A Talk given at IIIT Bangalore for 'Confluence 2025'
I vividly remember writing a newsletter way back before my wedding, phew! a lot has changed since then. I moved from Chennai to Bengaluru and everything feels new. Ever since I moved, I observed and learnt a lot about this city. I liked how people call something small in Kannada as "chikku".
Apart from moving to Bangalore, an interesting thing happened a month ago, this newsletter is about that!
Around the month of July 2024, I got an invitation from IIIT Bangalore mentioning their "Confluence 2025" which is an annual event where a set of distinct professionals will give a talk of their perspective on the given theme of the event. When I heard the theme "Patterns in creation" I could only feel I'm no new to that subject. What I was new was speaking on the stage!
Public speaking was never my cup of tea, neither it was a piece of cake. Predominantly artist speak in terms of images, they think in images and express it likewise. Words on the other hand works for the ones who use it incessantly. My biggest challenge was "how am I going to create a presentation around the theme and present it on the stage?" though I'm aware of what my content would be, I can visualise it but putting it in a scripted words is a craft at which I'm new. Never have I done this anytime in the past, but yes I have given speeches in my school and college days, honestly, that's my experience with public speaking.
My wedding was planned on November, the event was about to happen in Jan 2025. From wedding planning arrangements to creating a content and practicing everything was happening simultaneously. Despite all the overwhelming emotions and never ending wedding arrangements my thoughts was also lingering for Jan 2025. You can ask, if its really a big of a deal for me, then why to accept to give a talk? I asked the same question, I'm very much aware of a fact "comfort zone disrupts growth". For the first time I stepped towards being uncomfortable with situations and willingly taking challenges towards facing inherent fears.
After accepting the challenge, in August 2024 I joined a public speaking forum called "Toastmasters", to play out some of my already existing speaking skills, got feedback and worked around to understand the art of public speaking. The club I joined was full of kind people who were pretty much ready to teach and guide anyone who has an interest for public speaking. The culture of Toastmasters is, they grow by helping others grow. It was a great place to socialise too! Learnt real time networking and made few friends there! such an enriching place.
With all the knowledge and experience I gained, I started working on my script little by little. Be it public speaking, art or business, in any field or activity its always best to play by our strengths. "Image" is my strength. At the time of completing my 9 page worded script, I gave a serious thought and decided to present the talk in my own style. I sketched out the frame work of the entire content, slides by slides.
The day came, when I faced the crowd I was brimming with confidence because I knew what I'm going to present and the content was created combining visuals and words, in the way I'm comfortable with. After presenting it, I got compliments from the audience. Most of them liked the imagery alongside the talk, they said it was unique and they haven't seen such a talk in the events that happened in IIIT Bangalore before. That's when I realised we as individuals our thoughts and expressions was always been unique, we only need to believe our ideas and implement it bravely without cutting or bending it for fitting in.
One of the wholesome moment that I can take with me from that event was meeting Mr. Ankur Warikoo. He was also one of the speakers in the event. I've been a ardent follower of his works since 2020, when nobody knew me, nor did they know my art. He was very much kind enough to accept my request for doodling in my sketchbook which is one I specially maintain to collect expressions of interesting personalities I meet.
From being a follower and sharing speakers panel with him and other proficient personalities was such an honour and the conversations I had with them is something I'll cherish. While I'm writing this I'm reminiscing the gut relief I had when I crashed on the couch that evening after everything was done successfully, phew!
The point of this blog post is to let you know, facing our own fears would only make us strong and I can finally vouch for it!
Hope this was a good read, many thanks!
Until next time,
Dejeshwini ;)
The video of the talk was out in YouTube, feel free to check it out :)
Kommentare