The AICUF Story!

As Onam has already dawned upon us, the internet has been flooded with images of people sporting golden-bordered sarees and refulgent mundus: a typical picture of the celebrated Onam. Though Onam has its origins as a Hindu festival, the sheer spectrum of people who celebrate it is astounding. It cuts across all segments of society, reaffirming, once again, the image of our country as steeped in communal harmony.  For many, Onam is not merely an occasion to enjoy the culture, but also to reconnect with the traditions practised by the Malayalis.  The worldwide Malayali diaspora also engages in cultural indulgence which gives them a sense of belonging helping them feel connected. It gives them a sense of identity as a part of a community even when they are thousands of miles away from their homeland.  Unlike the modern one-day celebration of Onam, it's traditionally a 10-day extravagant festival rooted in the mythical story of King Mahabali. The king's exemplary governance a...

College fests. For wide-eyed freshers like me, it’s an opportunity to branch out, find our own niche in the hustle and bustle of college life and carve out a life far away from the one we knew in school (Unless you’re a junior college student). A chance to take part in “The College Experience” TM  that all those reels on Instagram had promised us – big crowds, bright lights and a whole lot of fun that would keep us in high spirits in the weeks following. For seniors, it’s their time to let go and busy themselves in getting ready for the big day. Or days. It’s an enjoyable time of the year for students and teachers alike where the stress of studies and work wash away for a few days and they’re allowed to immerse themselves in the joyful atmosphere that always seems to tag along around college fests like the endearing younger sibling that tags along everywhere with their older sibling.                For some, it’s their time to shine. To step ...

  Dear Mom, I am doing fine, how have you and father been? I miss home. The "government" school provides for us but their mannerisms do not come close to how we live.  The polluted air of this concrete jungle wraps around my lungs like a predatory snake. The serene silence of home evades me, and I can't seem to find my place. The tranquility of sleep escapes me as the toxicity of this new world infiltrates my consciousness - it deeply disturbs me how the people of urban don't seem to value what Mother Nature offers them.  Just today, a "friend" of mine stomped on a plant without an inkling of remorse, and when I exclaimed that the poor thing possesses a soul, all he did was laugh in my face!!! Perhaps they don't even respect their ancestral spirits: their guides and their protectors, and their resting place; why do I even doubt their evil intentions with the way they mercilessly drill holes into the Earth and contaminate it with their agents of ruin - th...