The AICUF Story!

" Pudhe Chala! Pudhe Chala!"  Doesn’t it sound familiar? Well, very similar to ‘India! India!’ the exact cheer that we make throughout the Olympics. People watch the games with a strong grit even while hanging in the buses with a phone in their hands when the conductor continues to shout " Pudhe Chala! Pudhe Chala!" We’re so used to having these nameless voices in khaki with automated ticketing machines in their hands and a bag full of change telling us to move in our daily commute. Do we ever pause to think about where they come from and what’s their story? Every B.E.S.T. bus in Mumbai has a conductor uncle who makes your ticket and gives you your change. But you are mistaken if you think that is all they do. They travel so much yet not at all, the masters of the same route they traverse multiple times. Sometimes they become referees when fights break out and sometimes ask the selfish men sitting on the women’s seats to make space. Sometimes they help a lady ...

Picture this. You’re sitting at the edge of your seat. Your heart feels like it’s about to jump out through your shirt and create a mess on the floor. You’re almost sweating, anxiously anticipating what comes next. One second you’re shouting encouragement and the next, you’re muttering disappointed disapprovals. It’s like something has tied a hook around your heart, like someone’s playing chords with your nerves. You go from one emotion to another in minutes, but one thing stays constant: the thrill of it. You’re watching a sports game. Any sports game. And it is this feeling, this very feeling that binds us to the world of sports. Even those who aren’t really supporting a team, even those who don’t quite know the rules, even those who can barely name the players - everyone, regardless, has felt the familiar rush of it.  Our previous blog looked at the festival of Onam, and this one wishes to carry the legacy of a rich culture forward, too - in another way. Since sports involves te...

Onam brings back a lot of memories. But the most profound one is fighting for more payasam with my siblings. Amma would've made a big vessel of payasam, but still, that one cup you fought with your sister somehow tastes better. Onam, as a whole, is like that cup of palpayasam. Comforting. Nostalgic. Heavenly. India is known for its many vibrant and joyous festivals, but Onam holds a special place in our hearts, because of the memories surrounding it. As another Onam approaches, let’s take a moment to reflect on what this festival truly represents.  Onam is the traditional and cultural festival of our small state, Kerala. Onam is not just a festival but also a celebration of joy and happiness. During this season, we all remember its start. The legacy of Onam is believed to have begun from the legend of King Mahabali. It all started when Mahabali, although born in the Asura dynasty, grew to be a wise and benevolent king, and under his reign, the kingdom prospered. The people loved hi...

Teacher's Day was celebrated last week but feels like it isn't over yet because we have another academic to celebrate this weekend.The one who wrote down the Mahabharata, the guru of the gurus and the friend of us all...guess who? Bola, Ek, Don, Teen, Char, Ganpati Cha Jay Jaykaar!” These cries have filled the streets of Mumbai and India for generations. It always fascinated us how religion could be and indeed is, a double-edged sword, as regardless of the division it brings, it also unites people together. Ganapati is the pride of India itself, regardless of one's religion, everyone comes to celebrate the boisterous festival. Lord Ganesha, whose name quite literally stands for “Gana” as in people and “Isha” as in Lord. It's therefore not surprising that the festival of the lord of the people attracts millions, in and outside the country. Mumbai specifically is colored red and orange when the auspicious day of Ganesh Utsav arrives. As the Dhol Tasha mimics the thunderou...

I recently restarted my Bharatnatyam classes after a gap of almost a decade. It’s difficult to describe how much I missed it all : the ache in my legs, the clink-clank of ghungroos, the swish of dupattas, and the smell of sweat and jasmines in the air. Above all, I missed my guru. I missed the praises showered when a move was learned quickly, the sharp scolding when my posture slouched, and the proud smiles. These little moments shape me as a person and my life every day.  Teachers have always been a big part of my life, may that be my mother, my first teacher or my school teachers; my college professors, or my dance gurus. Their teachings and they, themselves, define who I am today. I remember my teachers more in snippets of memories, than in true images. One such momentous memory is of when I was in third grade. I had only recently been possessed by the ghost of an unnamed poet from the Victorian era and had begun a journey on the path of poetry that I still walk on to this day....

  Most people out there might consider reminiscing over the past as a baseless activity, while for some it might be a favorite pastime. Does your past hold anything for your present and future? If we could go back and change some things from our past will that make us better individuals? Is it even worth studying history even though it's all said and done a long while back? Let us explore some of these questions using AICUF's annual theme.  We at AICUF are highly elated to unveil the annual theme for this academic year (2024-25). Keep reading for more insights into the annual theme.  The philosophy of Sankofa originates from the Twi language of Ghana. The literal meaning of Sankofa is ‘To go back and get it’. It is often associated with the proverb, ’Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi," which translates to: "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten." The symbol for Sankofa holds even a greater value. Sankofa is represented by the Bono Adinkra...