swindle your money.

The refund procedure is made simpler and the High Court actively supports it. This year, we were able to refund Rs 140 crore to the victims, which is the highest amount in India.

As a police, our job is strenuous and exhaustive, but I draw my energy from every life saved, she added.

I am an accidental journalist but I have a fulfilling career. The impact done to society is immeasurable. When I sit and look back, I have both accolades and brickbats. That is part of the job. But when somebody who is impacted by a story names their child after you, what could I have asked for more? she shared.

From ruins to respect, many heritage structures stand tall with pride today. If I can do this, together we can do miracles in the field of heritage said Dr E Sivanagi Reddy. Every stone has a story, let us together make it known to the world he concluded his 18 minute talk.

Fossil fuels are vanishing. How do you make energy for the future? I got into energy research at the suggestion of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. He was my guru and mentor, but he was not my boss. Today India has taken a giant leap in cold fusion and soon will be a dominant player. We will provide clean energy at affordable cost, he said.

Biryani is not a dish, it is a love story. It is very unique; it is made in many layers. It has more than 7000 years old history. It evolved over the years. Every house Biryani has a different aroma. Everybody contributed to its evolution. Its journey will go on so much that we will not be surprised to see in the year 2101 that drones window deliver it. And I would like to be born then so that I will eat without the fear of diabetes or heart ailments, he added

Ayodhya Ramireddy said nature means God. This was the value imbibed in him by his mother. He explained his forty years of journey of contributing to the carbon-free world. His mantra for the same is 10 Rs—Refuse, Re-think, Reduce, Re-use, Re-home, Repair, Refurbish, Recover, Recycle and Repurpose. Besides the technocracy driving enterprises, we need sustainability-driven entrepreneurs.

Kavita Palancha shared how a simple scan transformed the life of street vendors.

Adventure for a seasoned traveller is inevitable. Once I was in South Sudan, suddenly a civil war broke. I had two options left—one to be there and face the consequences, or fly away to a safe place and save life. I was quick enough to decide and flew away. Travelling teaches the importance of quick decision-making Ravi Prabhu shared

When women work, they lift the economy. Rubina shared the powerful story of her journey. She explained how she redefined grassroots empowerment and proved the power of inclusive growth.

Nag Ashwin questioned the comparison culture prevalent in society. People often compare good with bad, this thing to that thing, this film to that film. Stop comparing everything to everybody he said

A lot of people ask me how I pick up my next film. I do as if it is my last film, said. Then I can give my best. I make films for myself, he added.

Aziz Naser and Mast Ali with their witty remarks left the audience with a good spell of humour. Together, they captured the spirit of Hyderabad with their unmatched storytelling and humour.

The 10th edition of TEDxHyderabad was organized by SAHE (Society for Advancement of Human Endeavour), a not-for-profit society.

The theme of this year’s edition was ‘Serendipity’, the occurrence and development of events by chance, happily or beneficially.

Over 1200 attendees took part.

TEDX is a global platform known for ideas worth sharing. The speakers were handpicked in line with TEDx’s mission: to discover powerful, original ideas in local communities and amplify them on a global scale said Viiveck Verma, Curator & Licensee- TEDx Hyderabad

If you think TEDx is all about talks then you are mistaken. It is also about performances and a combination of performers Viiveck Verma added.

Two feature films —01. MITTI, 02. Mallesham were made out of TEDx Hyderabad talks. Many step-wells were restored and more in the offing and many bore wells were revived. The step wells restoration increased the real estate value of the surrounding places. Now they are abuzz with activities he shared

Tank Bund Shiva was in conversation with Ramesh Loganiathan. “I saved 129 lives and recovered 10,000 dead bodies from Hussain Sagar Lake in the past 25 years”, he shared.

I challenge the challenge. I am not afraid of my life. If I can save more lives, I have done justice to my birth he said in that conversation with Ramesh Loganathan.