Puducherry: Pondicherry University hosted its first-ever TEDx event on the theme “Rues” (French for streets), exploring how streets serve as spaces where stories converge, identities form and possibilities emerge.

The event was inaugurated by Prof K Tharanikkarasu, Director, SEI&RR, as chief guest, and Mohit Gupta, Associate Director (Marketing), Eaton, as guest of honour. Senior faculty members including Prof P Natarajan, Dean, School of Management, and Prof R Kasilingam, Head of Management Studies, also participated.

Seven speakers from diverse fields addressed the gathering. Among them were Dr Kaushik Sridhar, sustainability leader and author; tribal artist Anuradha Thakur; Auroville architect Mona Doctor-Pingel; Indiahikes founder Arjun Majumdar; East Pondicherry SSP Isha Singh; neuroscientist Dr Vasudharani Devanathan; and Sristi Foundation founder G Karthikeyan. Their talks spanned themes of resilience, culture, community, justice and inclusion.

Cultural performances by artists Basab Sen, Gauri Shankar Pattnaik, Amritha Pai and Svaha Myvannan added colour to the event.

Organised by students of the Department of Management Studies with sponsorship from Eaton, the initiative was led by Aman Ahmad P V, Fathima Fahma K T and Sharon Elizabeth Sonny, under the guidance of Prof Victor Anandkumar.

Faculty members said the event marked an inspiring beginning for a tradition of thought leadership on campus.