The Yajna Spirit | Padma Shri Dr Rajagopalan Vasudevan | TEDxThiagarajar College of Engineering

Padma Shri Dr. Rajagopalan Vasudevan explores the spirit of Yajna, the selfless act of working together and contributing for the betterment of society without expecting anything in return.

Drawing from the teachings of Sri Krishna and the Srimad Bhagavatam, he connects this philosophy to his work with plastic waste.

He shares how he transformed discarded plastic into a resource by creating roads out of plastic waste, turning an environmental challenge into an innovative solution. His journey shows how cooperation, innovation and selfless action can create meaningful change. Padma Shri Dr. Rajagopalan Vasudevan, fondly known as the Plastic Man of India, is a distinguished scientist, educator, and pioneer in sustainable engineering. An emeritus professor at Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, he revolutionized road construction by developing an innovative technology that incorporates waste plastic into bituminous roads. His groundbreaking work has enabled the construction of thousands of kilometers of stronger, longer-lasting roads while providing a practical solution to plastic waste management. Awarded the Padma Shri for his exceptional contribution to science and society, Dr. Vasudevan continues to inspire generations through his vision of sustainable innovation and environmental stewardship. 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