Manasi Desai ('23) of Monroe shares about her Spring 2023 Special Project  

On the first day, our group of about 15 students watched Barfi. Then, Ms. Sanjeetha Peters taught us how to make Bhaji, a common street snack you can find in South India made of plantains. 

The next day Dr. Robert Dalling showed us a video that he spent filming in South Asia about various religions, which one of his past students actually narrated! The video even featured some of our beloved staff members: Prem and Raj. We spent the rest of the morning making our lunch. We made poori, alongside a savory potato dish to eat it with. Ms. Peters taught us everything, from the essential spices to use, to how to know when your poori dough is perfect. That afternoon, after we had all enjoyed our hearty meal, Dr. Dalling put on Dear Zindagi for us to watch. We discussed how this movie tries to address the stigma around mental health in Indian families, which led to a larger discussion about how Indian culture, and many other Eastern cultures, contrast with the West. 

On day 3, Ms. Peters showed us how to make chana masala which is a flavorful gravy with chickpeas. To eat with the chana masala, we made some rice using a pressure cooker, ghee, and various spices. That afternoon, Dr. Dalling picked Dil Dhadakne Do for us to watch as we ate our lunch. 

On the last day, we got to go out for lunch with the group. We ended off on a pleasant note, enjoying some authentic afternoon chai. 

I think I speak for all of us when I say that the whole experience was incredibly fun and immersive. 

Photos by Manasi Desai ('23) of Monroe and Aroma Chanda ('23) of Hammond