The Reality of Service | Jas Kalra | TEDxHIXS Youth
In this powerful talk, the Jas Kalra shares the stark reality of caring for abandoned senior
citizens. Many of these parents, once respected professionals, are left behind by their own
children—sometimes tied to shelter gates or abandoned in ambulances. The stories are
heart-breaking: frail bodies, untreated wounds, and children who refuse even to claim their
parents’ ashes.
Jas recounts his personal journey—how he inherited the responsibility of running a shelter
after his father’s passing. With no government aid or foreign support, he and his team now
care for over 1,400 abandoned parents, guided not by passion but by duty, which he calls
the highest human honour.
His message is clear: service is not about grand gestures, but small acts of
compassion—visiting an elder, helping a neighbour, or simply calling your parents. Through
shared responsibility, he believes we can create a society rooted in compassion. Jas Kalra joined The Earth Saviours Foundation as Vice President in August 2021 at just 21 years old, working under the inspiring leadership of his father, the organisation’s President. Tragically, only four months later, in December 2021, his father passed away, leaving Jas to shoulder the immense responsibility of caring for 450 people.
Despite this sudden loss, Jas committed himself wholeheartedly to the Foundation’s mission. Under his leadership, the organisation now provides care for over 1,400 abandoned senior citizens, mentally disabled individuals, and deprived women—whom he describes as “super-privileged” for their remarkable resilience.
In honour of his father’s vision, Jas is spearheading the construction of what will be the world’s largest free-of-cost shelter home, designed to accommodate 5,000 residents. Supported by a tireless team and the blessings of well-wishers, his dedication ensures the Foundation’s mission of selfless service continues to grow stronger each day. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 11:13A multi-tier model for better mental health care | Yaerin Wallenberger | TEDxBowdoinCollegeMental health challenges are affecting a record number of people worldwide, which suggests that current systems are insufficient for meeting individual and societal needs. Wallenberger's talk draws on her background in research psychology and lived experiences to illustrate actionable strategies for improving mental health at all levels of society. The design of the multi-tier model explicitly highlights that every person, regardless of personal or professional background, can help to shape the future of mental health for the better. Student at Bowdoin College. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 15:37Breakdowns as breakthroughs | Chayma Charifi | TEDxBowdoinCollegeUsing her own experience of psychosis, Chayma Charifi proposes that introspection might be the key to transforming mental breakdowns into breakthroughs. Chayma uses humorous storytelling to explore the philosophical and psychological support for why the mind breaks and why non-judgmental self-exploration might be the glue to fuse it together. Student at Bowdoin College. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 19:27Beyond Horizons: Overcoming Personal Limits | Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar | TEDxSIU HyderabadThe speaker’s talk was about pushing her limits beyond horizons and turning challenges into opportunities for growth. From the beginnings of her medical career to transforming barren hills into an iconic museum and shaping ideas into lasting institutions, she illustrated how grit, vision, and determination fuel progress. She recounted overcoming legal, political, and regulatory hurdles while remaining deeply committed to empowering women and carrying forward her father’s values. Her reflections emphasized that horizons are not defined by distance, but by daring. Each horizon crossed unveils another, making the journey of growth and discovery endless. Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar is the Principal Director of Symbiosis Society, and Pro Chancellor of Symbiosis International University. Symbiosis International University is a multi-disciplinary, multinational, multi-cultural University having more than 45000 students from all States of India and international students from 85 countries. The Symbiosis Society not only has under its ambit the Symbiosis International University but also has K12 Schools, College of Arts and Commerce and Museums- the Afro Asian Cultural Museum and the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum & Memorial. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 17:50벚꽃과 개미에게서 배우다 / Learn from Cherry Blossoms and Ants | 허 선례 | TEDxMunmuRoIt informs you of the importance of environmental protection in Korea and what actions you are taking now. 25년 전부터 식량과 환경의 심각성을 깨닫고 식량 활동과 대체 에너지 활동을 하였다. 2017년부터 사업을 통해 세상을 깨끗하고 아름답게 만들자는 생각으로 김제 어업을 시작하였다. 2020년에는 자원 순환 활동으로 환경부 장관상을 수상하였으며, 사업에서 자원 순환의 가능성을 입증하기 위해 노력하고 있다. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 14:55Sliding Doors: How Sitting Volleyball Changed My Life | Antonello Nolletti | TEDxUNINA Federico IICan an unexpected experience transform our lives and priorities? In this talk, Antonello Nolletti shares his journey of bringing sitting volleyball to Italy. From struggles in his engineering studies to building paralympic teams, he shows that true inclusion in sport means giving everyone the chance to grow, overcome limits, and fulfill their potential. Antonello Nolletti è un Ingegnere Meccanico napoletano e tecnico di pallavolo classica e paralimpica, per disabilità fisiche ed intellettive relazionali. Ha contribuito, tra i primi allenatori, allo sviluppo del Sitting Volley in Italia. Come tecnico regionale campano, ha vinto il primo campionato maschile per soli atleti paralimpici, reclutato e formato atleti e atlete per le nascenti nazionali italiane. Sogna di dedicarsi alla realizzazione di carrozzine, protesi ed altri ausili sportivi. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 12:08Being an Astronaut is Hard? Try It in a Wheelchair | Eleonore Cassandra Poli | TEDxUNINA Federico IIWhat if disability were not a limitation, but a strength for space exploration? In this inspiring talk, Eleonore Poli shares how analogue space missions with parastronauts are reshaping our vision of who can become an astronaut. She shows that resilience, adaptability, and spirit matter more than physical perfection — on Earth and beyond. La dott.ssa Eleonore Poli è ricercatrice in materiali e ingegneria presso il CSEM in Svizzera, con un dottorato di ricerca in Materiali e Metallurgia presso l'Università di Cambridge, e astronauta analogica. È stata comandante dell'equipaggio di Asclepios I, supporto a terra per FMARS, co-comandante del team GOST di AMADEE-24, ricercatrice per le missioni ICARES-2 e relazioni spaziali per la missione BIODYSSEUS. Ha fondato CHASM, la Community on Human Analogue Space Missions e PARACHASM, un consorzio di ricerca sui parastronauti. È un'atleta dilettante, pianista e fotografa. È membro del consiglio di amministrazione del Museo Spaziale Svizzero e di hepta.aero. Ed è stata addestrata per spedizioni e ambienti estremi. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx