INDIAN

10th Edition : April 2011

Greetings from New Delhi!

As we prepare this issue of the Indian Fulbrighter, the memories of a very successful annual American Fulbrighters' conference are still fresh in our minds. This event is a key opportunity for USIEF to catch up with students and scholars, and collect invaluable feedback. This year was the first time the conference expanded to include Central Asia. The new South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference was held in Panaji, Goa, with over 130 American Fulbrighters in attendance.

USIEF celebrated the 61st anniversary of its foundation in February. This event was a bit more modest than the celebration of USIEF's 60th, but it was nonetheless memorable, with over 100 guests at a gala dinner and concert held on the back lawn of the Fulbright House.

We are excited to report that this January, USIEF, with the support of the US Department of State, launched a new strategic plan for EducationUSA advising that provides for additional hiring, professional training, more support at all the existing advising centers, as well as an increase in outreach efforts beyond the major metros. USIEF will also open a "Virtual Advising Hub," which will include a toll-free helpline and a monthly webinar, as well as a presence in a number of social networking sites.

The Fulbright-Nehru, Fulbright and other fellowship competition for academic years 2012-13 for Indian citizens were announced on February 15, 2011. Our deadlines for fellowships will be as early as May 2011. I would encourage you to go through our website to learn about the fellowship categories, their eligibility criteria and application procedures. The website also hosts a current fellows page which will help you learn about recent proposals that have been successful. I also encourage you to talk with Fulbright and other alumni about their experiences in the United States. USIEF staff and our website alumni page can help you to get in touch with people in your field who will be glad to answer questions. When you are ready to apply, you can download the application material from the USIEF website.

Please bring these fellowships to the attention of those who may be interested. Best wishes to all of you as you explore these exciting opportunities.

Best regards,

Adam Grotsky March 29, 2011

Executive Director

FulbrighterFulbrighterFulbrighterFROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S DESK

From The Executive Director's Desk

USIEF Updates 2

Scholars' Section: 5In the First Person

Alumni Speak 8

Fulbrighters in the News 13

Obituary 13

Fulbright Alumni Associations 14

Upcoming Events 14

2012-13 Fulbright Fellowships Call for Applications 2

USIEF Expands Educational Advising 3Services throughout India

2011 Fulbright Conference for 3American Scholars, Goa

Community College Symposium 4Strengthens US/India Education Partnership

Four American Artists, 4One Super/power Exhibition X 2

USIEF's 61st Anniversary 5Celebration

Finding the Real India 5

Managing Waste at a 6Pilgrimage Site in the Mountains

Smaller than a City…: 6Experiences of Place in an Indian Qasba

Finding much more than 7State-of-the-art Technology

Project Deaf India 8

Of Chemistry and Poetry 9

Experiencing cultural diversity 10while exploring technology applications

Taking and giving photographs 10in Rural India: Portraits from West Bengal

In Brief: Short takes on Fulbrighters 12

The Indian Alumni Association 14

Friends of Fulbright to India, Inc. (FFI) 14

2 3

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

Fellowships for American Citizens

For American citizens, these are exciting times to come to India on a Fulbright grant. Within the last two decades, India has emerged as a major knowledge-based economic power. Today, the country possesses one of the largest human resource treasures in almost all frontiers of education. Its universities and institutes of higher education have attained global recognition as a result of their significant contribution in research and development in many disciplines ranging from the arts and humanities to biotechnology, nanotechnology and genetic engineering. Fulbright awards to India provide unique opportunities for US students, faculty and professionals to see an ancient civilization emerge as one of the world's major economic and industrial forces.

India now has the largest US Fulbright Scholar Program in the world with over 80 US scholar awards annually. With over 26,000 institutions and over 13 million student enrollments, the Indian higher education system has established itself as one of the largest in the world. Recognizing the need to increase access to higher education and improve the quality of the existing institutions, the Government of India has greatly increased its expenditure on higher education. In addition, there has also been a large expansion in unaided, private higher education institutions in India. Education is one of the key pillars of the India-US strategic dialogue with both governments encouraging academic exchanges and collaborations. One important development has been the expansion of the Fulbright Program in India.

Under the terms of the agreement signed by the governments of the United States and India on July 4, 2008, India became an equal partner in the financial support of the Fulbright Program in India. All awards in India are now titled Fulbright-Nehru fellowships. One result of this cooperative agreement is that significant resources are being provided to support an increase in the size of this program. Applications are welcome from all qualified faculty, researchers and professionals including scholars in the early stages of their careers. Community college faculty are eligible for affiliation with undergraduate colleges.

All academic disciplines will be considered. Preferred subjects are: agricultural sciences; economics; education; energy, sustainable development and climate change; environment; international relations; management and leadership development; media and communications, with a focus on public service broadcasting; public administration; public health; science and technology; the study of India with a focus on contemporary issues; and the study of the United States. For the study of India or the study of the United States (American Studies), the areas could include language and literature, history, government, economics, society and culture, religion, and film studies.

2012-13 FULBRIGHT FELLOWSHIPS CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

USIEF UPDATES

USIEF launched a new strategic plan for its educational advising services in January. With increased support from the US Department of State, USIEF has been able to hire seven new educational advisers, a marketing manager and a technology manager. Besides offering increased support and services at their Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai advising centers, USIEF plans to increase its outreach outside of these major metropolitan areas. Later this year, USIEF will also launch a “Virtual Advising Hub” with a national toll-free call helpline, a monthly webinar series and an increased presence on a number of social networking sites.

USIEF is part of the EducationUSA global network of more than 400 advising centers supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State. USIEF strives to provide accurate, comprehensive, current and unbiased information on educational opportunities in the US. USIEF does not endorse or rank any college or university, nor do we endorse services provided by any individual, company or organization.

USIEF EXPANDS EDUCATIONAL ADVISING SERVICES THROUGHOUT INDIA

2011 FULBRIGHT CONFERENCE FOR AMERICAN SCHOLARS, GOAFor the first time, the traditional South Asia Fulbright Conference for American scholars was expanded to include Central Asia. The conference was held in Panaji, Goa, March 7-9, with 131 American Fulbright scholars from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan were in attendance.

In his inaugural speech, Mr. Michael Pelletier, Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, US Embassy, New Delhi, emphasized the value of an international education. There were eighty presentations spread over twenty sessions on a wide range of topics: the environment, energy, climate change,

public health, business studies and economics, general and special education, literature, science and technology, music, society, development, and gender studies..

Lee Siegel, Professor at the Department of Religion at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, discussed his current research on hypnosis in India in his keynote address on the evening of the opening reception. Philip Lutgendorf, Fulbright Faculty Research Abroad scholar and Professor of Hindi and Modern Indian Studies at University of Iowa, Iowa City, delivered a plenary session titled “Chai Why? Toward a Social History of the (North) Indian 'National Drink.'”

Rachel Leven, Student Researcher, enjoying chai after Philip Lutgendorf's lecture.

Saitejaswi Kondapalli, Student Researcher, dances and Senior Researchers Eric Fraser (flute) and Robin Sukhadia (tabla) perform at the Goa conference's Talent Nite

Edward Wallace, Student Researcher, Leah Comeau, Doctoral Dissertation Researcher, and Johan Pleasant, Student Researcher, ready to start their session.

What's New

lIncreased opportunities for US scholars and professionals to come to India on Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships. India has the largest US Fulbright Scholar program in the world, with over 80 US scholar awards available for the 2012-13 academic year:

– 20 teaching awards

– 20 research awards

– 20 teaching/research combo awards

– 10 environmental leadership awards

– 2 distinguished chair awards

– 2 medical sciences, communications, and information technology awards

– 10 higher education administrators' seminar grants

lUSIEF will consider “serial” grants for senior researchers, which will allow the grant to be divided up into shorter in-country stays over two consecutive years.

lIn addition, USIEF now offers up to $5000 per child, or $10,000 per family in tuition assistance for accompanying dependent children in grades K-12.

For detailed grant descriptions and more information on the grant benefits for US scholars, please visit the CIES catalog of awards at

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) invites applications for Fulbright-Nehru and other fellowships from Indian citizens residing in India (students, college/university faculty, researchers, school teachers, policy planners, administrators, and professionals). For complete details and to download application materials, please visit USIEF's website at

.

For a fellowship brochure, contact the USIEF office in your region or send a request with a self-addressed and stamped (Rs. 45) A4 size envelope.

North : USIEF, 12 Hailey Road, New Delhi 110001

West : USIEF, Marker Bhavan-1, New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400020

East : USIEF, American Center, 38A Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700071

South : USIEF, American Consulate Building, Anna Salai, Chennai 600006

Deadlines for 2012-2013 Fulbright application submission begin May 1, 2011. Questions? Email them to

http://catalog.cies.org/viewCountry.aspx?d=IN

Fellowships for Indian Citizens

www.usief.org.in

ip@usief.org.in

2 3

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

Fellowships for American Citizens

For American citizens, these are exciting times to come to India on a Fulbright grant. Within the last two decades, India has emerged as a major knowledge-based economic power. Today, the country possesses one of the largest human resource treasures in almost all frontiers of education. Its universities and institutes of higher education have attained global recognition as a result of their significant contribution in research and development in many disciplines ranging from the arts and humanities to biotechnology, nanotechnology and genetic engineering. Fulbright awards to India provide unique opportunities for US students, faculty and professionals to see an ancient civilization emerge as one of the world's major economic and industrial forces.

India now has the largest US Fulbright Scholar Program in the world with over 80 US scholar awards annually. With over 26,000 institutions and over 13 million student enrollments, the Indian higher education system has established itself as one of the largest in the world. Recognizing the need to increase access to higher education and improve the quality of the existing institutions, the Government of India has greatly increased its expenditure on higher education. In addition, there has also been a large expansion in unaided, private higher education institutions in India. Education is one of the key pillars of the India-US strategic dialogue with both governments encouraging academic exchanges and collaborations. One important development has been the expansion of the Fulbright Program in India.

Under the terms of the agreement signed by the governments of the United States and India on July 4, 2008, India became an equal partner in the financial support of the Fulbright Program in India. All awards in India are now titled Fulbright-Nehru fellowships. One result of this cooperative agreement is that significant resources are being provided to support an increase in the size of this program. Applications are welcome from all qualified faculty, researchers and professionals including scholars in the early stages of their careers. Community college faculty are eligible for affiliation with undergraduate colleges.

All academic disciplines will be considered. Preferred subjects are: agricultural sciences; economics; education; energy, sustainable development and climate change; environment; international relations; management and leadership development; media and communications, with a focus on public service broadcasting; public administration; public health; science and technology; the study of India with a focus on contemporary issues; and the study of the United States. For the study of India or the study of the United States (American Studies), the areas could include language and literature, history, government, economics, society and culture, religion, and film studies.

2012-13 FULBRIGHT FELLOWSHIPS CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

USIEF UPDATES

USIEF launched a new strategic plan for its educational advising services in January. With increased support from the US Department of State, USIEF has been able to hire seven new educational advisers, a marketing manager and a technology manager. Besides offering increased support and services at their Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai advising centers, USIEF plans to increase its outreach outside of these major metropolitan areas. Later this year, USIEF will also launch a “Virtual Advising Hub” with a national toll-free call helpline, a monthly webinar series and an increased presence on a number of social networking sites.

USIEF is part of the EducationUSA global network of more than 400 advising centers supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State. USIEF strives to provide accurate, comprehensive, current and unbiased information on educational opportunities in the US. USIEF does not endorse or rank any college or university, nor do we endorse services provided by any individual, company or organization.

USIEF EXPANDS EDUCATIONAL ADVISING SERVICES THROUGHOUT INDIA

2011 FULBRIGHT CONFERENCE FOR AMERICAN SCHOLARS, GOAFor the first time, the traditional South Asia Fulbright Conference for American scholars was expanded to include Central Asia. The conference was held in Panaji, Goa, March 7-9, with 131 American Fulbright scholars from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan were in attendance.

In his inaugural speech, Mr. Michael Pelletier, Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, US Embassy, New Delhi, emphasized the value of an international education. There were eighty presentations spread over twenty sessions on a wide range of topics: the environment, energy, climate change,

public health, business studies and economics, general and special education, literature, science and technology, music, society, development, and gender studies..

Lee Siegel, Professor at the Department of Religion at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, discussed his current research on hypnosis in India in his keynote address on the evening of the opening reception. Philip Lutgendorf, Fulbright Faculty Research Abroad scholar and Professor of Hindi and Modern Indian Studies at University of Iowa, Iowa City, delivered a plenary session titled “Chai Why? Toward a Social History of the (North) Indian 'National Drink.'”

Rachel Leven, Student Researcher, enjoying chai after Philip Lutgendorf's lecture.

Saitejaswi Kondapalli, Student Researcher, dances and Senior Researchers Eric Fraser (flute) and Robin Sukhadia (tabla) perform at the Goa conference's Talent Night.

Edward Wallace, Student Researcher, Leah Comeau, Doctoral Dissertation Researcher, and Jordan Pleasant, Student Researcher, ready to start their session.

What's New

lIncreased opportunities for US scholars and professionals to come to India on Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships. India has the largest US Fulbright Scholar program in the world, with over 80 US scholar awards available for the 2012-13 academic year:

– 20 teaching awards

– 20 research awards

– 20 teaching/research combo awards

– 10 environmental leadership awards

– 2 distinguished chair awards

– 2 medical sciences, communications, and information technology awards

– 10 higher education administrators' seminar grants

lUSIEF will consider “serial” grants for senior researchers, which will allow the grant to be divided up into shorter in-country stays over two consecutive years.

lIn addition, USIEF now offers up to $5000 per child, or $10,000 per family in tuition assistance for accompanying dependent children in grades K-12.

For detailed grant descriptions and more information on the grant benefits for US scholars, please visit the CIES catalog of awards at

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) invites applications for Fulbright-Nehru and other fellowships from Indian citizens residing in India (students, college/university faculty, researchers, school teachers, policy planners, administrators, and professionals). For complete details and to download application materials, please visit USIEF's website at

.

For a fellowship brochure, contact the USIEF office in your region or send a request with a self-addressed and stamped (Rs. 45) A4 size envelope.

North : USIEF, 12 Hailey Road, New Delhi 110001

West : USIEF, Marker Bhavan-1, New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400020

East : USIEF, American Center, 38A Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700071

South : USIEF, American Consulate Building, Anna Salai, Chennai 600006

Deadlines for 2012-2013 Fulbright application submission begin May 1, 2011. Questions? Email them to

http://catalog.cies.org/viewCountry.aspx?d=IN

Fellowships for Indian Citizens

www.usief.org.in

ip@usief.org.in

4 5

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

(Left to right): American artist Lilly Stockman and current Fulbright-Nehru scholars Carrie Fonder, Rebecca Layton and Jennifer Mullins talking with

curator Stephen Alter in Mussoorie.

With the support of USIEF and the Winterline Centre for the Arts, Mussoorie, Fulbright-Nehru scholarship recipients Carrie Fonder (Detroit, MI), Rebecca Layton (Austin, TX), Jenny Mullins (Washington, DC), and fellow American artist, Lilly Stockman (Los Angeles, CA), present “SUPER/POWER: India through the Eyes of Four American Artists.” This exhibit was open at the Winterline Centre for the Arts, Woodstock School, Mussoorie, Uttarkhand, March 12-25, and will move to the Threshold Gallery, Lado Sarai, New Delhi, April 1-16. The shows have been curated by Georgina Maddox, Assistant editor of Indian Express, and author Stephen Alter, in Mussoorie. In the words of its curators, SUPER/POWER is an attempt to “move past stereotypical representations of India,” and rather than holding up a mirror to India, it works “like a series of lenses with different focal lengths, admitting various rays of light […], but always presenting us with something new and different.”

FINDING THE REAL INDIA

COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYMPOSIUM STRENGTHENS US/INDIA EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPUSIEF worked with Montgomery College, Maryland, to host a national symposium on "21st Century Community Colleges: Strengthening Workforce Development in India for the Global Economy,” March 14-15. The purpose of this event was to examine how the American community college model can help India address its workforce training needs through the development of new models in vocational and technical education.

The project called "Transforming Boundaries," funded by the US Government and administered by USIEF, brought a delegation from Montgomery College to India to provide a

symposium on capacity building for the vocational and technical education sector in India. The team of experts also visited polytechnics and industrial training institutes in Haryana and Chhattisgarh.

At the inaugural session of the symposium, US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer pointed out that "this timely symposium will delve into how the community college model, which has changed lives and enriched communities back in the US., can be adapted for India to prepare a high-quality, market driven workforce which is vital for India in the globalized economy in the 21st century."

Timothy J. Roemer, US Ambassador to India (left); Charlie Rose, General Counsel for the US Department of Education (center); Faculty members from the Montgomery Community College, at the Claridges Hotel, New Delhi (right).

FOUR AMERICAN ARTISTS, ONE SUPER/POWER EXHIBITION X 2

stUSIEF celebrated its 61 anniversary, February 25, with an Indian classical music performance by two renowned artists from Varanasi: Sri Rabindra Narayan Goswami (sitar) and Sri Ramchandra Pandit (tabla). Navjot Sandu, Fulbright fellow

2008-09, opened the evening with a tabla solo. Over 100 guests attended the event, including current Fulbright scholars, Fulbright alumni, USIEF staff and friends and colleagues from the US Embassy and the Government of India.

st USIEF'S 61 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Navjot Sandu, 2008-09 Fulbright Student Researcher, playing tabla (left); Sarah McKeever. Emilia Rudd, Andrea Mckinley, andElizabeth Towle current Fulbright-Nehru English Teaching Assistants at the gala reception (center); Rabindra Goswami (sitar) and Ramu Pandit (tabla)

performing during the 61st USIEF anniversary celebrations (right).

SCHOLARS' SECTION: IN THE FIRST PERSON

Daniel C. Schneider graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a major in Anthropology. He is currently in India on a Fulbright-Nehru student research grant studying the history and operation of health care initiatives that provide resources for individuals with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in two distinct sites: a sickle cell clinic at a hospital in Bengaluru that offers care for uninsured city residents, and a grassroots, community-based organization developed to meet the health and social needs of the aboriginal population (Adivasis) in rural Tamil Nadu. His experiences as a political organizer and an activist in Chicago and an applied medical anthropological approach inform his research.

Whenever I'd tell people I was going to spend time in India, someone invariably said, “You haven't seen the real India until you've visited a village.” Although I had never set foot in an Indian village, it seemed to me that such a statement completely watered down the complexity of a place as diverse as India. After participating in research in both village and city settings, I still hold steadfast to my initial belief that neither rural nor urban life alone can define what the real India really is.

I came to India to study how movements for health and economic justice are being organized among Adivasis (India's indigenous people) who have Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). I spent the first one and a half months doing research in Bengaluru, working with my advisor. For me, Bengaluru was an easy transition. It has all the conveniences of my US home city: busy streets, vibrant universities with students from around the globe, booming business, and even a Taco Bell. But throughout my time there, I knew that I needed to get out of the city. I needed to find out if I was missing out on the real India!

Then I moved to the Nilgiris, a district located on the intersection of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. Since I arrived, I've been working with a local NGO that, for the last 20 years, has been organizing Adivasi communities to fight for their health and economic rights. On my first day in the field,

I visited one of the most secluded villages in the area. I stepped off the edge of a dirt road and trekked 2 kilometers

into the forest to notify villagers that the doctors had arrived for the monthly health clinic. I walked around the vi l lage's dirt paths, examined houses made of bamboo and mud brick, and even learned to pick ginger and turmeric. What was most surprising, however, was that the village had many things in common with the big city of Benga luru: pover ty and affluence, education and illiteracy, electricity and lack thereof. But most importantly, I witnessed the desire in people to improve life for everyone living in the village.

Just like movements for justice are being built in India's urban centers, villagers in the Nilgiris are organizing to collectively envision and demand something better.

After my first two months in India, I can say that India is not defined by the city or the village, although they both are integral parts of this nation. For me, India is defined by a common vision of a better future held by so many living in every part of the Indian society. As I've traveled in India with students from all over the world and spoken with Indian friends, I have understood that Adivasis are part of a global community fighting for a more just and democratic future. The question which now floats over me is “what is my role in this movement?”

Daniel visiting the village in the Nilgiri hills.

4 5

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

(Left to right): American artist Lilly Stockman and current Fulbright-Nehru scholars Carrie Fonder, Rebecca Layton and Jennifer Mullins talking with

curator Stephen Alter in Mussoorie.

With the support of USIEF and the Winterline Centre for the Arts, Mussoorie, Fulbright-Nehru scholarship recipients Carrie Fonder (Detroit, MI), Rebecca Layton (Austin, TX), Jenny Mullins (Washington, DC), and fellow American artist, Lilly Stockman (Los Angeles, CA), present “SUPER/POWER: India through the Eyes of Four American Artists.” This exhibit was open at the Winterline Centre for the Arts, Woodstock School, Mussoorie, Uttarkhand, March 12-25, and will move to the Threshold Gallery, Lado Sarai, New Delhi, April 1-16. The shows have been curated by Georgina Maddox, Assistant editor of Indian Express, and author Stephen Alter, in Mussoorie. In the words of its curators, SUPER/POWER is an attempt to “move past stereotypical representations of India,” and rather than holding up a mirror to India, it works “like a series of lenses with different focal lengths, admitting various rays of light […], but always presenting us with something new and different.”

FINDING THE REAL INDIA

COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYMPOSIUM STRENGTHENS US/INDIA EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPUSIEF worked with Montgomery College, Maryland, to host a national symposium on "21st Century Community Colleges: Strengthening Workforce Development in India for the Global Economy,” March 14-15. The purpose of this event was to examine how the American community college model can help India address its workforce training needs through the development of new models in vocational and technical education.

The project called "Transforming Boundaries," funded by the US Government and administered by USIEF, brought a delegation from Montgomery College to India to provide a

symposium on capacity building for the vocational and technical education sector in India. The team of experts also visited polytechnics and industrial training institutes in Haryana and Chhattisgarh.

At the inaugural session of the symposium, US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer pointed out that "this timely symposium will delve into how the community college model, which has changed lives and enriched communities back in the US., can be adapted for India to prepare a high-quality, market driven workforce which is vital for India in the globalized economy in the 21st century."

Timothy J. Roemer, US Ambassador to India (left); Charlie Rose, General Counsel for the US Department of Education (center); Faculty members from the Montgomery Community College, at the Claridges Hotel, New Delhi (right).

FOUR AMERICAN ARTISTS, ONE SUPER/POWER EXHIBITION X 2

stUSIEF celebrated its 61 anniversary, February 25, with an Indian classical music performance by two renowned artists from Varanasi: Sri Rabindra Narayan Goswami (sitar) and Sri Ramchandra Pandit (tabla). Navjot Sandu, Fulbright fellow

2008-09, opened the evening with a tabla solo. Over 100 guests attended the event, including current Fulbright scholars, Fulbright alumni, USIEF staff and friends and colleagues from the US Embassy and the Government of India.

st USIEF'S 61 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Navjot Sandu, 2008-09 Fulbright Student Researcher, playing tabla (left); Sarah McKeever. Emilia Rudd, Andrea Mckinley, andElizabeth Towle current Fulbright-Nehru English Teaching Assistants at the gala reception (center); Rabindra Goswami (sitar) and Ramu Pandit (tabla)

performing during the 61st USIEF anniversary celebrations (right).

SCHOLARS' SECTION: IN THE FIRST PERSON

Daniel C. Schneider graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a major in Anthropology. He is currently in India on a Fulbright-Nehru student research grant studying the history and operation of health care initiatives that provide resources for individuals with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in two distinct sites: a sickle cell clinic at a hospital in Bengaluru that offers care for uninsured city residents, and a grassroots, community-based organization developed to meet the health and social needs of the aboriginal population (Adivasis) in rural Tamil Nadu. His experiences as a political organizer and an activist in Chicago and an applied medical anthropological approach inform his research.

Whenever I'd tell people I was going to spend time in India, someone invariably said, “You haven't seen the real India until you've visited a village.” Although I had never set foot in an Indian village, it seemed to me that such a statement completely watered down the complexity of a place as diverse as India. After participating in research in both village and city settings, I still hold steadfast to my initial belief that neither rural nor urban life alone can define what the real India really is.

I came to India to study how movements for health and economic justice are being organized among Adivasis (India's indigenous people) who have Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). I spent the first one and a half months doing research in Bengaluru, working with my advisor. For me, Bengaluru was an easy transition. It has all the conveniences of my US home city: busy streets, vibrant universities with students from around the globe, booming business, and even a Taco Bell. But throughout my time there, I knew that I needed to get out of the city. I needed to find out if I was missing out on the real India!

Then I moved to the Nilgiris, a district located on the intersection of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. Since I arrived, I've been working with a local NGO that, for the last 20 years, has been organizing Adivasi communities to fight for their health and economic rights. On my first day in the field,

I visited one of the most secluded villages in the area. I stepped off the edge of a dirt road and trekked 2 kilometers

into the forest to notify villagers that the doctors had arrived for the monthly health clinic. I walked around the vi l lage's dirt paths, examined houses made of bamboo and mud brick, and even learned to pick ginger and turmeric. What was most surprising, however, was that the village had many things in common with the big city of Benga luru: pover ty and affluence, education and illiteracy, electricity and lack thereof. But most importantly, I witnessed the desire in people to improve life for everyone living in the village.

Just like movements for justice are being built in India's urban centers, villagers in the Nilgiris are organizing to collectively envision and demand something better.

After my first two months in India, I can say that India is not defined by the city or the village, although they both are integral parts of this nation. For me, India is defined by a common vision of a better future held by so many living in every part of the Indian society. As I've traveled in India with students from all over the world and spoken with Indian friends, I have understood that Adivasis are part of a global community fighting for a more just and democratic future. The question which now floats over me is “what is my role in this movement?”

Daniel visiting the village in the Nilgiri hills.

6 7

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

MANAGING WASTE AT A PILGRIMAGE SITE IN THE MOUNTAINS Rachel Leven holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Tufts University. She was most recently Assistant Manager of Operations and Marketing at Foreign Affairs magazine, New York. Since 2006, she has been writing and conducting research about waste management, human rights, and health. She is currently in India on a Fulbright-Nehru student research fellowship, studying innovations and trends in waste management across India, and the cultural changes brought about by an increasing consumer mentality.

When I first arrived in India to carry out my Fulbright research, I was overwhelmed by the challenges New Delhi presented to my research and to my personal paradigms. However, two months later, I settled down in an apartment across the street from a Hindu temple, where I have participated in monthly festivities, as well as morning yoga classes ever since. Visiting tourist destinations, like the Humayun's tomb, my weekly visits to the Azadpur Mandi fruit and vegetable market, and volunteering with Jamghat - A Group of Street Children, has given me a deeper understanding of the history and continuity of India's capital city.

My adviser, Dr. Arun Kansal, at TERI University, has taken a keen interest in my pursuit of innovations in municipal solid waste management. He has helped me understand the waste management technology and policy environment in India better, so that, in the spring, I will be prepared to expand my work to visits across the country. At TERI, I have met many young professionals working for the environment towards responsible development, and in journalistic media. Our interactions have provided me with valuable learning experiences.

After settling down in my research work, I decided to volunteer with a group called Mountain Cleaners on the trail to Manimahesh Lake, the destination of the Manimahesh Yatra, an annual pilgrimage in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh. This pilgrimage lasts two to three weeks, with close to a million Hindu Shiva devotees visiting the holy lake, 4201

meters above sea level. When I arrived at the inaugural cleanup project, the Mountain Cleaners totaled nine volunteers: Indians, Europeans, and Americans. Garbage padded the trail all the way up to Manimahesh Lake, mixing along the banks of the river with human and animal excrement. As volunteers it was our duty to segregate and collect this trash.

We sorted through bags and collected glass, paper, plastic etc. from along the river bank and trail. The idea was to separate out saleable items, like plastic

and glass bottles, thin plastic, dry paper, and metals. Though composting had been an original hope of the project it was quickly abandoned when the true volume of the waste from the pilgrimage became clear. The disposal method for non-recyclable objects is as yet undecided. There is no landfill option available. I hope to collaborate with other volunteers in finding solutions to this kind of problem during my time in India.

The time I spent working with the Mountain Cleaners was personally and professionally rewarding. Talking to pilgrims about the garbage on the mountain provided me with insight into their perception of waste and trash. It also gave me hands on experience with the struggles of building a waste system from scratch. In addition, the chance to live alongside local workers, hermits, and pilgrims was something I will never forget. I look forward to finding more opportunities like this as my time in India and my Fulbright work progresses.

My husband and I join and photograph many public events. For example, I've observed a heatedly contested local election; the daily auction at the vegetable market; at least a dozen religious celebrations including Hindu, Muslim and Jain processions; a wedding, and the festival of Rakhi. While such highly visible activities are compelling, I also attend to domestic lives. Children's education is a huge concern, symbolized for me by the charming five-year-old girl downstairs rhythmically, cheerily and flawlessly reciting the numbers from one to one-hundred in Hindi -- putting me to shame!

I'm getting to know my neighbors. Since arriving we have shared an invasion of gorgeous grasshoppers, eye flu, the joys of a good rainy season, ripe cucumbers and roasted corn. One young married woman who lives next door has little education but a keen mind. As I pass her several times a day, she detains me, offering friendship and posing some very hard questions: why would I want to leave my family and live so far from them? What will I get? What will she get? My answers thus far have not satisfied her or me, but I hope to offer better ones at the end of eleven months.

Rachel collecting trash from the Manimahesh trail.

SMALLER THAN A CITY…: EXPERIENCES OF PLACE IN AN INDIAN QASBAAnn G. Gold holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, taught at Cornell University, and, since 1996, she has been a Professor in the Department of Religion and Anthropology at Syracuse University. At present, she is in India on a Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship, investigating non-rural, non-metropolitan experiences of people in Jahazpur, a small market town in Bhilwara District, Rajasthan.

As a Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research fellow this academic year, I am approximately eleven weeks into an eleven-month project in the provincial town of Jahazpur, District Bhilwara, Rajasthan. I have worked periodically in Rajasthan as a cultural anthropologist for over thirty years, always returning to a single village, Ghatiyali. My husband and I settled in Jahazpur on August 5, and although I am only 28 kilometers from familiar territory, living here is an entirely new experience. Jahazpur is a qasba -- neatly defined as “smaller than a city but bigger than a village”: exactly! With a population around 20,000, Jahazpur has a bustling market which attracts many shoppers from surrounding villages. I grew up in Chicago but I am thoroughly identified with the small town of Ithaca, New

York, where I have lived over 25 years. I want to know how belonging to Jahazpur affects the ways people feel about themselves -- whether they were born here or, like my research associate Bhoju Ram Gujar, have recently shifted to this place.

I am a shy person. So how do I go about my research? As always, I follow the leads of friends and helpers, and I rely on the legendary kindness to strangers so deeply ingrained in Indian culture. Bhoju, a headmaster in his early fifties, leads me to male, senior persons who live in the heart of town and who know a great deal about local history, geography, and business. I have interviewed temple priests, educators, journalists and civic leaders. Bhoju's 23-year-old daughter Madhu, who has almost completed her teacher training, leads me to young women. Many of them, like Madhu, were born in villages and belong to the first generation of educated females in their families. They work incredibly hard to succeed in the competitive examination system that can lead to salaried jobs.

Ann (back right) and her husband (seated on a chair) with an Indian family during the festival of Rakhi.

FINDING MUCH MORE THAN STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGYSaurav Sarkar earned a Bachelor of Medicine from the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata. He completed a Masters of Science in Otorhinolaryngology at the Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata. He is the Resident Medical Officer and Clinical Tutor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery at Medical College, Kolkata. Currently, he is researching skull base surgery and neurotology on a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral and Professional Research fellowship at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio.

When I applied for the Fulbright fellowship competition, I was not sure if I would get the interview call. I knew I was competing with the best academic and professional talent in India. When the mail for the interview did arrive, I was happy and nervous at the same time. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and I wanted to give it my best. My joy knew no bounds when I got another mail a few days later confirming my selection as a Fulbright scholar. I spent the next few months filling visa forms, completing pre-departure formalities, attending the orientation program; packing and repacking, saying goodbye to my family, friends and colleagues, and, before I could comprehend it all, I was airborne and on my way to the US. It all finally sank in then! I was indeed one of the many 2010-11 Indian Fulbright scholars.

My first experience of the friendliness and generosity of people in the US came just as I landed in Cincinnati and took a cab from the airport to reach my temporary apartment. To my surprise, the exit doors would not open when the cab reached them, and the cab driver went to the clearance counter to find the reason. When he came back with my handbag containing my passport, I realized that, in my haste, I had left it behind. I was indeed grateful to him for his kindness and to the counter assistant for her alertness. My second encounter with the warmth and generosity of Americans was when my friends at the temporary accommodation offered to let me stay for the entire duration of my grant and I was saved the effort of looking for another house.

My Fulbright work is based on neurotology and skull base surgery. During my initial work, I saw how robotics and simulation may be incorporated in understanding surgery and in performing actual operations. It was really fascinating to think that the most advanced surgeries can be performed by a surgeon that is not standing by the side of the patient. I immediately thought that this technology could be used to reach the remotest places in India and benefit hundreds of people living in rural areas. In the interdepartmental research, I understood the role of the engineering and robotics departments, and their importance in solving problems that medical science cannot solve alone. What impressed me the most was the fact that everyone was encouraged to think. Even the minutest of thoughts were discussed and analyzed with an aim to find solutions to complicated surgical procedures. I think this is the reason why the US is progressing so well in science and technology. As I am learning more, I plan to find ways to take back this technology to India.

Besides work, my wanderlust instincts have taken me to many cities in America. With my friends I have visited the fascinating Niagara Falls with their awe inspiring water force and beauty, I have seen the mesmerizing colors of the flora and fauna during garden festivals, I have experienced the hustle and bustle of New York's city life, the iconic Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Manhattan skyline, the many memorials in Washington DC, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. I have also witnessed street art, hip hop dances, spray painting competitions, caricature and cartoon artists at work, and the myriad street food stalls with their mouth watering delicacies. Not to forget the many shopping malls and other stores which are a shopper's delight! All along, my camera has been clicking. I want to gather as many memories as I can of my time in the US.

6 7

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

MANAGING WASTE AT A PILGRIMAGE SITE IN THE MOUNTAINS Rachel Leven holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Tufts University. She was most recently Assistant Manager of Operations and Marketing at Foreign Affairs magazine, New York. Since 2006, she has been writing and conducting research about waste management, human rights, and health. She is currently in India on a Fulbright-Nehru student research fellowship, studying innovations and trends in waste management across India, and the cultural changes brought about by an increasing consumer mentality.

When I first arrived in India to carry out my Fulbright research, I was overwhelmed by the challenges New Delhi presented to my research and to my personal paradigms. However, two months later, I settled down in an apartment across the street from a Hindu temple, where I have participated in monthly festivities, as well as morning yoga classes ever since. Visiting tourist destinations, like the Humayun's tomb, my weekly visits to the Azadpur Mandi fruit and vegetable market, and volunteering with Jamghat - A Group of Street Children, has given me a deeper understanding of the history and continuity of India's capital city.

My adviser, Dr. Arun Kansal, at TERI University, has taken a keen interest in my pursuit of innovations in municipal solid waste management. He has helped me understand the waste management technology and policy environment in India better, so that, in the spring, I will be prepared to expand my work to visits across the country. At TERI, I have met many young professionals working for the environment towards responsible development, and in journalistic media. Our interactions have provided me with valuable learning experiences.

After settling down in my research work, I decided to volunteer with a group called Mountain Cleaners on the trail to Manimahesh Lake, the destination of the Manimahesh Yatra, an annual pilgrimage in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh. This pilgrimage lasts two to three weeks, with close to a million Hindu Shiva devotees visiting the holy lake, 4201

meters above sea level. When I arrived at the inaugural cleanup project, the Mountain Cleaners totaled nine volunteers: Indians, Europeans, and Americans. Garbage padded the trail all the way up to Manimahesh Lake, mixing along the banks of the river with human and animal excrement. As volunteers it was our duty to segregate and collect this trash.

We sorted through bags and collected glass, paper, plastic etc. from along the river bank and trail. The idea was to separate out saleable items, like plastic

and glass bottles, thin plastic, dry paper, and metals. Though composting had been an original hope of the project it was quickly abandoned when the true volume of the waste from the pilgrimage became clear. The disposal method for non-recyclable objects is as yet undecided. There is no landfill option available. I hope to collaborate with other volunteers in finding solutions to this kind of problem during my time in India.

The time I spent working with the Mountain Cleaners was personally and professionally rewarding. Talking to pilgrims about the garbage on the mountain provided me with insight into their perception of waste and trash. It also gave me hands on experience with the struggles of building a waste system from scratch. In addition, the chance to live alongside local workers, hermits, and pilgrims was something I will never forget. I look forward to finding more opportunities like this as my time in India and my Fulbright work progresses.

My husband and I join and photograph many public events. For example, I've observed a heatedly contested local election; the daily auction at the vegetable market; at least a dozen religious celebrations including Hindu, Muslim and Jain processions; a wedding, and the festival of Rakhi. While such highly visible activities are compelling, I also attend to domestic lives. Children's education is a huge concern, symbolized for me by the charming five-year-old girl downstairs rhythmically, cheerily and flawlessly reciting the numbers from one to one-hundred in Hindi -- putting me to shame!

I'm getting to know my neighbors. Since arriving we have shared an invasion of gorgeous grasshoppers, eye flu, the joys of a good rainy season, ripe cucumbers and roasted corn. One young married woman who lives next door has little education but a keen mind. As I pass her several times a day, she detains me, offering friendship and posing some very hard questions: why would I want to leave my family and live so far from them? What will I get? What will she get? My answers thus far have not satisfied her or me, but I hope to offer better ones at the end of eleven months.

Rachel collecting trash from the Manimahesh trail.

SMALLER THAN A CITY…: EXPERIENCES OF PLACE IN AN INDIAN QASBAAnn G. Gold holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, taught at Cornell University, and, since 1996, she has been a Professor in the Department of Religion and Anthropology at Syracuse University. At present, she is in India on a Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship, investigating non-rural, non-metropolitan experiences of people in Jahazpur, a small market town in Bhilwara District, Rajasthan.

As a Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research fellow this academic year, I am approximately eleven weeks into an eleven-month project in the provincial town of Jahazpur, District Bhilwara, Rajasthan. I have worked periodically in Rajasthan as a cultural anthropologist for over thirty years, always returning to a single village, Ghatiyali. My husband and I settled in Jahazpur on August 5, and although I am only 28 kilometers from familiar territory, living here is an entirely new experience. Jahazpur is a qasba -- neatly defined as “smaller than a city but bigger than a village”: exactly! With a population around 20,000, Jahazpur has a bustling market which attracts many shoppers from surrounding villages. I grew up in Chicago but I am thoroughly identified with the small town of Ithaca, New

York, where I have lived over 25 years. I want to know how belonging to Jahazpur affects the ways people feel about themselves -- whether they were born here or, like my research associate Bhoju Ram Gujar, have recently shifted to this place.

I am a shy person. So how do I go about my research? As always, I follow the leads of friends and helpers, and I rely on the legendary kindness to strangers so deeply ingrained in Indian culture. Bhoju, a headmaster in his early fifties, leads me to male, senior persons who live in the heart of town and who know a great deal about local history, geography, and business. I have interviewed temple priests, educators, journalists and civic leaders. Bhoju's 23-year-old daughter Madhu, who has almost completed her teacher training, leads me to young women. Many of them, like Madhu, were born in villages and belong to the first generation of educated females in their families. They work incredibly hard to succeed in the competitive examination system that can lead to salaried jobs.

Ann (back right) and her husband (seated on a chair) with an Indian family during the festival of Rakhi.

FINDING MUCH MORE THAN STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGYSaurav Sarkar earned a Bachelor of Medicine from the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata. He completed a Masters of Science in Otorhinolaryngology at the Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata. He is the Resident Medical Officer and Clinical Tutor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery at Medical College, Kolkata. Currently, he is researching skull base surgery and neurotology on a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral and Professional Research fellowship at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio.

When I applied for the Fulbright fellowship competition, I was not sure if I would get the interview call. I knew I was competing with the best academic and professional talent in India. When the mail for the interview did arrive, I was happy and nervous at the same time. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and I wanted to give it my best. My joy knew no bounds when I got another mail a few days later confirming my selection as a Fulbright scholar. I spent the next few months filling visa forms, completing pre-departure formalities, attending the orientation program; packing and repacking, saying goodbye to my family, friends and colleagues, and, before I could comprehend it all, I was airborne and on my way to the US. It all finally sank in then! I was indeed one of the many 2010-11 Indian Fulbright scholars.

My first experience of the friendliness and generosity of people in the US came just as I landed in Cincinnati and took a cab from the airport to reach my temporary apartment. To my surprise, the exit doors would not open when the cab reached them, and the cab driver went to the clearance counter to find the reason. When he came back with my handbag containing my passport, I realized that, in my haste, I had left it behind. I was indeed grateful to him for his kindness and to the counter assistant for her alertness. My second encounter with the warmth and generosity of Americans was when my friends at the temporary accommodation offered to let me stay for the entire duration of my grant and I was saved the effort of looking for another house.

My Fulbright work is based on neurotology and skull base surgery. During my initial work, I saw how robotics and simulation may be incorporated in understanding surgery and in performing actual operations. It was really fascinating to think that the most advanced surgeries can be performed by a surgeon that is not standing by the side of the patient. I immediately thought that this technology could be used to reach the remotest places in India and benefit hundreds of people living in rural areas. In the interdepartmental research, I understood the role of the engineering and robotics departments, and their importance in solving problems that medical science cannot solve alone. What impressed me the most was the fact that everyone was encouraged to think. Even the minutest of thoughts were discussed and analyzed with an aim to find solutions to complicated surgical procedures. I think this is the reason why the US is progressing so well in science and technology. As I am learning more, I plan to find ways to take back this technology to India.

Besides work, my wanderlust instincts have taken me to many cities in America. With my friends I have visited the fascinating Niagara Falls with their awe inspiring water force and beauty, I have seen the mesmerizing colors of the flora and fauna during garden festivals, I have experienced the hustle and bustle of New York's city life, the iconic Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Manhattan skyline, the many memorials in Washington DC, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. I have also witnessed street art, hip hop dances, spray painting competitions, caricature and cartoon artists at work, and the myriad street food stalls with their mouth watering delicacies. Not to forget the many shopping malls and other stores which are a shopper's delight! All along, my camera has been clicking. I want to gather as many memories as I can of my time in the US.

8 9

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

was amazed to learn that they shared the Indian philosophy of “Atithi Devo Bhava,” or “Guest is God” and t h e i r c u l t u r e e x p r e s s i o n s a l s o centered on food, music and offerings.

I can say that in the two months since I arrived in America I have gathered some rich experiences. I k n ow a d i f f e re n t country, its people and the i r cu l ture , the scientific methods and

technological advancements, the variety of food and landscape and the artistic traditions. The best part of it is that I am getting to know myself better, and to discover many interests and aptitudes I was not aware about myself. Coming here has also made me miss my country, and I think I have a deeper regard for India and all that it offers. I am sure my stay in America will be very pleasant, as will be my journey back home at the end of my Fulbright grant.

I have also had some life changing cultural experiences. One was a meeting with a young man of Pakistani origin during a road journey. I had always wondered what a person across the border from India thought and how he would share his culture with others. During that short acquaintance, I noticed that he behaved very similar to Indians and he spoke very good Hindi too. I asked him many questions and he opened his heart to me. He shared that he loved Indian food, and that he had many Indian friends in the US. He also told me how happily Indian and Pakistani people live together in the same US neighborhoods, sometimes even sharing the same apartments. I was touched by his gesture of friendship when he offered to show me around Times Square. I felt very happy that Fulbright had given me this opportunity to know people of other countries better, especially the people of Pakistan, about whom we carry so many misconceptions.

Another cultural experience was attending the festival of Ancient Americas, where Native American people celebrate the memories and spirits of their forefathers. Sitting near pitched tents and listening to drums and music, I saw many of the ancient rituals that these people still follow. I was more than happy to join in their celebration and sat down to beat the drums with them, and even lent my voice to their songs. Finally, I was rewarded with an elaborate spread of food and drinks. Over the sumptuous meal, I shared with them about India and that I had traveled half the world to reach America. I

the US, thus passing on the benefit given to him by the Fulbright Foundation.

districts in India.

At the age of 87, Dad continues to pursue his goals. Project Deaf India Foundation has now given scholarships to several deserving deaf Indian students to pursue their education in

Saurav playing drums during the celebration of the native Americas.

ALUMNI SPEAK

PROJECT DEAF INDIADr. Rajendra Desai received a Fulbright Scholarship in 1952 to study medicine at the New England Center Hospital in Boston University. His son, Anand Desai, recounts his journey.

Undoubtedly, we all at one time or another ask ourselves, “What if…?” For my father, one of the biggest “what ifs” is what if he had not been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship? The question is, of course, unanswerable, but it does bring to mind all he has achieved because of this one event.

Dr. Rajendra Desai, my father, was born in Junagadh, India, a small town in Western India. Junagadh was ruled by a Muslim Nawab who was known for his eccentricities, such as marrying his racing dogs. He attended school in Bombay and graduated from Grant Medical College. While working at Tata Cancer Hospital, he applied to schools in America for further studies. A chance meeting with an advisor from the Fulbright Foundation, who was visiting India, alerted him to the existence of the funds. He applied and was awarded a scholarship. This Fulbright Scholarship allowed him to leave India for the first time, sailing on the Queen Mary to America.

My father pursued his PhD at Boston University, with the world famous hematologist Dr. William Dameshek. While in Boston, he met my mother, who was of Indian descent from Trinidad. Upon returning to India, they got married. Later, my three sisters and I were born. The birth of a child, my youngest sister, with profound hearing loss as a result of a rubella epidemic, was to influence my father's life and define

the project that would occupy his retirement years: Project Deaf India.

While teaching at Stanford University, he was awarded the Anna Fuller Fund fellowship to travel to Japan to investigate the cause of the high incidence of stomach cancer among the Japanese. He eventually became Head of the Department of Hematology/Oncology at UCI Medical Center in Orange, California. There, he pioneered the start of several comprehensive cancer care facilities in the '70s. He was also elected President of the American Cancer Society, Orange County Branch, and was the Founder President of the Indian Medical Association of Southern California.

My father has educated medical students, doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. He has also produced two videos on coping with cancer and the supportive care of cancer patients for cancer patients and their families.

In 1998, after retiring from medical practice, my father founded Project Deaf India, a humanitarian project for the prevention of deafness and the education of the deaf in India. He produced a documentary, Silent Village, which focuses on the various causes of deafness in India. Two of the main goals of Project Deaf India are MMR vaccination for all India, and early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI). He met with ex-President Abdul Kalam, in January 2007, to further these goals and incorporate them into the National Health Plan for India. Currently, this has now been started in 10 states and 25

Dr. Rajendra Desai (left) examining a patient at a camp organized by Project Deaf India Foundation.

Dr. Rajendra Desai (left) with former President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

OF CHEMISTRY AND POETRYSrabanti Basu earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Calcutta. She is currently an assistant Professor of Biotechnology at the Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata. In 2009, she traveled to the US on a Fulbright-Nehru Environmental Leadership Program fellowship, with a placement at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where she researched the chemical changes in aquatic algae due to heavy metal stress and its potential application in bioremediation.

On a sunny and bright afternoon of September 1, 2009, I landed at the Newark Airport, cleared immigration and customs, took my baggage and came out to find Dr. Liping Wei's smiling face waiting for me. Dr. Wei was to become my mentor, as well as a great friend and companion for the duration of my Fulbright grant in the US. I was placed at the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).

I started work shortly after I reached the US. The objective of my project was to study the brown tide algae, which can grow even in the presence of pesticides. My aim was to find out the changes that the algae undergo to tolerate and resist the pesticide effects. Later, I presented a part of this work during a poster session organized by the North Jersey Chapter of American Chemical Society at Rutgers University.

It was a pleasant experience working in a US laboratory equipped with modern instruments and advanced technology. However, more than the facilities, it was the work ethos of the people that really impressed me. Everyone was highly professional, committed to their work, independent and confident. Discipline and punctuality were the key words at the laboratory, as was respect for hard work. I also liked the positive attitude of the US students. They were not hesitant to ask questions and discuss issues. I remember the lively faces who took a seminar class with me on bacterial waste management. My lecture was followed by a question/answer session where students asked me some thought-provoking questions.

Apart from these technical presentations, I was invited to present a poetry recital about Indian culture at a colloquium

to a group of NJIT students. Before I knew it, they had ushered me on to recite more poems, and I delivered a total of twelve Bengali poems at the event, which were then read in English by my colleague and friend Dr. Paul Dine, a professor at NJIT.

My cultural experiences in the US were as rich and varied as my professional work. I spent many days visiting places, enjoying time with American families, attending social gatherings, exchanging views and ideas with people and making new friends. When I took a stroll in New York's downtown Manhattan, it reminded me of my hometown, Kolkata, a more chaotic city, but just as vibrant, colorful and lively. In November 2009, I went for a community visit to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. I spent the weekend with an American family, getting to know many cultural traditions and rituals. I still remember the warm hospitality of my host Barbara and Conrad. I spent Halloween in Albany with two of my students and their landlady. I enjoyed the day decorating the house, giving away candies and exchanging my chutney recipe for their cake recipes. In late December, I took a vacation in Florida and had lots of fun on its beautiful beaches and at Disney World and Discovery parks.

The love, care, and friendship I got from my American friends enriched me in the four months of my visit to the US. The technical knowledge I gained from scholars of repute, such as Dr. Wei, will last with me a lifetime. I found the US a place of excellence in work, and a country where people of every origin and ethnicity are welcome. The Fulbright program strengthened my values, my belief in humanity and my trust in mankind. It is this idea which I carried back to India, and hope to carry with me always.

Srabanti reciting poetry at NJIT.

8 9

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

was amazed to learn that they shared the Indian philosophy of “Atithi Devo Bhava,” or “Guest is God” and t h e i r c u l t u r e e x p r e s s i o n s a l s o centered on food, music and offerings.

I can say that in the two months since I arrived in America I have gathered some rich experiences. I k n ow a d i f f e re n t country, its people and the i r cu l ture , the scientific methods and

technological advancements, the variety of food and landscape and the artistic traditions. The best part of it is that I am getting to know myself better, and to discover many interests and aptitudes I was not aware about myself. Coming here has also made me miss my country, and I think I have a deeper regard for India and all that it offers. I am sure my stay in America will be very pleasant, as will be my journey back home at the end of my Fulbright grant.

I have also had some life changing cultural experiences. One was a meeting with a young man of Pakistani origin during a road journey. I had always wondered what a person across the border from India thought and how he would share his culture with others. During that short acquaintance, I noticed that he behaved very similar to Indians and he spoke very good Hindi too. I asked him many questions and he opened his heart to me. He shared that he loved Indian food, and that he had many Indian friends in the US. He also told me how happily Indian and Pakistani people live together in the same US neighborhoods, sometimes even sharing the same apartments. I was touched by his gesture of friendship when he offered to show me around Times Square. I felt very happy that Fulbright had given me this opportunity to know people of other countries better, especially the people of Pakistan, about whom we carry so many misconceptions.

Another cultural experience was attending the festival of Ancient Americas, where Native American people celebrate the memories and spirits of their forefathers. Sitting near pitched tents and listening to drums and music, I saw many of the ancient rituals that these people still follow. I was more than happy to join in their celebration and sat down to beat the drums with them, and even lent my voice to their songs. Finally, I was rewarded with an elaborate spread of food and drinks. Over the sumptuous meal, I shared with them about India and that I had traveled half the world to reach America. I

the US, thus passing on the benefit given to him by the Fulbright Foundation.

districts in India.

At the age of 87, Dad continues to pursue his goals. Project Deaf India Foundation has now given scholarships to several deserving deaf Indian students to pursue their education in

Saurav playing drums during the celebration of the native Americas.

ALUMNI SPEAK

PROJECT DEAF INDIADr. Rajendra Desai received a Fulbright Scholarship in 1952 to study medicine at the New England Center Hospital in Boston University. His son, Anand Desai, recounts his journey.

Undoubtedly, we all at one time or another ask ourselves, “What if…?” For my father, one of the biggest “what ifs” is what if he had not been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship? The question is, of course, unanswerable, but it does bring to mind all he has achieved because of this one event.

Dr. Rajendra Desai, my father, was born in Junagadh, India, a small town in Western India. Junagadh was ruled by a Muslim Nawab who was known for his eccentricities, such as marrying his racing dogs. He attended school in Bombay and graduated from Grant Medical College. While working at Tata Cancer Hospital, he applied to schools in America for further studies. A chance meeting with an advisor from the Fulbright Foundation, who was visiting India, alerted him to the existence of the funds. He applied and was awarded a scholarship. This Fulbright Scholarship allowed him to leave India for the first time, sailing on the Queen Mary to America.

My father pursued his PhD at Boston University, with the world famous hematologist Dr. William Dameshek. While in Boston, he met my mother, who was of Indian descent from Trinidad. Upon returning to India, they got married. Later, my three sisters and I were born. The birth of a child, my youngest sister, with profound hearing loss as a result of a rubella epidemic, was to influence my father's life and define

the project that would occupy his retirement years: Project Deaf India.

While teaching at Stanford University, he was awarded the Anna Fuller Fund fellowship to travel to Japan to investigate the cause of the high incidence of stomach cancer among the Japanese. He eventually became Head of the Department of Hematology/Oncology at UCI Medical Center in Orange, California. There, he pioneered the start of several comprehensive cancer care facilities in the '70s. He was also elected President of the American Cancer Society, Orange County Branch, and was the Founder President of the Indian Medical Association of Southern California.

My father has educated medical students, doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. He has also produced two videos on coping with cancer and the supportive care of cancer patients for cancer patients and their families.

In 1998, after retiring from medical practice, my father founded Project Deaf India, a humanitarian project for the prevention of deafness and the education of the deaf in India. He produced a documentary, Silent Village, which focuses on the various causes of deafness in India. Two of the main goals of Project Deaf India are MMR vaccination for all India, and early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI). He met with ex-President Abdul Kalam, in January 2007, to further these goals and incorporate them into the National Health Plan for India. Currently, this has now been started in 10 states and 25

Dr. Rajendra Desai (left) examining a patient at a camp organized by Project Deaf India Foundation.

Dr. Rajendra Desai (left) with former President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

OF CHEMISTRY AND POETRYSrabanti Basu earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Calcutta. She is currently an assistant Professor of Biotechnology at the Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata. In 2009, she traveled to the US on a Fulbright-Nehru Environmental Leadership Program fellowship, with a placement at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where she researched the chemical changes in aquatic algae due to heavy metal stress and its potential application in bioremediation.

On a sunny and bright afternoon of September 1, 2009, I landed at the Newark Airport, cleared immigration and customs, took my baggage and came out to find Dr. Liping Wei's smiling face waiting for me. Dr. Wei was to become my mentor, as well as a great friend and companion for the duration of my Fulbright grant in the US. I was placed at the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).

I started work shortly after I reached the US. The objective of my project was to study the brown tide algae, which can grow even in the presence of pesticides. My aim was to find out the changes that the algae undergo to tolerate and resist the pesticide effects. Later, I presented a part of this work during a poster session organized by the North Jersey Chapter of American Chemical Society at Rutgers University.

It was a pleasant experience working in a US laboratory equipped with modern instruments and advanced technology. However, more than the facilities, it was the work ethos of the people that really impressed me. Everyone was highly professional, committed to their work, independent and confident. Discipline and punctuality were the key words at the laboratory, as was respect for hard work. I also liked the positive attitude of the US students. They were not hesitant to ask questions and discuss issues. I remember the lively faces who took a seminar class with me on bacterial waste management. My lecture was followed by a question/answer session where students asked me some thought-provoking questions.

Apart from these technical presentations, I was invited to present a poetry recital about Indian culture at a colloquium

to a group of NJIT students. Before I knew it, they had ushered me on to recite more poems, and I delivered a total of twelve Bengali poems at the event, which were then read in English by my colleague and friend Dr. Paul Dine, a professor at NJIT.

My cultural experiences in the US were as rich and varied as my professional work. I spent many days visiting places, enjoying time with American families, attending social gatherings, exchanging views and ideas with people and making new friends. When I took a stroll in New York's downtown Manhattan, it reminded me of my hometown, Kolkata, a more chaotic city, but just as vibrant, colorful and lively. In November 2009, I went for a community visit to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. I spent the weekend with an American family, getting to know many cultural traditions and rituals. I still remember the warm hospitality of my host Barbara and Conrad. I spent Halloween in Albany with two of my students and their landlady. I enjoyed the day decorating the house, giving away candies and exchanging my chutney recipe for their cake recipes. In late December, I took a vacation in Florida and had lots of fun on its beautiful beaches and at Disney World and Discovery parks.

The love, care, and friendship I got from my American friends enriched me in the four months of my visit to the US. The technical knowledge I gained from scholars of repute, such as Dr. Wei, will last with me a lifetime. I found the US a place of excellence in work, and a country where people of every origin and ethnicity are welcome. The Fulbright program strengthened my values, my belief in humanity and my trust in mankind. It is this idea which I carried back to India, and hope to carry with me always.

Srabanti reciting poetry at NJIT.

10

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

11

EXPERIENCING CULTURAL DIVERSITY WHILE EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONSRajeev Saxena (R) holds a Masters in Teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language from the Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid, Spain. He earned a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature from the Jawaharlal Nehru University. He is an Assistant Professor at the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Starting in the fall of 2010, he spent two months at Harvard University, and six months at the University of California-Davis on a Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research fellowship program researching Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Technology Enabled Language Learning (TELL) in order to apply them in Spanish teaching and learning in India.

I joined Harvard University, August 2010, for two months to conduct my research. I received a warm welcome from the faculty, staff and students of the university, many of whom also helped me closely during my research work. The rich experience of Harvard will be stored in my memory forever. As a teacher and researcher, I had always aspired to academic excellence and working for the welfare of humanity. My research on Integrating Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Technology Enabled Language Learning (TELL) into the Indian Curricula paved the way to fulfill my dream. The amount of material and the resources that were available at Harvard University and my department were mind boggling. Apart from its rich academic resources, Harvard provided equally amazing facilities. The regular talks and seminars conducted by eminent professors and scholars from across the globe were very enriching experiences. I also gave a presentation on Intercultural communication and digital technology: Recent trends and developments, which was very well received. In my presentation, I addressed the issue of how diverse cultures can be integrated through recent scientific innovations and technological advancement, and how the lack of such knowledge caused communication breakdown.

My stay at the home of my American landlady was a lesson in many rich, historical and varied cultures since she had let out rooms to a person from Italy, another one from China, and a third one from Korea. All of us interacted closely on a daily basis, sharing our stories and experiences. Our Italian friend cooked Italian dishes for us, the young Chinese student shared several teas and herbal infusions which she made herself, and my landlady took me out for sightseeing around the historic

areas of Boston. Thanks to her efforts and sincerity, I had the privilege of visiting Concorde, Lexington, and Arlington and learn about the struggle and glory of the American Revolution. At the place where “the shot that was heard 'round the world,” the sound of the shot still seemed to reverberate, the “rude bridge” stood still, and the river flowed quietly -- each a silent witness to the heroism of the Minutemen and the routing of the British troops.

During my stay Fulbright scholars were felicitated at a function organized by the Fulbright Massachusetts Chapter, which gave me a good platform to meet, greet and interact with many scholars, and several other Fulbrighters. It was a great evening and it struck me that it is things like these that make the Fulbright experience unforgettable and memorable.

My memory space for experiences was stretched further when I firmed up an assignment to spend another six months in the US, this time at the University of California-Davis. I am currently working with Prof. Robert Blake whose empirical study and pioneer work on Computer Assisted Language Learning has got international acclamation. I hope to further my knowledge and thank the Fulbright program for giving me such a vivid and enriching experience in my life.

Rajeev with his landlady and a tenant from China.

TAKING AND GIVING PHOTOGRAPHS IN RURAL INDIA: PORTRAITS FROM WEST BENGAL Margaret L. Frank holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Southern Maine, and a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. During her Fulbright Senior Research scholarship, she worked on a photographic project that involved giving a copy of the portrait to every person in rural Bengal who agreed to pose for a photo, in an attempt to capture the essence of human aspirations in her images. She plans to publish these portraits in the US.

My 13-year-old daughter, Celia, and I arrived in West Bengal, March 2010. “You have the Internet in the US,” one of our first friends here said to me. “Did you not check the weather before you left?” Good question. We began our stay just in time for the hottest of summer weather. Only days before we

had stood in snow back home. And it was hot. We both whined a bit, but learned to handle the heat by imitating our neighbors, resting midday and getting up very early in the morning. Initially we were shocked to learn that school began at 6:30 am, but quickly appreciated the wisdom of this schedule. Celia attended Patha Bhavana, the school founded by Rabindranath Tagore and modeled on his educational philosophy of coupling education with nature. Classes were held outdoors, under the trees. Celia and I lived in Santiniketan, home to Visva-Bharati, a thriving arts community, active Tagore scholarship, and easy access to many villages.

I came to India to create portraits in villages. The idea began when I visited another Fulbright grantee, my elder daughter, Rebecca Ford, in India in 2008. I was familiar with colonial-era village imagery, as well as contemporary Western photographers' work in India. Comparing that work to what I saw here, I wondered if those living in villages might choose to be portrayed differently to Western audiences. I wanted to ask them. The Fulbright-Nehru program made that possible.

I traveled around West Bengal and Tamil Nadu visiting villages. There I set up makeshift portrait studios. Hundreds of volunteers sat for me. Each chose his or her clothing, pose, expression, props, even location, when possible. When my equipment was working, subjects could review and select their photos. I gave volunteers copies of their portraits. Many were eager to see all the photos I took, enthusiastically encouraging their friends and relations to join the event. Some volunteered to help, moving tripods, focusing reflectors, escorting me on my return, guiding me to each person whose portrait I would deliver.

One unexpected response began with a group of young men in Balipura, a Santhal village adjacent to Santiniketan. They weren't sure they wanted to be photographed. One reluctantly agreed, then another and another. Of the few who held out, one narrated through an interpreter that he was sure I couldn't portray him as he would wish. What did he want? He wanted to be photographed as one might a film or football star, as seen on billboards. Just then, commercial photography, frowned upon in this center of arts and culture, was a handy trick to pull out. “I can do that,” I replied. He controlled all other aspects of his shoot, while I directed only the pose. He had the star's expression down with no coaching at all. After reviewing this young man's portrait, suddenly everyone had something they wanted to show the world. And what they chose to convey didn't have anything to do with their lives in the village, work, poverty or any of the things typically presented to Western audiences. These portraits were about individual, young men, their aspirations, aesthetics, interests, even their sense of humor.

From that day, things got very busy. People stopped me in the street, asking if I was the Portrait Lady and if I might visit their village. It breaks my heart that I haven't had time to go to every single one. Amid all this, some exhibits of the portraits were arranged in the villages. This was both wonderfully enjoyable and amazingly challenging. I will never forget the variety of reactions both to an exhibit in the middle of the village and to seeing familiar faces in the work displayed: the curiosity, smiles of recognition, pride, and surprise. One of my favorite memories is of visitors moving about, studying the images, then suddenly freezing, pulling out a cell phone and calling, texting or even sending a photo of one of the portraits. I imagine the conversations and would have loved to be in on them.

In September, I did a show at the Nandan Museum, Visva-Bharati. It was attended by the University and arts communities, but also -- to my great pleasure -- by people from local villages whose photographs I had taken, as well as many from the Santiniketan community, not typically present at museum shows. Rickshaw drivers, cleaners, construction workers, security guards and gardeners stopped by to view and discuss the portraits. Some came because they knew the subjects. I spent much of the week at the museum, answering questions, discussing photography, or simply observing reactions.

I am proud of the work I have done in India, yet I know there is more to be done. I am eager to share the images back home. I will go back to the US with a head full of fantastic memories, admiration for so many whom I met here, for this country that is so different from my home and has so much to teach us. I will miss so many people whom I have come to know and respect. I know that I am lucky to have had this experience. At my Nandan exhibit, a student suggested that I must be selling the prints for an awful lot of money. I explained that I wasn't selling them at all and asked what prompted the question. “I don't see how you could do work like this otherwise,” she explained. She is right. This is not the kind of work that supports itself. It is the Fulbright-Nehru fellowship that made it possible.

Margaret showing the security men the photo she took of them.

10

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

11

EXPERIENCING CULTURAL DIVERSITY WHILE EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONSRajeev Saxena (R) holds a Masters in Teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language from the Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid, Spain. He earned a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature from the Jawaharlal Nehru University. He is an Assistant Professor at the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Starting in the fall of 2010, he spent two months at Harvard University, and six months at the University of California-Davis on a Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research fellowship program researching Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Technology Enabled Language Learning (TELL) in order to apply them in Spanish teaching and learning in India.

I joined Harvard University, August 2010, for two months to conduct my research. I received a warm welcome from the faculty, staff and students of the university, many of whom also helped me closely during my research work. The rich experience of Harvard will be stored in my memory forever. As a teacher and researcher, I had always aspired to academic excellence and working for the welfare of humanity. My research on Integrating Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Technology Enabled Language Learning (TELL) into the Indian Curricula paved the way to fulfill my dream. The amount of material and the resources that were available at Harvard University and my department were mind boggling. Apart from its rich academic resources, Harvard provided equally amazing facilities. The regular talks and seminars conducted by eminent professors and scholars from across the globe were very enriching experiences. I also gave a presentation on Intercultural communication and digital technology: Recent trends and developments, which was very well received. In my presentation, I addressed the issue of how diverse cultures can be integrated through recent scientific innovations and technological advancement, and how the lack of such knowledge caused communication breakdown.

My stay at the home of my American landlady was a lesson in many rich, historical and varied cultures since she had let out rooms to a person from Italy, another one from China, and a third one from Korea. All of us interacted closely on a daily basis, sharing our stories and experiences. Our Italian friend cooked Italian dishes for us, the young Chinese student shared several teas and herbal infusions which she made herself, and my landlady took me out for sightseeing around the historic

areas of Boston. Thanks to her efforts and sincerity, I had the privilege of visiting Concorde, Lexington, and Arlington and learn about the struggle and glory of the American Revolution. At the place where “the shot that was heard 'round the world,” the sound of the shot still seemed to reverberate, the “rude bridge” stood still, and the river flowed quietly -- each a silent witness to the heroism of the Minutemen and the routing of the British troops.

During my stay Fulbright scholars were felicitated at a function organized by the Fulbright Massachusetts Chapter, which gave me a good platform to meet, greet and interact with many scholars, and several other Fulbrighters. It was a great evening and it struck me that it is things like these that make the Fulbright experience unforgettable and memorable.

My memory space for experiences was stretched further when I firmed up an assignment to spend another six months in the US, this time at the University of California-Davis. I am currently working with Prof. Robert Blake whose empirical study and pioneer work on Computer Assisted Language Learning has got international acclamation. I hope to further my knowledge and thank the Fulbright program for giving me such a vivid and enriching experience in my life.

Rajeev with his landlady and a tenant from China.

TAKING AND GIVING PHOTOGRAPHS IN RURAL INDIA: PORTRAITS FROM WEST BENGAL Margaret L. Frank holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Southern Maine, and a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. During her Fulbright Senior Research scholarship, she worked on a photographic project that involved giving a copy of the portrait to every person in rural Bengal who agreed to pose for a photo, in an attempt to capture the essence of human aspirations in her images. She plans to publish these portraits in the US.

My 13-year-old daughter, Celia, and I arrived in West Bengal, March 2010. “You have the Internet in the US,” one of our first friends here said to me. “Did you not check the weather before you left?” Good question. We began our stay just in time for the hottest of summer weather. Only days before we

had stood in snow back home. And it was hot. We both whined a bit, but learned to handle the heat by imitating our neighbors, resting midday and getting up very early in the morning. Initially we were shocked to learn that school began at 6:30 am, but quickly appreciated the wisdom of this schedule. Celia attended Patha Bhavana, the school founded by Rabindranath Tagore and modeled on his educational philosophy of coupling education with nature. Classes were held outdoors, under the trees. Celia and I lived in Santiniketan, home to Visva-Bharati, a thriving arts community, active Tagore scholarship, and easy access to many villages.

I came to India to create portraits in villages. The idea began when I visited another Fulbright grantee, my elder daughter, Rebecca Ford, in India in 2008. I was familiar with colonial-era village imagery, as well as contemporary Western photographers' work in India. Comparing that work to what I saw here, I wondered if those living in villages might choose to be portrayed differently to Western audiences. I wanted to ask them. The Fulbright-Nehru program made that possible.

I traveled around West Bengal and Tamil Nadu visiting villages. There I set up makeshift portrait studios. Hundreds of volunteers sat for me. Each chose his or her clothing, pose, expression, props, even location, when possible. When my equipment was working, subjects could review and select their photos. I gave volunteers copies of their portraits. Many were eager to see all the photos I took, enthusiastically encouraging their friends and relations to join the event. Some volunteered to help, moving tripods, focusing reflectors, escorting me on my return, guiding me to each person whose portrait I would deliver.

One unexpected response began with a group of young men in Balipura, a Santhal village adjacent to Santiniketan. They weren't sure they wanted to be photographed. One reluctantly agreed, then another and another. Of the few who held out, one narrated through an interpreter that he was sure I couldn't portray him as he would wish. What did he want? He wanted to be photographed as one might a film or football star, as seen on billboards. Just then, commercial photography, frowned upon in this center of arts and culture, was a handy trick to pull out. “I can do that,” I replied. He controlled all other aspects of his shoot, while I directed only the pose. He had the star's expression down with no coaching at all. After reviewing this young man's portrait, suddenly everyone had something they wanted to show the world. And what they chose to convey didn't have anything to do with their lives in the village, work, poverty or any of the things typically presented to Western audiences. These portraits were about individual, young men, their aspirations, aesthetics, interests, even their sense of humor.

From that day, things got very busy. People stopped me in the street, asking if I was the Portrait Lady and if I might visit their village. It breaks my heart that I haven't had time to go to every single one. Amid all this, some exhibits of the portraits were arranged in the villages. This was both wonderfully enjoyable and amazingly challenging. I will never forget the variety of reactions both to an exhibit in the middle of the village and to seeing familiar faces in the work displayed: the curiosity, smiles of recognition, pride, and surprise. One of my favorite memories is of visitors moving about, studying the images, then suddenly freezing, pulling out a cell phone and calling, texting or even sending a photo of one of the portraits. I imagine the conversations and would have loved to be in on them.

In September, I did a show at the Nandan Museum, Visva-Bharati. It was attended by the University and arts communities, but also -- to my great pleasure -- by people from local villages whose photographs I had taken, as well as many from the Santiniketan community, not typically present at museum shows. Rickshaw drivers, cleaners, construction workers, security guards and gardeners stopped by to view and discuss the portraits. Some came because they knew the subjects. I spent much of the week at the museum, answering questions, discussing photography, or simply observing reactions.

I am proud of the work I have done in India, yet I know there is more to be done. I am eager to share the images back home. I will go back to the US with a head full of fantastic memories, admiration for so many whom I met here, for this country that is so different from my home and has so much to teach us. I will miss so many people whom I have come to know and respect. I know that I am lucky to have had this experience. At my Nandan exhibit, a student suggested that I must be selling the prints for an awful lot of money. I explained that I wasn't selling them at all and asked what prompted the question. “I don't see how you could do work like this otherwise,” she explained. She is right. This is not the kind of work that supports itself. It is the Fulbright-Nehru fellowship that made it possible.

Margaret showing the security men the photo she took of them.

IN BRIEF: SHORT TAKES ON FULBRIGHTERS

Venu Mehta is currently in the US on a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program, affiliated with the Indiana University at Bloomington, where she is teaching Gujarati to students. She is also reaching out to a wider community to raise cultural awareness and share Indian arts with people in the US. On October 2, she p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e B l o o m i n g t o n Multicultural Expo Fair 2010, an annual event organized by Bloomington City to celebrate the cultural diversity of the city. Venu prepared three hands-on activities to share with guests at the event: toran (door decorations), rangoli (colorful floor designs), and tarnetar chhatri (umbrella) making. She was also invited by the Indiana University's Interfaith Forum to be one of the Planning Committee members. She will be organizing an Interfaith Discussion series along with other members of the forum.

Varsha Shrikant Gathoo, a Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research Scholar at the University of Connecticut, Farmington, offered a presentation on “Incredible India” to staff at the university's Department of Child and Family Studies, and gave a talk on the Fulbright program and Indian culture to students in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabil it ies program, November 2010. She also lit up Diwali lamps and hosted a feast for her US colleagues with traditional Indian festive dishes.

Denise B. Scott came to HNB Garhwal University in Srinagar in August 2010 as Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Lecturer to teach at the Political Science Department. She gladly accepted the offer to teach a one week class schedule, in addition to her Fulbright assignment, at the Department of Tourism at the university and taught about gender, politics, and families from a sociological perspective to the students. Encouraged by her dedication to her subject and informed teaching, her students took keen interest in the lectures and many came to the classes with empirical evidence on which to base their questions. So well were the lectures received, that she has been invited to lecture students from other departments. Besides teaching, she plans to accompany students doing their field research on women's participation in political activity at the village level.

Sharon Lowen, US Fulbright alum 1973 and 1975, has been x featured in a TED event held at the American School in

Bombay (ASB), November 17, 2010. Ms. Lowen is a scholar, a teacher, and one of the leading international performing artists in Odissi, Chhau, and Manipuri classical Indian dance styles, who has made India her home for over three decades. In her presentation titled “Transformational Storytelling through Dance,” she demonstrates “how the dance metaphor in Indian mythology aims to transform understanding of our inner and

xouter worlds.” See Ms. Lowen delivering her TED :

x TED is a program created in the spirit of the better known TED “Ideas worth spreading” talks, to showcase a wide range of topics in science and culture using an engaging brief lecture format. To read m o re a b o u t

xT E D , v i s i t

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGXD82v-MoA

http://www.ted.com/pages/about_tedx

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

12 13

Venu at the Bloomington Multicultural Expo.

Varsha celebrating Diwali with her US colleagues and students.

Denise Scott with students of her tourism course at HNB Garhwal University.

FULBRIGHTERS IN THE NEWS

Rachna Kahre, Fulbright Doctoral and Professional Research Fellowship recipient, 2007-08, at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, released her book Designing Inclusive Educational Spaces for Autism. Her book, which is based on her doctoral dissertation, was published by the Institute of Human Centered Design, Boston, and launched during the 'Build Boston' event organized by the Boston Society of Architects, November 18, 2010.

Rachna, signing books at her book launch in Boston.

OBITUARY

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Dr. Manashi Dasgupta, December 15, 2010. The late Dr. Dasgupta was the Regional Officer-East India, at USIEF (then, USEFI), January 1967 to May 1969, with a Ph.D. in psychology from Cornell University (1962). She was a dedicated scholar, writer, a promoter of lesser known Bengali musical and poetic styles, as well as a strong advocate for intellectual freedom. A tribute describing Dr. Dasgupta's multiple interests and talents was written by Probal Dasguta, her son, and published in The Hindu newspaper in February:

http://www.hindu.com/lr/2011/02/06/stories/2011020650220400.htm

IN BRIEF: SHORT TAKES ON FULBRIGHTERS

Venu Mehta is currently in the US on a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program, affiliated with the Indiana University at Bloomington, where she is teaching Gujarati to students. She is also reaching out to a wider community to raise cultural awareness and share Indian arts with people in the US. On October 2, she p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e B l o o m i n g t o n Multicultural Expo Fair 2010, an annual event organized by Bloomington City to celebrate the cultural diversity of the city. Venu prepared three hands-on activities to share with guests at the event: toran (door decorations), rangoli (colorful floor designs), and tarnetar chhatri (umbrella) making. She was also invited by the Indiana University's Interfaith Forum to be one of the Planning Committee members. She will be organizing an Interfaith Discussion series along with other members of the forum.

Varsha Shrikant Gathoo, a Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research Scholar at the University of Connecticut, Farmington, offered a presentation on “Incredible India” to staff at the university's Department of Child and Family Studies, and gave a talk on the Fulbright program and Indian culture to students in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabil it ies program, November 2010. She also lit up Diwali lamps and hosted a feast for her US colleagues with traditional Indian festive dishes.

Denise B. Scott came to HNB Garhwal University in Srinagar in August 2010 as Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Lecturer to teach at the Political Science Department. She gladly accepted the offer to teach a one week class schedule, in addition to her Fulbright assignment, at the Department of Tourism at the university and taught about gender, politics, and families from a sociological perspective to the students. Encouraged by her dedication to her subject and informed teaching, her students took keen interest in the lectures and many came to the classes with empirical evidence on which to base their questions. So well were the lectures received, that she has been invited to lecture students from other departments. Besides teaching, she plans to accompany students doing their field research on women's participation in political activity at the village level.

Sharon Lowen, US Fulbright alum 1973 and 1975, has been x featured in a TED event held at the American School in

Bombay (ASB), November 17, 2010. Ms. Lowen is a scholar, a teacher, and one of the leading international performing artists in Odissi, Chhau, and Manipuri classical Indian dance styles, who has made India her home for over three decades. In her presentation titled “Transformational Storytelling through Dance,” she demonstrates “how the dance metaphor in Indian mythology aims to transform understanding of our inner and

xouter worlds.” See Ms. Lowen delivering her TED :

x TED is a program created in the spirit of the better known TED “Ideas worth spreading” talks, to showcase a wide range of topics in science and culture using an engaging brief lecture format. To read m o re a b o u t

xT E D , v i s i t

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGXD82v-MoA

http://www.ted.com/pages/about_tedx

EDITION 10: APRIL 2011INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

12 13

Venu at the Bloomington Multicultural Expo.

Varsha celebrating Diwali with her US colleagues and students.

Denise Scott with students of her tourism course at HNB Garhwal University.

FULBRIGHTERS IN THE NEWS

Rachna Khare, Fulbright Doctoral and Professional Research Fellowship recipient, 2007-08, at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, released her book Designing Inclusive Educational Spaces for Autism. Her book, which is based on her doctoral dissertation, was published by the Institute of Human Centered Design, Boston, and launched during the 'Build Boston' event organized by the Boston Society of Architects, November 18, 2010.

Rachna, signing books at her book launch in Boston.

OBITUARY

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Dr. Manashi Dasgupta, December 15, 2010. The late Dr. Dasgupta was the Regional Officer-East India, at USIEF (then, USEFI), January 1967 to May 1969, with a Ph.D. in psychology from Cornell University (1962). She was a dedicated scholar, writer, a promoter of lesser known Bengali musical and poetic styles, as well as a strong advocate for intellectual freedom. A tribute describing Dr. Dasgupta's multiple interests and talents was written by Probal Dasguta, her son, and published in The Hindu newspaper in February:

http://www.hindu.com/lr/2011/02/06/stories/2011020650220400.htm

14

The late Dr. K.E. Eapen

FULBRIGHT ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS

THE INDIAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

FRIENDS OF FULBRIGHT TO INDIA, INC. (FFI)

USIEF has over 4,000 alumni and 18 alumni chapters across India. Alumni chapters actively organize events for new and returning Fulbrighters and advising sessions for Indian students interested in Fulbright-Nehru fellowships and in US education. They also conduct seminars, workshops, social welfare activities and alumni reunions. In partnership with USIEF, alumni not only organize events and activities to maximize networking opportunities and to strengthen Indo-US ties, but also engage in public service. All India alumni chapter leaders' meetings and regional alumni meetings play a vital role in promoting visibility for Fulbright-Nehru programs in underserved regions and underrepresented institutions. To partner with a chapter for events, outreach, or collaborative work, or to become a member, please visit as well as the State Alumni website

.

Friends of Fulbright to India (FFI) is a non-profit organization created in 1993 by former Fulbrighters to India, with the goal of promoting academic exchanges between the US and India, raising funds to support student grantee travel to India, organizing seminars, cultural programs, welcome receptions, art exhibitions, and fundraising events. For more information, visit

.

You can donate your time to FFI. The organization welcomes your help convening meetings of Fulbright scholars in your area and welcoming Indian Fulbright scholars on fellowships in the US. If you are interested in helping with a welcome reception, hosting an Indian Fulbright scholar on your campus for a talk or seminar, or helping FFI raise funds, please contact:

Professor Kathryn MyersTreasurer FFIThe University of Connecticut-StorrsDepartment of Art830 Bolton RoadStorrs, CT 06260Email:

FFI is recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the organization are tax deductible to the extent permitted by US law.

, www.usief.org.inhttp://alumni.state.gov

www.fulbrightindiaalumni.org

kathryn.myers@uconn.edumyersk19@gmail.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

For a comprehensive list of upcoming events organized by USIEF across India, visit http://www.usief.org.in/Scripts/EventsUpcomingEvents.aspx.

INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

11

Indian Fulbrighter is a quarterly e-publication distributed to Fulbright scholars, alumni and friends of the United States – India Educational Foundation.

Submissions are welcome, subject to editing for publication. Please send your submissions to

To unsubscribe from this electronic newsletter, please reply with “Unsubscribe” in the Subject line.

United States-India Educational Foundation

12 Hailey Road, New Delhi 110001, IndiaTel: +0091 11 42090909

Fax: +0091 11 23329718 Email:Website

:

usiefnews@usief.org.in

usiefnews@usief.org.inwww.usief.org.in

14

The late Dr. K.E. Eapen

FULBRIGHT ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS

THE INDIAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

FRIENDS OF FULBRIGHT TO INDIA, INC. (FFI)

USIEF has over 4,000 alumni and 18 alumni chapters across India. Alumni chapters actively organize events for new and returning Fulbrighters and advising sessions for Indian students interested in Fulbright-Nehru fellowships and in US education. They also conduct seminars, workshops, social welfare activities and alumni reunions. In partnership with USIEF, alumni not only organize events and activities to maximize networking opportunities and to strengthen Indo-US ties, but also engage in public service. All India alumni chapter leaders' meetings and regional alumni meetings play a vital role in promoting visibility for Fulbright-Nehru programs in underserved regions and underrepresented institutions. To partner with a chapter for events, outreach, or collaborative work, or to become a member, please visit as well as the State Alumni website

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Friends of Fulbright to India (FFI) is a non-profit organization created in 1993 by former Fulbrighters to India, with the goal of promoting academic exchanges between the US and India, raising funds to support student grantee travel to India, organizing seminars, cultural programs, welcome receptions, art exhibitions, and fundraising events. For more information, visit

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You can donate your time to FFI. The organization welcomes your help convening meetings of Fulbright scholars in your area and welcoming Indian Fulbright scholars on fellowships in the US. If you are interested in helping with a welcome reception, hosting an Indian Fulbright scholar on your campus for a talk or seminar, or helping FFI raise funds, please contact:

Professor Kathryn MyersTreasurer FFIThe University of Connecticut-StorrsDepartment of Art830 Bolton RoadStorrs, CT 06260Email:

FFI is recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the organization are tax deductible to the extent permitted by US law.

, www.usief.org.inhttp://alumni.state.gov

www.fulbrightindiaalumni.org

kathryn.myers@uconn.edumyersk19@gmail.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

For a comprehensive list of upcoming events organized by USIEF across India, visit http://www.usief.org.in/Scripts/EventsUpcomingEvents.aspx.

INDIAN FULBRIGHTER

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Indian Fulbrighter is a quarterly e-publication distributed to Fulbright scholars, alumni and friends of the United States – India Educational Foundation.

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