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India Diary Accounts of Howard Students Researching in Kolkata, India

Renu Beniwal
For more information on this program please click here

• Diary of Fatima Fanusie
• Diary of Renu Beniwal (below)
• Diary of Supriyo De
• Diary of Ericka Jenifer
• Diary of Antonette Jefferson

India Diary Accounts of Howard Students Researching in Kolkata, India Three students were selected in 2005 to go to India as part of the Howard-Jadavpur--US-India Research Intiative .  This program is coordinated by Dr. Anita Nahal.  Students interested in applying for this  Study Abroad in India experience can contact Dr. Nahal at 202-806-7887 or anahal@howard.edu . The Call for Applications for the 2006 Howard-Jadavpur--US-India Research Intiative deadline is January 20, 2006.

by Renu Beniwal

From the time I landed in Kolkata to the time I left this great place, I was immersed into a sensational culture, filled with sights, sounds, flavors, and scents completely new and intoxicating. I am working on my thesis in the department of Communication and Culture entitled Language and Social Identity in post-independent India. I received tremendous support from the Jadavpur University SYLFF fellows like Monikarnika and Duke who went above and beyond to make me feel welcomed. They gave me a glimpse into the city as a local that I would not have been able to experience on my own. I was able to utilize the resources within India 's intellectual capital such as the National Library Netija Subhas University along with Jadavpur University Seminars that drew scholars throughout the country. The most important resources that Kolkata provided were the people who taught me so much about the culture and my research topic whether it was Jadavpur University faculty, graduate students, restaurant servers, the mayor of Kolkata, or anyone else I conversed with throughout this great city. What struck me most about India is its vast diversity, ranging all colors of the spectrum. I believe I was a positive experience for them as I was the first American many of them ever encountered.

The many conversations that took place gave me great insight into my research and will forever be remembered. The help of my field guide Abhijit Roy and the SYLFF fellows enabled me to engage with so many wonderful people.

The six weeks I spent there was a lifetime worth of value. I look forward to returning to this fine city and revisit the places that I frequented such as the market places, Victorian Memorial, Harwah Bridge , the many wonderful eateries, the yoga center, and most of all the wonderful people at Jadavpur University .