I tell stories and I’ve been doing this for about 37 years now that’s me when
for about 37 years now that’s me when
for about 37 years now that’s me when about three decades ago I was lucky that
about three decades ago I was lucky that
about three decades ago I was lucky that I was born in a family that both stories
I was born in a family that both stories
I was born in a family that both stories master storytellers my father was a
master storytellers my father was a
master storytellers my father was a documentary filmmaker my mother was one
documentary filmmaker my mother was one
documentary filmmaker my mother was one of the first women news producers in the
of the first women news producers in the
of the first women news producers in the country with the Russian Consul in Pondy
country with the Russian Consul in Pondy
country with the Russian Consul in Pondy so this meant that as a young child I
so this meant that as a young child I
so this meant that as a young child I got to travel and see the country and I
got to travel and see the country and I
got to travel and see the country and I fell in love with India the amazing
fell in love with India the amazing
fell in love with India the amazing diversity that we had every single place
diversity that we had every single place
diversity that we had every single place every few kilometers you go it changed
every few kilometers you go it changed
every few kilometers you go it changed but that is another story the day my
but that is another story the day my
but that is another story the day my life changed 11th March 2010 my wife
life changed 11th March 2010 my wife
life changed 11th March 2010 my wife Ambika and I were blessed with our
Ambika and I were blessed with our
Ambika and I were blessed with our daughter
daughter
daughter Gayatri as I held her in my hands I felt
Gayatri as I held her in my hands I felt
Gayatri as I held her in my hands I felt an emotion I’d never felt before
an emotion I’d never felt before
an emotion I’d never felt before tears of joy well I had this perfect
tears of joy well I had this perfect
tears of joy well I had this perfect human being in my arms and the world
human being in my arms and the world
human being in my arms and the world around her was not so perfect and I knew
around her was not so perfect and I knew
around her was not so perfect and I knew then that I had to do whatever I could
then that I had to do whatever I could
then that I had to do whatever I could to make it slightly better but what
to make it slightly better but what
to make it slightly better but what could I do all I do is tell stories so I
could I do all I do is tell stories so I
could I do all I do is tell stories so I decided then then let me spend half my
decided then then let me spend half my
decided then then let me spend half my time telling stories that are meaningful
time telling stories that are meaningful
time telling stories that are meaningful stories that add value give people a
stories that add value give people a
stories that add value give people a voice that don’t have a voice people
voice that don’t have a voice people
voice that don’t have a voice people that inspire stories that inspire people
that inspire stories that inspire people
that inspire stories that inspire people and but these don’t get funded so how do
and but these don’t get funded so how do
and but these don’t get funded so how do you take care of that so what I did was
you take care of that so what I did was
you take care of that so what I did was I spent half my time doing commercially
I spent half my time doing commercially
I spent half my time doing commercially successful projects with television
successful projects with television
successful projects with television documentary films or corporate films and
documentary films or corporate films and
documentary films or corporate films and I cross subsidized all the money I got
I cross subsidized all the money I got
I cross subsidized all the money I got from that the profit back into
from that the profit back into
from that the profit back into meaningful content and stories as a
meaningful content and stories as a
meaningful content and stories as a child I love TV and stories and
child I love TV and stories and
child I love TV and stories and television were very interesting for me
television were very interesting for me
television were very interesting for me but as a child growing up we only had
but as a child growing up we only had
but as a child growing up we only had one format in the late seventies and
one format in the late seventies and
one format in the late seventies and early eighties those are black and white
early eighties those are black and white
early eighties those are black and white and the problem with this was that
and the problem with this was that
and the problem with this was that we got to see what the state wanted us
we got to see what the state wanted us
we got to see what the state wanted us to see entertainment those few hours a
to see entertainment those few hours a
to see entertainment those few hours a day but that was soon to change and soon
day but that was soon to change and soon
day but that was soon to change and soon in the 90s we got cable and satellite
in the 90s we got cable and satellite
in the 90s we got cable and satellite television it blew up every few years
television it blew up every few years
television it blew up every few years every few months you will have newer and
every few months you will have newer and
every few months you will have newer and newer channels you had programming from
newer channels you had programming from
newer channels you had programming from across the world stories coming to our
across the world stories coming to our
across the world stories coming to our shores
shores
shores from the west from America and one of
from the west from America and one of
from the west from America and one of those was Baywatch and as a young
those was Baywatch and as a young
those was Baywatch and as a young teenager growing up in that time it was
teenager growing up in that time it was
teenager growing up in that time it was aspirational for me
aspirational for me
aspirational for me hey this spoke of a lifestyle are waking
hey this spoke of a lifestyle are waking
hey this spoke of a lifestyle are waking up to a hangover of disposable morality
up to a hangover of disposable morality
up to a hangover of disposable morality of living every day as it came not
of living every day as it came not
of living every day as it came not worried about the consequences of my
worried about the consequences of my
worried about the consequences of my actions but this wasn’t me and this
actions but this wasn’t me and this
actions but this wasn’t me and this wasn’t who we are and in fact it wasn’t
wasn’t who we are and in fact it wasn’t
wasn’t who we are and in fact it wasn’t what the Western American freely society
what the Western American freely society
what the Western American freely society was either I think Americans are some of
was either I think Americans are some of
was either I think Americans are some of the most hard-working god-fearing family
the most hard-working god-fearing family
the most hard-working god-fearing family centered people just like any of us that
centered people just like any of us that
centered people just like any of us that wasn’t the case and it was interesting
wasn’t the case and it was interesting
wasn’t the case and it was interesting while me and my generation we were
while me and my generation we were
while me and my generation we were waking up through hangovers friends in
waking up through hangovers friends in
waking up through hangovers friends in the West were waking up to yoga
the West were waking up to yoga
the West were waking up to yoga meditation switching back to
meditation switching back to
meditation switching back to vegetarianism veganism the agricultural
vegetarianism veganism the agricultural
vegetarianism veganism the agricultural practices was going back to organic it’s
practices was going back to organic it’s
practices was going back to organic it’s ironic that a few decades ago we will
ironic that a few decades ago we will
ironic that a few decades ago we will solve a story in there how are we going
solve a story in there how are we going
solve a story in there how are we going to feed this growing population of
to feed this growing population of
to feed this growing population of hundreds of millions of people
hundreds of millions of people
hundreds of millions of people now billion plus the only way was
now billion plus the only way was
now billion plus the only way was through petrochemical based fertilizers
through petrochemical based fertilizers
through petrochemical based fertilizers pesticides and genetically modified
pesticides and genetically modified
pesticides and genetically modified seeds but when you go down that path and
seeds but when you go down that path and
seeds but when you go down that path and five six decades later what happens
five six decades later what happens
five six decades later what happens there’s a crisis in agriculture today
there’s a crisis in agriculture today
there’s a crisis in agriculture today farm suicides are not unheard of across
farm suicides are not unheard of across
farm suicides are not unheard of across the country but are these stories that
the country but are these stories that
the country but are these stories that can give answer to these guys so we
can give answer to these guys so we
can give answer to these guys so we actually found something in Andhra
actually found something in Andhra
actually found something in Andhra Pradesh where a million farmers worked
Pradesh where a million farmers worked
Pradesh where a million farmers worked and went back to traditional farming
and went back to traditional farming
and went back to traditional farming Narayan and his wife narsimha on a
Narayan and his wife narsimha on a
Narayan and his wife narsimha on a hundred square meters of land plant
hundred square meters of land plant
hundred square meters of land plant seven varieties of crop traditional
seven varieties of crop traditional
seven varieties of crop traditional Indian fun fact
Indian fun fact
Indian fun fact not monoculture one crop and they’re
not monoculture one crop and they’re
not monoculture one crop and they’re able to pull out enough money from this
able to pull out enough money from this
able to pull out enough money from this to sustain their own livelihoods they’re
to sustain their own livelihoods they’re
to sustain their own livelihoods they’re able to pull out in the vegetable sweet
able to pull out in the vegetable sweet
able to pull out in the vegetable sweet and sell about four thousand rupees a
and sell about four thousand rupees a
and sell about four thousand rupees a month in the market now contextually you
month in the market now contextually you
month in the market now contextually you could rent a house in their village for
could rent a house in their village for
could rent a house in their village for two hundred rupees so four thousand
two hundred rupees so four thousand
two hundred rupees so four thousand rupees goes a long way
rupees goes a long way
rupees goes a long way if stories like that are able to give
if stories like that are able to give
if stories like that are able to give answers to farmers across the country
answers to farmers across the country
answers to farmers across the country the crisis of Agriculture of cutting
the crisis of Agriculture of cutting
the crisis of Agriculture of cutting down 50% of the costs that is linked
down 50% of the costs that is linked
down 50% of the costs that is linked with these chemical based pesticides and
with these chemical based pesticides and
with these chemical based pesticides and fertilizers to healthier alternatives in
fertilizers to healthier alternatives in
fertilizers to healthier alternatives in traditional farming practices if they
traditional farming practices if they
traditional farming practices if they reach out the farmers across the country
reach out the farmers across the country
reach out the farmers across the country what the crisis continue would follow
what the crisis continue would follow
what the crisis continue would follow suicides continue so stories can give
suicides continue so stories can give
suicides continue so stories can give answers stories also gives voice to the
answers stories also gives voice to the
answers stories also gives voice to the voiceless I was fortunate to understudy
voiceless I was fortunate to understudy
voiceless I was fortunate to understudy with my uncle Mike and work with my
with my uncle Mike and work with my
with my uncle Mike and work with my cousin got them both master storytellers
cousin got them both master storytellers
cousin got them both master storytellers now Mike’s project and film on the
now Mike’s project and film on the
now Mike’s project and film on the shores of Silence documented the
shores of Silence documented the
shores of Silence documented the slaughter of 1,200 whale sharks every
slaughter of 1,200 whale sharks every
slaughter of 1,200 whale sharks every year on the cost of good job now it’s an
year on the cost of good job now it’s an
year on the cost of good job now it’s an interesting turning point this was the
interesting turning point this was the
interesting turning point this was the first film that was actually able to
first film that was actually able to
first film that was actually able to bring about a law protecting a species
bring about a law protecting a species
bring about a law protecting a species not only named there globally the whale
not only named there globally the whale
not only named there globally the whale shark is protected because of this one
shark is protected because of this one
shark is protected because of this one film or story under sight is but more
film or story under sight is but more
film or story under sight is but more interestingly as Mike made this film he
interestingly as Mike made this film he
interestingly as Mike made this film he reached out to the fishermen the
reached out to the fishermen the
reached out to the fishermen the community is that we’re going out and
community is that we’re going out and
community is that we’re going out and killing these whale sharks so while one
killing these whale sharks so while one
killing these whale sharks so while one year 1,200 where shots were killed the
year 1,200 where shots were killed the
year 1,200 where shots were killed the very next year zero were killed so a
very next year zero were killed so a
very next year zero were killed so a story made a deep impact so stories also
story made a deep impact so stories also
story made a deep impact so stories also give a voice to the voiceless of whale
give a voice to the voiceless of whale
give a voice to the voiceless of whale sharks in this case stories also inspire
sharks in this case stories also inspire
sharks in this case stories also inspire so this is Lakshman Rao he’s a chai
so this is Lakshman Rao he’s a chai
so this is Lakshman Rao he’s a chai wallah in ideal but he had a dream of
wallah in ideal but he had a dream of
wallah in ideal but he had a dream of being an author so he wrote a book and
being an author so he wrote a book and
being an author so he wrote a book and he went to a publisher and area range
he went to a publisher and area range
he went to a publisher and area range and the guys is like something amazing
and the guys is like something amazing
and the guys is like something amazing chai wallah what do you know what you
chai wallah what do you know what you
chai wallah what do you know what you contribute to literature and he had a
contribute to literature and he had a
contribute to literature and he had a book inside and thankfully for all of us
book inside and thankfully for all of us
book inside and thankfully for all of us he didn’t sell short so he went ahead
he didn’t sell short so he went ahead
he didn’t sell short so he went ahead and published his book Amazon publishing
and published his book Amazon publishing
and published his book Amazon publishing today Lakshman Rao has 24 books 13 have
today Lakshman Rao has 24 books 13 have
today Lakshman Rao has 24 books 13 have been published six have been reprinted
been published six have been reprinted
been published six have been reprinted hell he sells on Amazon as I was leaving
hell he sells on Amazon as I was leaving
hell he sells on Amazon as I was leaving I asked him I said mr. Dow why do you
I asked him I said mr. Dow why do you
I asked him I said mr. Dow why do you Sylvie you are an author so it’s larger
Sylvie you are an author so it’s larger
Sylvie you are an author so it’s larger in India storytellers and authors don’t
in India storytellers and authors don’t
in India storytellers and authors don’t get paid enough now the problem is this
get paid enough now the problem is this
get paid enough now the problem is this good stories that bad stories there’s
good stories that bad stories there’s
good stories that bad stories there’s lots of stories and over a short span of
lots of stories and over a short span of
lots of stories and over a short span of just bit more than two decades India now
just bit more than two decades India now
just bit more than two decades India now has 857 television channels 460 of these
has 857 television channels 460 of these
has 857 television channels 460 of these are news channels and sadly negative
are news channels and sadly negative
are news channels and sadly negative news self so we’ve been bombarded
news self so we’ve been bombarded
news self so we’ve been bombarded constantly again anything with a
constantly again anything with a
constantly again anything with a negative news negative stories that fill
negative news negative stories that fill
negative news negative stories that fill the mindset what happens when we do that
the mindset what happens when we do that
the mindset what happens when we do that we’ve all start coming up with a one-man
we’ve all start coming up with a one-man
we’ve all start coming up with a one-man society starts getting divided are we
society starts getting divided are we
society starts getting divided are we switching off from content but not all
switching off from content but not all
switching off from content but not all of that is bad
of that is bad
of that is bad we just heard mr. Gupta talk about how
we just heard mr. Gupta talk about how
we just heard mr. Gupta talk about how you know society joined in with that
you know society joined in with that
you know society joined in with that story of never stood with her the same
story of never stood with her the same
story of never stood with her the same happen with Jessica Lange this was a
happen with Jessica Lange this was a
happen with Jessica Lange this was a turning point
turning point
turning point NDTV as a leading channel took this up
NDTV as a leading channel took this up
NDTV as a leading channel took this up my brother works there and you know some
my brother works there and you know some
my brother works there and you know some of the content they’ve done the stories
of the content they’ve done the stories
of the content they’ve done the stories they have done have got illegal mining
they have done have got illegal mining
they have done have got illegal mining stopped or have fought against human
stopped or have fought against human
stopped or have fought against human trafficking but in this case it gave
trafficking but in this case it gave
trafficking but in this case it gave voice to someone who could not have a
voice to someone who could not have a
voice to someone who could not have a voice anymore
voice anymore
voice anymore someone who’s gone her life taken away
someone who’s gone her life taken away
someone who’s gone her life taken away but she got justice because a story
but she got justice because a story
but she got justice because a story worked I think India where they’re born
worked I think India where they’re born
worked I think India where they’re born and I feel really fortunate to be born
and I feel really fortunate to be born
and I feel really fortunate to be born here
here
here I think we have so much going on India
I think we have so much going on India
I think we have so much going on India for me is a living tapestry of colors of
for me is a living tapestry of colors of
for me is a living tapestry of colors of different faiths coming together living
different faiths coming together living
different faiths coming together living in harmony every few kilometers you go
in harmony every few kilometers you go
in harmony every few kilometers you go languages change dialects change food
languages change dialects change food
languages change dialects change food amazing foods and colors traditions arts
amazing foods and colors traditions arts
amazing foods and colors traditions arts culture we have it all and I think this
culture we have it all and I think this
culture we have it all and I think this needs to be preserved otherwise
needs to be preserved otherwise
needs to be preserved otherwise we all lose out so coming back the
we all lose out so coming back the
we all lose out so coming back the future of technology
future of technology
future of technology my daughter geyser is now seven and my
my daughter geyser is now seven and my
my daughter geyser is now seven and my son in village is 20 months old
son in village is 20 months old
son in village is 20 months old interestingly they learned how to swipe
interestingly they learned how to swipe
interestingly they learned how to swipe devices before they could walk and they
devices before they could walk and they
devices before they could walk and they choose the content they want to watch
choose the content they want to watch
choose the content they want to watch they’re not interested in watching
they’re not interested in watching
they’re not interested in watching television because they can choose what
television because they can choose what
television because they can choose what they want when they want and where they
they want when they want and where they
they want when they want and where they want they don’t want to listen to what
want they don’t want to listen to what
want they don’t want to listen to what large media groups want to tell them
large media groups want to tell them
large media groups want to tell them what the government wants to tell them
what the government wants to tell them
what the government wants to tell them or what industrial hobbies and interests
or what industrial hobbies and interests
or what industrial hobbies and interests tell them they are the youtubers and
tell them they are the youtubers and
tell them they are the youtubers and it’s interesting with YouTube there’s
it’s interesting with YouTube there’s
it’s interesting with YouTube there’s 300 hours of content that goes onto
300 hours of content that goes onto
300 hours of content that goes onto YouTube every minute of every day it’s
YouTube every minute of every day it’s
YouTube every minute of every day it’s massive so what’s happened is you’ve got
massive so what’s happened is you’ve got
massive so what’s happened is you’ve got a brilliant platform Digital has
a brilliant platform Digital has
a brilliant platform Digital has provided us with a democracy freedom of
provided us with a democracy freedom of
provided us with a democracy freedom of speech and expression and as long as we
speech and expression and as long as we
speech and expression and as long as we can preserve that those that don’t have
can preserve that those that don’t have
can preserve that those that don’t have a voice will have a voice for billion
a voice will have a voice for billion
a voice will have a voice for billion videos are viewed every day on YouTube
videos are viewed every day on YouTube
videos are viewed every day on YouTube and this is just the beginning my
and this is just the beginning my
and this is just the beginning my challenge to you all is this I spent
challenge to you all is this I spent
challenge to you all is this I spent half my time telling meaningful stories
half my time telling meaningful stories
half my time telling meaningful stories you all have these devices the cliched
you all have these devices the cliched
you all have these devices the cliched cell phone is actually better in terms
cell phone is actually better in terms
cell phone is actually better in terms of quality than cameras and professional
of quality than cameras and professional
of quality than cameras and professional equipment were a few years ago which
equipment were a few years ago which
equipment were a few years ago which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars
costs hundreds of thousands of dollars
costs hundreds of thousands of dollars but that’s gone so you have the ability
but that’s gone so you have the ability
but that’s gone so you have the ability to tell stories why not mean your voice
to tell stories why not mean your voice
to tell stories why not mean your voice for the voiceless like it’s brilliant
for the voiceless like it’s brilliant
for the voiceless like it’s brilliant inspirational story that preserve
inspirational story that preserve
inspirational story that preserve culture and traditions and inspire
culture and traditions and inspire
culture and traditions and inspire others I think we have a lot going on in
others I think we have a lot going on in
others I think we have a lot going on in India stories at every corner
India stories at every corner
India stories at every corner stories of communities coming together
stories of communities coming together
stories of communities coming together in times of crisis an adversity
in times of crisis an adversity
in times of crisis an adversity different fates living in harmony
different fates living in harmony
different fates living in harmony it’s not about divisive stuff but we get
it’s not about divisive stuff but we get
it’s not about divisive stuff but we get that in television and main media so I
that in television and main media so I
that in television and main media so I think that’s the challenge I leave you
think that’s the challenge I leave you
think that’s the challenge I leave you all with until the next story thank you
all with until the next story thank you
all with until the next story thank you [Applause]
”
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