Here is information about the seven Ohio Wesleyan students traveling in India, including their backgrounds and aspirations:

SHANNON DEAN is a first-year student and technical theatre major from Princeton, N.J. “I want to be well-rounded and open minded, and to do that I must taste the world in spoonfuls, at every possible chance. … I must try to understand the differences and similarities between people as often as I possibly can, seeing the world through their eyes. If theatre is about nothing else, it is about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes for a while and seeing what the world looks like from their point of view.”

BRENDA GABLE is a first-year student and international studies, Spanish, and pre-professional medicine major from Powell, Ohio. “After I graduate I plan on going to medical school, and possibly get my master’s in international affairs. I hope to combine my interests with medicine and global issues and work in impoverished countries, or countries that are going through major political reform. … This will shape my OWU experience because it will expand my thinking and make me a better-rounded individual.”

ANNA JONES is a first-year student and psychology major from Delaware, Ohio. “I have a particular interest in the concept of nonviolent protest and the opportunity to study that topic in the country of its origin seems like a once in a lifetime experience. I have studied Mahatma Gandhi’s and Martin Luther King Jr.’s methods of nonviolence separately and look forward to being able to compare their strategies and examine Gandhi’s influence on King.”

ALECIA MITCHELL is a junior and early childhood education major from Delaware, Ohio. “Growing up I cultivated an interest in educating myself on teaching in a third world country. I knew that this is what I wanted to do, to help children of the less fortunate who wanted to be educated but didn’t have the opportunity. So I took charge of my life. … Teaching in Africa saved who I was and who I wanted to be. … This experience going to India would definitely be life changing, like my Arica trip this past summer.”

EMILY PORTER is a senior and international studies and politics and government major from Paris, Ky. “In order for that true seed of knowledge to begin growing, it must first take root in personal experience. … Gandhi himself knew the importance of this. If we are to change the world, we need to recognize one another as fundamentally human, the same living, breathing creature. … This trip would allow me to continue to learn in a way that leaves a true impact on the individual.”

MOLLY RICE is a junior and sociology/anthropology and religion major from Brentwood, Tenn. “When I was applying to college, I was looking for a school that would allow me to flourish as a vocal leader and pioneer. I wanted to be surrounded by intelligent and passionate peers. Ohio Wesleyan is the total package. Being accepted into this program would allow me to meet my goals and give me a launching pad for my post-graduate endeavors.”

KELSEY ULLOM is a sophomore and international studies major from Delaware, Ohio. “My goal as an Ohio Wesleyan student is to take in as much of the world as I can in my years here and beyond, learn as much as I can in as many ways as possible, and do the most good alongside my fellow OWU community and the world. This program, to me, is the epitome of all of these goals collectively. It will challenge me, it will enrich me, and it will help me to ultimately do the most good as a student of Gandhi’s teachings.”

Our tour of Delhi yesterday included a visit to the Crafts Museum, a presentation of the culture and history of India’s rural villages.  The exhibit included replicas of village homes, bullock carts and other essentials for village and agrarian life, and demonstrations of traditional Indian craft making such as carving and sculpting (wood, stone, ivory, clay), etching, drawing, painting, spinning, weaving, sewing, etc. We saw an amazing collection of historic Indian art.

Our guides from LSR explained the background for the family house in the center of the village, with individual rooms for each unit of the extended family, an internal courtyard for the extended family’s gathering place, and the public area in front of the house where the village would gather for important events and for storytelling.

It’s interesting to think about the significance of a place where the village gathers to share information and to hear its own story. The fact of the space is a statement about the significance of preserving the communal stories and history that shape the culture of the village and form the people who live there. As we begin our study of Gandhi today, we will be reminded of his preference for the simple life of the agrarian village over the industrial city. We can’t turn back the clock, but we can consider those elements of our past that we might be wise to reconsider. Perhaps we should give deeper thought to the value of time and space reserved for telling stories, reciting history, practicing ritual, and claiming relationships – in our communities, in our families, and on our campuses.

India Club

Greetings from Delhi.  Our students arrived last night and we look forward to beginning our programme, “Gandhi Today: Perspectives and Possibilities.”  In the past months, I have been exploring OWU’s historical engagement with India and want to share some interesting findings.

October, 1895, the India Club was established at OWU.  Records show the club was formed by “five wanderers from the distant shores of India who found themselves rather unexpectedly at OWU.”  The circumstances of their arrival are not documented, however, this was a critical mass of Indian students at the university and they created the India Club.  This was a “private” club that required all members “to have either resided or traveled in India.”  Additionally, all members needed to have a thorough speaking knowledge of Hindustani.  Perhaps it is time for us to restore the India Club to our current roster of student organizations.

Saturday was intended for a noon reception for admitted students from Mumbai. However, end-of-year exams for graduating seniors ended late Saturday morning, and our admitted students were not able to meet with us.

So we spent Saturday with the family of a recent OWU alumna from Mumbai, whose sister will enroll at OWU in the fall. The day of conversation in their home and a wonderful guided tour of the city left us immersed with more images of India – a visit to an ornate, ancient Hindu temple – holy ground; lunch of traditional Indian fare in a contemporary, neighborhood vegetarian restaurant; passing a funeral procession as the men bore the body of the deceased, adorned in flowers, to the crematorium; tens (perhaps hundreds) of thousands of people of every part of Indian society enjoying an early summer Saturday. We learned about the discipline of daily prayers at the temple at 5:30 a.m. We learned about the transition in cultural norms in a society where parents of our students from India entered marriages arranged by their parents, but where today’s students no longer are expected to have marriages arranged by their parents. We experienced the profound hospitality that characterizes the welcome extended to guests in an Indian home. We heard the horrific stories of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008, reminiscent of the experience of people in New York on 9/11. We were reminded of the richness of a culture that has persisted through the centuries despite threats from within and from abroad. We have so much to learn from one another on this planet that grows smaller and more interdependent every day.

We flew to Delhi Saturday evening, where we arrived about the same time as our seven students – Alecia, Anna, Brenda, Emily, Kelsey, Molly and Shannon. It was good to be united with them after our two days in Mumbai and their 14 hour flight. We were met by representatives from Lady Shri Ram College who transported us to the Legends Inn, our home for the next week, adjacent to LSR. Today’s schedule includes breakfast at Legends Inn, a visit to Lotus Temple, lunch at LSR, a visit to the National Crafts Museum, a visit to a memorial to Gandhi marking the spot where he was cremated following his assassination in 1948, and drives past India Gate and Parliament House.  We’ll visit Dilli Haat, a local handicrafts bazaar, and the Navdanya Stall, an organic food center at Dilli Haat, before returning to the Legend Inn for dinner.

It is wonderful to return to India for the third time.  As I reflect on my initial emotions upon arriving in Mumbai I find the anxiety about entering a new country and culture for the first time is replaced by a deepened sense of appreciation and respect for the common bond that connects all of us despite our apparent differences.  Most of us have comforted the crying infant or sick child on a plane full of strangers.  We all find our unique ways of getting comfortable and finding sleep on a fourteen hour flight.  We share the common experience of caring for each other and ourselves and trying to make the best of our circumstances.  The frustrations and dreams of some are posted as grafitti on buildings and roadways.  Others are expressed in animated discourse and intentional kindness.  As I try to sort through the intense bombardment of  sights, smells, sounds, and tastes, I am discovering a simple smile can create a connection and a shared, often fleeting experience that communicates acknowledgement, kindness, and  respect  in ways that are hopefully as meaningful to others as they are to me.

Namaste

Craig

We had a terrific evening with a group of young OWU alumni in Mumbai. The group represents majors in English (Creative Writing), Economics, Fine Arts, and Mathematics. We had lengthy conversations about OWU and how to attract more students from India to Ohio Wesleyan. Like nearly all OWU alumni, these former students talked at length about the impact of individual professors, the benefit of small classes, and the opportunities for learning both inside and outside of the classroom. They talked about the diversity of the campus and the commitment at OWU to break down boundaries. One of the group said she thought OWU might be the only place in the world where a student from India and a student from Pakistan could be best friends and where Indian and Pakistani students can watch cricket matches between the two countries, together. I suspect it can happen elsewhere, but OWU is a special oasis where students have the opportunity to build bridges of understanding that can be quite difficult in another setting.

We were reminded again of the important role parents and extended families play in decision making in India and of the willingness of Indian families to sacrifice to provide educational opportunities for their sons and daughters. We were told of the important role of independent counselors in advising students who are considering college in the United States, and of the preparatory schools most likely to send Indian students abroad. We were advised to make alumni and parents of current and former students available to support our recruiting efforts. With this dinner, we have three candidates for the video we will produce for recruiting in India.

All of the alumni spoke with deep gratitude about the work of Darrell Albon, director of international and off-campus programs at OWU. One called Darrell “our God.” They expressed appreciation for the opportunity to visit other parts of the United States as part of their time at OWU (all international students have the opportunity to visit New York City and Washington, DC, with the support of Gordon and Helen Smith). We left the dinner once again amazed by the energy, passion, and intellectual capacity of our young alumni and encouraged about prospects for building a much stronger presence for OWU in India. Like OWU alumni everywhere, these young alums are making a significant impact.

Oh yes, we were advised of one other way to attract students from India – add cricket as a club sport.

We’re looking forward to lunch with prospective students today and then to the journey to Delhi where we will meet the 7 OWU students as they arrive in India this evening.

This last week of school has been a blur of exams and papers, so after a long night of last-minute packing, I’m relieved to finally be in the airport. It still hasn’t hit me. We will be across the world. In India. WHAT. It’s kind of a surreal feeling….

-Emily not being on the shuttle to the airport was enough to give me a panic attack. But we found her All is well.

-There was an adorable puppy in front of us at the check-in line.

-I learned that peanut butter is considered a liquid. (Thanks, Anna).

-Kelsey

In order to understand Kelsey’s comment about peanut butter, I have to take you back a couple of weeks when my mom gave me a jar of peanut butter to take on the trip.  Although I was slightly confused of why I would need peanut butter, I kept the jar.  As I was packing this morning, I filled my bags completely and everything fit… except the jar.  I asked Kelsey if she could carry the jar for me in her backpack.  Well, in the security line, the security guard confiscated the peanut butter claiming it was a liquid.  Kelsey said “no, its a butter,”lol, but he wasn’t buying it.  So she told him it was mine and he told me that I couldn’t have it.  I offered it to him because it hadn’t been open but apparently he had to throw it away, which he did right in front of me.  So sorry mom, but no more peanut butter…

-Loved seeing two puppies in the airport

-Super pumped to be going to India for the first time!

-Anna

-The poor puppy was being shipped But I am so excited to be finally going to India!! I can’t believe that we will be there sooo soon! I’m kinda mad that our flight got delayed to Newark because we are all really excited to eat dinner together!

-Alecia

I’m a cat person.

Flight to Newark is only slightly delayed, but that’s not so much of a big deal for me–I’d be more anxious if the flight to New Delhi was delayed. That’s the longer of the flights, anyway. I am preparing myself to catch up on sleep, journal, and watch a series of all the bad movies the plane has to offer–basically all those movies you kind of want to see, but would never wanna pay for. Yep. Endless fun, all the way. Jai Ho!

-Shannon

We saw much of Mumbai as we traveled from our hotel north of the city to the offices of the United States-India Educational Foundation today. Mumbai is a city of more than 20 million people, making it the fourth largest city in the world.  A visitor is overwhelmed with the sensory overload that accompanies the density of the population; the color and beauty of the dress; the range of conditions in which people live; the aroma of curry that seems never far away; and streets packed with taxis, rickshaws, people walking and/or pulling cargo carts, and animals. There are echoes of the colonial era in the architecture of grand buildings and evidence of both the financial interests and the poverty that characterize the city today. Mumbai is the wealthiest city in India, hosting the country’s largest financial institutions, commercial interests, and entertainment industry, but one cannot miss the extreme poverty that affects much of the population.

We enjoyed an inspiring and memorable visit to the home of Shri Revashankar Jhaveri,  where Gandhi stayed during his visits to Mumbai between 1917 and 1934 and where he  orchestrated much of the movement for Home Rule.  Most notably, it was in a tent on the terrace of this home that Gandhi was arrested in 1932. The home now is a museum that tells the story of Gandhi’s life. Among the most moving exhibits were letters written by Gandhi to Adolph Hitler and to Franklin Roosevelt, and a copy of Albert Einstein’s eulogy to Gandhi, delivered in Princeton. Einstein concluded, “Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”

Our visit to USIEF was productive. We met Sucharita Narayanan, regional officer, and Behrooz K. Y. Avari, educational advising services associate. They were quite interested in Ohio Wesleyan and, in particular, in the current global initiatives at OWU. They indicated that students from India would be attracted to a campus with the diversity of OWU, and that these students would like the opportunity to join American students in other international experiences through travel-learning courses. The majority of the students with whom USIEF works have interest in either engineering or business. We discussed the importance of the liberal arts in preparation for leadership in these sectors and in developing capacities for entrepreneurial activity. We talked about Ohio Wesleyan’s many strengths, including in the sciences and in economics.

We were reminded of the important role played by extended families in assisting students from India with higher education. We were told that families from India often make great sacrifices in order to provide for their children the opportunity of a college education. The depth of financial commitment by the extended family, and the accompanying acknowledgement of the value of a college education, was striking. As a way to communicate with families of prospective students, it was suggested that we consider making a brief video featuring current and former Indian students at OWU, and perhaps parents of one or two students from India, and that we make the video available to prospective students and families in India. Our friends at USIEF were thrilled to learn that Anand Philip, a native of India who graduated from Ohio Wesleyan in 2000, now serves on the OWU Board of Trustees.

Tonight we host OWU alumni and parents of current and former OWU students. It is good to make connections with Battling Bishops around the world.

Melissa, Craig Ullom, and I arrived in Mumbai last night after a 14-hour flight from Newark. Our preparation for the trip included readings, video conferences with representatives from LSR, and insights shared with others who have explored India and who are interested in partnerships among colleges and universities in our respective countries.

In a video conference with our delegation a month or so ago, LSR’s Principal Gopinath offered two pieces of advice for first time travelers to India. First, she noted that India is a land of paradox and nuance and that “for everything that is true about India, the opposite is true.” Second, she suggested that the best way to experience the rich texture of India is by suspending all Western assumptions of time and space. While our introduction to India at this point consists of nothing more than a taxi ride from the airport to Taj Land’s End, where we are staying, I can see already the wisdom of her counsel.

Today’s schedule includes a presentation to counselors at the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) this afternoon and a reception this evening with OWU alumni and parents of current and former OWU students from Mumbai.  USIEF has been instrumental in directing students from India to OWU.  You can learn more about USIEF at http://www.usief.org.in/About-USIEF.aspx .

Our student delegation departs from campus at noon today and from Port Columbus around 2:30. Various members of the delegation have been skyping with LSR students this week in preparation for assignments they will complete in small groups during our time together at LSR. Already we are seeing the benefits of technology in preparing us for this time together.

Rock

This photograph was taken in 2011 by Ohio Wesleyan students during an OWU Theory-to-Practice grant-funded trip to study children's welfare in Kolkata, India. From March 9-18, a delegation of OWU students will visit New Delhi to study the life of Mahatma Gandhi with students from Lady Shri Ram College for Women. (Photo courtesy of Addie Hemmen '12.)

Two years ago, Ohio Wesleyan University was selected by the Institute for International Education as one of 10 colleges and universities in the United States to participate in a new International Academic Partnership Program in India. The program is designed to foster partnerships among institutions of higher education in the world’s two largest democracies.

In November 2010, Darrell Albon, director of international and off campus programs, and Craig Ullom, vice president for student affairs, represented Ohio Wesleyan in the program’s inauguration. Since that time, we have actively explored potential partnerships.  Last fall, students from Ohio Wesleyan and students from Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi participated in a series of video conferences as a prelude for forming a partnership between the two institutions.

In January, seven students were selected to represent Ohio Wesleyan in an inaugural experience at Lady Shri Ram College as we formalize a relationship between OWU and LSR.  OWU students will join a group of LSR students for a weeklong study of “Gandhi Today: Perspectives and Possibilities,” a curriculum developed specifically for this purpose.

Melissa and I have the privilege of leading this group of OWU students, along with Craig Ullom and Marin Leggat, assistant professor of theatre and dance.  In addition to our work with students at LSR, Melissa and I will visit Mumbai where we will host a reception for OWU alumni and prospective students and where I will meet with college counselors at the United States International Education Foundation (USIEF) office. We will participate in similar sessions in New Delhi, including my presentation on the liberal arts in the United States, which I will offer at the USIEF office.

In New Delhi, we also will join LSR students and faculty in visiting sites of interest to students of Gandhi, participating in religious services reflecting Gandhi’s philosophy, community service on the LSR campus and in New Delhi, and a series of sessions with topics including Gandhi, Ecology and Developmentality; Gandhi and Psychoanalysis; Peace and Reconciliation; Gandhi and the Ethics of Food; and Gandhi in the Popular Imagination. In preparation for the trip, students have read Gandhi’s autobiography, My Experiments with Truth, and Hind Swaraj (Indian Home Rule), along with numerous other essays suggested by the faculty at LSR.

Throughout our visit, I and other participants will post reflections and photos through which we hope to share our experience. We hope you will share this journey with us.

Rock