TEDxLeh

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Reuben Gergan

  He is working as a Senior Project Engineer at the Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency, nodal agency for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in Leh District and largely managing solar projects being implemented in the region among other renewable energy systems. He has been involved with both the technical and policy framework for renewable energy systems being installed in the region. He graduated from Cornell University and Ithaca College, New York with degrees in Mechanical Engineering (concentration of aerospace engineering) and Physics respectively. Past research work that he has worked on has included applications of theoretical mechanics, ground based remote sensing and studies in string theory.

• Ibadat Singh

  He is working with Datawind as Director, managing their operations in India. Following the launch of Aakash Tablet – World’s cheapest tablet, he has been involved in the product roll-out, press interaction, market positioning and channel strategy for the products. Participation in various trade shows across the globe gave me exposure to business models deployed by wireless operators in Europe, hence he initiated an innovative revenue sharing relationship with the Indian network operator for DataWind. Also working with various sector leaders towards digital educational reform and bridging the digital divide through affordable tablets platform by imparting online education.

• Ashmeet Kapoor

  Ashmeet is the founder of I Say Organic, a company working towards making organic products in India conveniently available and accessible, with the larger vision of helping create a movement for sustainable production & responsible consumption. Ashmeet has been focused on developing market driven approaches to fight poverty and previously he was a founding member at an early stage company designing a water purification device for rural communities. He started I Say Organic after moving back to India from the US and traveling widely across the country, which inspired him to tap into the enormous potential agriculture presents to create prosperity, while addressing the various environmental and economic threats the country faces. Ashmeet holds a Masters in Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship from Brown University, and Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from University of British Columbia.

• Tsewang Namgail

  Tsewang Namgail obtained his masters in wildlife biology from the University of Tromso, Norway, and PhD in community ecology from the Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Subsequently he was a postdoctoral researcher at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in San Francisco and Las Vegas working on a range of taxa including migratory ducks and reptiles. Currently, he heads the Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (SLCI), an organization aimed at conserving the snow leopard, its prey and habitat. He is also a visiting scientist at the Wageningen University. Dr. Namgail has done pioneering ecological work on several taxa in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh. However his main focus has been birds and mammals. He has published over 20 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is co-editing a book on migratory birds in the Himalayan region for the Cambridge University Press, and serves on the editorial board of two Springer journals: Ecological Research and Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice.

• Mipham Otsal

  Shri Mipham Otsal is a well-known actor, director, writer and educator in the field of theatre. He is credited with establishing and sustaining theatrical activity in Ladakh’s difficult terrain. Shri Otsal obtained his Diploma in theatre from the National School of Drama, Delhi, in 1982, becoming NSD’s first graduate from Ladakh. Retuming home, he served the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages for many years. He is the founder of the Ladakh Theatre Organization in Leh, which has inspired the younger generation to project Ladakh’s traditional lore and performing arts on the stage. Based on Buddhist Jataka tales, he has produced a number of plays with this group. Among his plays are Nangsa Otbum, Fandi, Nai Mitsey, Idthok Lhamo, and Gyurja. He has conducted theatre workshops in Leh, Kargil, and Jammu, and presented papers on the traditional music and monastic chants of Ladakh at several seminars. He has represented India in Thailand, North Korea, Mongolia, China, Hong Kong, Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland on cultural exchange programmes. Shri Otsal has received felicitations for his work from institutions including the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, and from Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar. Mipham Otsal receives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to the traditional theatre of Jammu and Kashmir.

• Saeed Al Maamri

  He was born in Fujairah in mountain region. His passion for mountain climbing drove him to conquer highest peak in the world which made him the first Emirati with the record to climb Mount Everest. He prepares himself for the climb by packing the right gear depending on the roughness of the trek. ‘Just go ahead, if you believe in something, you can do it’. He aimed to climb the highest mountain of every country for peace and love. " Everest " , " Kelemangaro " , Equanqua " ," Elbrus ", “Mount Mc Kinley” and " Denali " , are all tops climbed by the adventurer Saeed al Maamari . He also traveled to a number of mountain and marine caves in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Switzerland, North America. He wishes to reach the moon some day.

• Morup Namgyal

  Sh. MorupNamgyal, ex. Senior Music Composer of the All India Radio, Leh has been a household name ever since he started performing in dramas, as a singer and later as a composer of songs, in the early seventies. Born in a Buddhist family of Wanla village, about 130 kms from Leh, Mr. MorupNamgyal came into direct contact with the folklore, songs, and other cultural values of the area at a very young age. Being naturally gifted with a melodious and powerful voice, he could sing the highly classical and most complex Ladakhi folk songs with exemplary ease. He rose to fame very early by dint of sheer dedication to the cause of art and music and also hard-work, application, character and versatile attributes of the highest standards. Finding his relevance to the cause of promotion of Ladakhi folk songs, art and music, Mr. MorupNamgyal started dedicating his time and leisure for learning the rich cultural heritages of Ladakh in which he excelled in every conceivable field to ultimately become the best exponent of these rich traditional values. Many new and upcoming artists draw inspiration from his achievements. He still stands tall and towering and shall remain a mark of highest excellence, very difficult to achieve by others through generations. He symbolizes the dramatist, singer, narrator, folklore exponent, lyricist, playwright, and music composer par excellence. He has also rendered invaluable service in eradicating very many social evils among Ladakhi society through theLamdon Social Welfare Society of which he is a founding member. He also is the founder of the Lamdon School, Lehwhich has fourteen branches spread over the length and breadth of Ladakh. Lamdon School under his leadership was conferred the prestigious National Award for Child Welfare by the Govt. of India. Throughout his career, he has been blessed with the opportunity to sing for and seek guidance from His Holiness the Dalai Lama on multiple occasions. His Holiness has been a long time supporter of the Lamdon Schools and source of great inspiration and joy for Mr. Namgyal. Mr. Namgyal is a cult figure and a household name not only in Ladakh but also in the adjoining Himalayan regions. Although his involvement with art, culture and music did not pay him handsomely, this did not deter his resolve and conviction to serve the culture in order to serve his beloved Ladakh. He was honouredwith the Gold Medal by the J&K Government in 1997 in recognition of his commendable contribution to the cause of promotion and preservation of Ladakhi art, culture and language. Again in 2003, the J&K government honoured him for his lifetime contribution to the promotion of Ladakhi art, culture, language and music. During the Kargil conflict he composed and sung quite a few songs with patriotic fervor highlighting the heroic performance of the Indian Army, especially theLadakhiScouts Regiment, those songs became instant hits. His surfacing in the arena of Ladakhi art and music was, in fact, the most remarkable happening of the 20th century for the Ladakhi Society and the agenda of Ladakhi culture / language. Conservation and promotion would have remained a distant dream but for the singlehanded drive of this multifaceted culture personality. He is considered to be a repository of everything that is art, culture, language and music and in recognition of this outstanding contribution to the Nation, the Government of India awarded the prestigious “Padma Shri” award by His Excellency the President of India in the year 2004.

• Dr. Smanla T. Phuntsog

  He is the first medical graduate & Post Graduate (M. S.) in the history of Ladakh. He is a Qualified Physician in the Tibetan System of Medicine. He is author of several books: Amchi Pharmaco Therapeutic, Ancient Materia Medica and has presented papers in international seminars. In recognition of his sincere, honest and dedicated services, the government of Jammu and Kashmir conferred Gold Medal to him. He is a multifaceted personality and has visited the whole of Europe, the Scandinavian countries, U. S. S. R., Mongolia, etc. in connection with goodwill missions, seminars, conferences, and lecture series in different disciplines. He is an ardent social worker and social reformer.

• Kunzang Namgyal

  Kunzang Namgyal was born in Kalon family of Saboo Village. He is an Animal rights activist and also the Founder cum President of Ladakh Animal Care Society which was started in Year 2006. The stray dog population in Leh has increased drastically. The birth control programme targeted to control the dog population and keep the population static hasn’t been successful. Lack of civic sense among the people is another reason that has led to increasing stray dog menace in Leh. According to SNM Hospital Data, around 585 dog bites cases have been registered in one year i.e. from January , 2013 to January 2014. Now with the Ladakh Animal Care Society taking an initiative, the things are seeking stability and solution.

• Pramod Joshi

  Mr. Joshi is an Electronics Engineer from ITBHU, followed by an M.Tech. degree from IIT Kanpur and an MBA from IIM Bangalore. He was the recipient of the IIM Gold Medal for Best All-round Performance in 1987. Since then, he has been involved with the IT industry for over 22 years, of which the last five years had been as the Managing Director of Syncata India (formerly NetBase Computing), an Indo-US venture. He has worked in France, Mexico and the USA for over 8 years in various techno-managerial capacities. While at Tata Unisys (subsequently Tata Infotech and merged with TCS), he handled the HR function for a development centre, and recruited employees from several college campuses. He also managed International Business and Finance Support for the Americas, and Sales & Marketing for the Eastern USA and Canada region. More recently, he has been on the advisory board of educational institutions and has devoted his energies to building a bridge between Academia and Industry. He also periodically provided consulting services on Corporate Strategy, HR and Organizational Development to clients in Academia and Industry. His interests include traveling, reading, music, cooking, beach volleyball, tennis and golf.

• Dr. Spalzes Angmo

  She graduated from Government College Girl’s Chandigarh , Punjab University and acquired a Law degree from Law Campus Center in Delhi University and later taught in the far-flung remote region of the Nubra valley in Ladakh. She is a former member of National Commission for Minorities (2009-12). Smt. Spalzes Angmo is a native of Leh-Ladakh. She did her schooling from Welham Girls High School in Dehradun. She completed her graduation from Government College Girl’s Chandigarh , Punjab University , after which she pursued a Law degree from Law Campus Center in Delhi University and subsequently practiced in Supreme Court for a period of two years. She also taught in the far-flung remote region of the Nubra valley in Ladakh, where she was involved numerous social work and adult literacy campaign. In 1995 when Ladakh acquired the Ladakh Hill Development Council, she became the one of the first women Councillor, and thereafter was subsequently nominated and served as Member of the Hill Council for the last fourteen years. During this period she raised important issues like gender equality, Women’s rights and protection. She also held the post of General Secretary, DCC, Leh and the President Mahila Congress Committee, Leh for many years, and mobilized the cadre strength of women Congress Members to thousands. Smt. Spalzes was also the Member, State Red Cross Society of the Government of J&K. She is also a Member of the International Association of Ladakh Studies and attended an International Conference in Aarhus University , Denmark , where she presented a paper on “Women and Development in Ladakh.