May 13th, 2008
Cerebrate, the Event.

How do you encapsulate a dream close to your heart? How do you put three months of planning and preparations into words? How do you convey the three wonderful days you spent with some really bright folks? It’s always been a challenge. Words never seem to do justice describing things that I’m absolutely passionate about.

One such incident is Cerebrate. Almost a month after the event is over, here I am putting some of my thoughts together.

Cerebrate has been an idea two years in the making. Ever since I learnt about FooCamp and the fantastic people who gather together every year, I have always earned for such an event. Then I come across this fantastic event called TED, and my grouse and longing only grew bigger.

There’s no way I would either be invited to such an event as FooCamp or would I be able to afford the exorbitant fees of a TED. I also wondered why don’t such events ever happen in India. That’s when I decided that instead of waiting and wishing that someone does it, let’s roll up our sleeves and get it done ourselves. That’s how the event came to be.

So, what is Cerebrate? In simple terms, it’s getting the very best minds from different fields together for three days of togetherness, ideating and sharing knowledge. These are folks from Law, Movies, Technology, Theatre, Sports, Management, Photography, Medicine, Journalism, Music…. The only connecting factor amongst the lot is the excellence. These are folks who are driven and have achieved in their own chosen fields.

I’d like to encourage you guys to take a look at the key people who we invited for the first edition of Cerebrate. The event took place at the beautiful Club Mahindra Resort on Varca Beach. Club Mahindra have bought into the idea and have been generously helpful in supporting the event for the long term.

Here’s a quick picture log of the event.


The cap


Cerebrate in progress.


Eliciting a point.


The main essence has been the sharing of experiences and learning from one another.


Everyone engrossed in Sudhir’s bazooka of a camera. Learning the tricks of wildlife photography.


More togetherness.


Casual hallway conversations.


The outdoors ideation session.


That’s the view from one of the rooms. Fabulous pool.


One of the rooms.


Panoramic view of the ground


The Dune Shack on the Beach where we had our dinner.


View of the reception


Group snap before departure

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24 Responses to “Cerebrate, the Event.”

  1. Anbusivam says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:28 AM

    Hello Kribs,

    Ever since I came across TED (www.ted.com), I’ve been longing to bring such an event here in India. I also have been talking to couple of my friends here in Bangalore, the feasibility of such an idea. I couldn’t stop writing this, the moment I saw your post.

    I am sure the variety of topics, the quality of thoughts, and kind of speakers there in TED conference could definitely be brought together in our Country too.

    Celebrate, is an excellent idea. Opening this to wider audiences will be really great. We should think about a well organised knowledge conference similar to TED, where in the “Best Minds” of our country can come together. Just bringing that spark will do the rest.

    Let’s think of a National Level Celebrate, TED like conference. I would love to put in all my efforts in organising such an event. May be we’ll talk in detail.

    -Siva

  2. Shrinidhi Hande says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:28 AM

    Good idea…Waiting to see outcome of the discussions at Arun’s blog

  3. Giri says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:28 AM

    Sounds interesting and very exciting. Kiruba, do u mind sharing bits and pieces of what was discussed, agenda or something like that. Just curious…

  4. ada-paavi!!!! says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:29 AM

    Kiruba if ud stuck to saying to saying that its a simple gathering of people id have had no problem. But you had to just go on and add ‘the best minds’
    now that is debatable, for everyone out there i bet i can find someone who has achieved more than them in their fields by your barometer.
    the addition of the best minds just reeks of the huge ego involved in this. I think it was just an excuse for you guys to waste time at someones funding expense.

  5. Shrinivas says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:29 AM

    I think after Indian Railways you’re the only one who is trying to bring people closer and closer!!!
    All the Best!

  6. Shrav says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:29 AM

    i guess there’s a lil bit of truth in ada paavi’s words! But yea, I look up to you as a blogger and by far you are the best one in India!!

  7. redindian says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:30 AM

    great Club Mahindra infomercial… they got their moneys worth! if you could just add their PDF brochure..

    someone needs a crash course on humility! How about india’s best get together for ‘Modesty 08′ :)

  8. Guru says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:30 AM

    Okay .. When does the event write up go up ?

    And so far this isn’t a infomercial methinks, just a (not-so) disguised commercial. The only info i gained here was that: some event happened.

    That was all.

  9. Suresh Sambasivam says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:30 AM

    Good post on Club Mahindra. Looks like a great place to stay. The only problem was the title. It talks about something called “Cerebrate”.

    I have been a silent reader of your blog for the past 4 years and I have enjoyed several posts and also gained a bit of knowledge from some of them. But the most important thing that kept me hooked was that it was updated almost daily.

    But those days are gone and the blog is updated very infrequently in the recent times. I don’t have the same kind of attachment with this blog as I used to have earlier.

    Of course, It’s your blog and you know what is best for you.

  10. Ganapathy says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:31 AM

    Guys, give him a break..he feels he has had fun..and has written abt it in his own blog…

  11. Shrav says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:31 AM

    @ganapathy, why is there a comment box if we aren’t supposed to tell him what we feel.. It’s ok to criticise as long as it doesn’t get overly offensive.

  12. Mojo says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:31 AM

    Nothing but a bunch of too-full-of-themselves folks tomtoming their free vacation. Ooh!

  13. jaleel says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:32 AM

    TO all those losers who take this as a Club Mahindra infocommercial… why do u think Club Mahindra sponsored this event? And whats wrong with covering them? get a life LOSERS…

  14. Suresh Sambasivam says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:32 AM

    @jaleel – Dude, there’s nothing wrong in covering Club Mahindra. In fact, it’s one of his responsibilities since they sponsored this whole thing. But the disappointment comes from the expectation set by the title. You expect to learn more about the event, but it just has snaps of various locations within Club Mahindra and nothing more. And if you say voicing this opinion makes one a LOSER, then so be it.

    Yet, do mind your language when you are commenting in public. You can’t just say whatever you want just because you feel like saying it.

  15. vilesh says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:32 AM

    it seems that the focus has been shifted from the event to the holiday club.there is a lot more focus on the club than the event.anyways lets cerebrate

  16. DR SP says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:32 AM

    kiruba you are doing a good job,cerebrating people but the real thing is celebration,togetherness is good but aloness is divine & blissful
    Dr.S.P.Singh
    dr.destress@gmail.com

  17. Anu says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:33 AM

    Kiruba..
    Could you also include what was main points in the meet.. it would be really interesting

  18. Hari says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:33 AM

    Hi Kiruba:

    I wished you lived in Vancouver….Chennai is a better place for having a positive resource like you.

    I hope there will be more Kirubas in the next generation of Chennaites….this will be great for the city.

  19. Shrinidhi Hande says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:33 AM

    @ All,

    More information on this event is available at Arun Nair’s (of Club Mahindra) blog
    http://indianeye.org/

  20. Bharat Rajawat says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:34 AM

    i like your blog and i read it very sincerely

  21. Pritya says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:34 AM

    Dear Kiruba
    Kindly click on the link below. There is something for you there, a way to express our appreciation.

    http://pedatha.com/2008/05/26/pedatha-nandans-naamapoo-blog-awards/

  22. Edgar Dantas says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:34 AM

    hey nice blog really enjoyed goin through it really nice post too.I really appreciate it & enjoyed a lot.Really cool.
    with regards
    edgar dantas
    http://www.gadgetworld.co.in

  23. Wanderer says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:35 AM

    Hey.. sounds rather exciting.. and I love the reasoning that since we are unlikely to get an entry to the famed one.. might as well create something ourselves and take it to fame.

    guess I’d be quite keen to get involved in organizing something like this.. and believe can bring enough value to the table to be included :)

    Cheers!

    Ankur
    ankur(at)lifeinlines.com

  24. Ashwin says:
    May 25, 2009 at 5:35 AM

    Hey Kribs! Nice cap! Can i have one? (:^)> Ashwin (ashwin.parthiban@jwt.com)

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