Past TEDx event

TEDxNavrachana International School Vadodara

INTERSTITIUM- The Space Between

Took placeJuly 10, 20268:30 AM - 3:00 PM (GMT+5:30)
LocationVADODARA, Gujarat, India
FormatYouth
We often focus on what’s visible clear ideas, big achievements, defined paths. But what about the spaces in between? The interstitium reminds us that these unseen connections are where real movement and change happen. They hold things together, allow ideas to flow, and quietly shape how everything works. As a TEDx theme, INTERSTITIUM is about exploring these in-between spaces between disciplines, cultures, generations, and ways of thinking. It’s where conversations begin, where differences meet, and where new ideas take form. Instead of celebrating isolated success, it highlights the power of connection and collaboration. It’s also a space for healing and understanding. In a world that often feels divided, the “in-between” gives us room to listen, reflect, and grow. At its core, INTERSTITIUM invites us to look beyond what’s obvious and recognize that the most meaningful transformations don’t happen at the edges but in the spaces that connect them.

Speakers

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

  • Barkat Arora

    Bio: Barkat is a young communicator and performer who believes that learning should inspire curiosity, not just scores. A TEDx speaker, award- winning dancer, and national-level performer, she uses dance, storytelling, public speaking, and educational content to encourage children to explore beyond textbooks. She believes that some of the most meaningful learning happens in the spaces between lessons, performances, and everyday conversations—where curiosity grows, confidence takes shape, and childhood quietly finds its voice. With every stage she steps onto, Barkat hopes to spark conversations that are thoughtful, joyful, and meaningful.

  • DR.Binish Desai

    Dr. Binish Desai is an innovator—curious, determined, and relentlessly committed to sustainability. Known as the “Recycle Man of India,” he began his journey at age 11 with a simple experiment that grew into eco-friendly bricks made from waste. Today, as Founder of Eco Eclectic Technologies, he has developed more than 150 sustainable products and recycled thousands of tonnes of industrial waste, transforming challenges into opportunities. Featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia for Social Entrepreneurs, his work proves that one idea can reshape industries and communities alike. At TEDx Navrachana International School, Vadodara, Dr. Desai invites us to see waste not as an end, but as a beginning.

  • Dr.Vinita Puri

    Professor Dr. Vinita Puri is a pioneer—fearless, compassionate, and unyielding in her mission to heal. An alumna of Mumbai’s medical schools, she heads Plastic Surgery and Burns at Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, and directs the KEM Tissue Bank. As President of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India and leader of Maharashtra’s first successful public‑hospital hand transplant, she stands at the forefront of surgical innovation. Honored with awards including the Donald R. Laub Humanitarian Award, her deepest passion lies with burn survivors. Through Camp Aashakiran, she empowers children to reclaim confidence and joy. At TEDx Navrachana International School, Vadodara, Dr. Puri invites us to see scars not as endings, but as beginnings.

  • Manya Patel

    Manya Patel is a student athlete, student leader, and passionate storyteller. Whether she's on the cricket field, leading community initiatives, or speaking on stage, she believes life is best lived with wonder, hope, and wholehearted effort. Through The Tapestry of Being, she invites others to see that perhaps the greatest victories are not the ones we achieve, but the ones we dare to pursue.

  • Mr.Chetan Sharma

    Chetan Sarma is a designer—versatile, passionate, and relentlessly inventive. With over 15 years of experience in micro scale product design, he has shaped eclectic creations for diverse lifestyles across Indian and international markets. A postgraduate from NID Ahmedabad with advanced training in Germany, he has collaborated with Titan and Caratlane, launching “Shaya” silver jewelry. He also served as Head Designer at Sabyasachi, bringing couture sensibilities into product design. Beyond industry, he has spent seven years mentoring students and guiding graduation juries. An equestrian at heart, he blends creativity with discipline. At TEDx Navrachana International School, Vadodara, Chetan invites us to see design not as ornament, but as transformation.

  • Mr.KP Reji

    K. P. Reji is an artist—curious, incisive, and unafraid to challenge the boundaries of painting. Born in Kerala in 1972 and trained at M. S. University of Baroda, he was honored with the Sanskriti Award for Young Artist in 2007. His works have traveled from Kochi Muziris Biennale to Jogja Biennale, and from Art Basel Hong Kong to the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale. In 2022, The Good Earth, a major retrospective, celebrated his mid career journey. Known for famous works like Cut Pieces and Just Above My Head, Reji’s practice interrogates history, politics, and everyday life. At TEDx Navrachana International School, Vadodara, he invites us to see art not as reflection, but as resistance.

  • Mr.Sricharan Lakkaraju

    Sri Charan Lakkaraju is a builder—visionary, relentless, and deeply committed to youth empowerment. As Founder and CEO of Student Tribe, he has spent over 15 years closing opportunity gaps for students from Tier 2 and Tier 3 colleges across India. What began as a platform has grown into a movement, empowering hundreds of thousands toward meaningful careers. A Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree, angel investor, and mentor, he has spoken at ISB Hyderabad, IIT Hyderabad, BITS Pilani, and more, inspiring over 300,000 students on entrepreneurship, digital campus culture, and leadership. At TEDx Navrachana International School, Vadodara, Sri Charan invites us to see education not as privilege, but as possibility.

  • Ms.Pooja Udayan

    Pooja Udayan is a changemaker—resilient, visionary, and deeply committed to justice. Growing up in a child care institution in Delhi after losing her parents, she turned hardship into purpose. A graduate of DPS Greater Noida and Galgotias University, she built her career at Genpact before earning the Chevening Scholarship and completing an MSc in Development Studies at SOAS, University of London. Returning to India, she worked with Tata Croma and Ernst & Young, but her calling was clear. Today, as Founder and Managing Trustee of Care Leavers’ Advocacy Network (CLAN), she empowers youth aging out of institutions. At TEDx Navrachana International School, Vadodara, Pooja invites us to see turning eighteen not as an end, but a beginning.

  • Navya Dave

    Navya Dave is a student—dreamer, thinker, and poet at heart. At 17, she balances ambition with creativity, aspiring to be a doctor while finding peace in words and ideas. Curious about the mysteries of the human body, she brings unique perspectives to the stage. Winner of the Times of India Junior Public Speaking Competition in Vadodara and a TED-Ed speaker, she draws strength from her mother’s guidance. At TEDx Navrachana International School, Vadodara, Navya shares how imagination and resilience can turn even the most chaotic worlds into places of meaning and possibility.

  • Nusrat Chauhan

    Nusrat Chauhan is an inquisitive, insightful, and introspective Class X student with a passion for public speaking and thoughtful conversations. She enjoys exploring human relationships through observation and reflection, believing that curiosity is the beginning of understanding. Through her ideas, she hopes to encourage empathy, meaningful dialogue, and a deeper appreciation of everyday human connections.

  • Shawn Gohil

    Shawn Gohil is a student—spirited, creative, and full of rhythm. At Navrachana Vidyani Vidyalaya, his love for music, cinema, football, and running shapes both his passions and his personality. When he isn’t playing the guitar, he’s watching films, going for a run, or promising himself he’ll stop procrastinating... tomorrow. At TEDx Navrachana International School, Vadodara, Shawn brings his energy and humor to remind us that creativity thrives not in perfection, but in the joy of everyday moments.

  • Tanvi Diwakar

    Tanvi is an ambitious and highly driven student with a sharp, observant mind. She is naturally curious about patterns and the way everyday moments unfold. Extroverted and easy to talk to, she brings a confident, lively energy to everything she does while staying focused and intentional. Her perspective is shaped by curiosity, reflection, and a constant drive to understand the world more deeply without losing her individuality.

  • Vaanya Gadia

    Vaanya Gadia is a 16 year-old mental health advocate, author of ‘Echoes of a Young Heart’, an entrepreneur and founder of OurCaim, a youth emotional wellness platform, and creator of Emotionary workshops to help young people understand their emotions. Through these, she hopes to make the world a better place for children to grow up in.

  • Vidhan Patni

    Vidhan Patni is a student—curious, articulate, and eager to learn. A high schooler with interests in economics, public speaking, and lifelong learning, he thrives on exploring how simple ideas can reshape the way we think. Beyond academics, he enjoys pickleball and lively debates that challenge perspectives. At TEDx Navrachana International School, Vadodara, Vidhan shares how one idea transformed his view of everyday choices—and how it might change ours too.

  • Yashvi Trivedi

    Yashvi Trivedi, a student at Navrachana International School Vadodara, is passionate about biochemistry, public speaking and spearheading meaningful social impact. As a long-time advocate for menstrual equity, she works with youth to make health education accessible, inclusive, and stigma-free. Enthusiastic, dedicated, and driven by the curiosity for learning, Yashvi combines creativity with purpose to spark important conversations, inspire change, and contribute to a more equitable world.

Organizing team