17 influential speakers share their innovations for the first time in TEDxGateway Mumbai

It was a Sunday but Mumbai woke up to a buzzing morning at the NCPA, the enthusiasm for a much-awaited event apparent. In the second edition of TEDxGateway, an independently organised "TED' event in Mumbai, an eclectic line-up of speakers from across India and the world had listeners enchanted and applauding through the event.

Right from the first segment, the energy began flowing and so did the ideas. Social entrepreneur Anu Sridharan began proceedings by talking about her project which makes mobile phones instrumental in community water dissemination. This was followed by a literally "cool' talk on temperature-controlled jackets and more for which innovator Kranthi Kiran Vistakula has won several awards.

Taking the session forward was Mallika Dutt of Breakthrough whose ideas of human rights awareness through popular culture rang a bell with many. Then British MP Jo Johnson brought to the stage a sharp perspective on the EU crisis, and its possible solutions.

The following session was high on provoking thought; dotted with Julia Silverman's "sOccket' ball that generates energy, cartoonist Raghava KK's entertaining presentation on his own life and finally, public policy expert Dr M R Madhavan enlightening ways of making members of parliament accountable.

Post-lunch, Illac Diaz of the My Shelter Foundation showed how lives can be changed by employing a plastic bottle as a light source. Then, MIT-an Prof Ramesh Raskar presented and circulated an attachment for smart phones which can determine your eye's prescription, making bulky machines redundant.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Yashraj Akashi, curator, TEDxGateway said, "It's been incredible to bring together some of the most inspiring people on TEDxGateway in its second edition. We truly believe there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come and the best way to predict the future is to create it. In fact, we are already looking forward to bringing the third edition to Mumbai soon¦ and to get even more inspiring personalities on board."