The South Asian Society at Yale organizes a South Asian Awareness Month

The South Asian Society at Yale (SAS) is an organization of social, cultural, and intellectual exchange for those with a special interest in South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). The mission of SAS is threefold: to increase awareness of South Asian and South Asian American political issues, to increase South Asian cultural awareness, and to serve as a social tie for the South Asian community at Yale University.

SAS had Miss America 2014 come to Yale on February 4 to kick off the South Asian Awareness Month, which will extend into the last week of March. Before an audience of roughly 100 Yale students, faculty, and staff in Battell Chapel, Nina Davuluri shared her goal of spreading cross-cultural understanding and combating ignorance.

Last Tuesday, SAS organized a Maggi and Henna night that was well attended. The students made and served Maggi noodles and put henna designs on interested guests. The last week of March will see a discussion event with one of the faculty associated with SASC, and a “spicy food” study break associated with the Korean American and Chinese American student groups. The month will conclude with a party.

Overall, SAS focuses on mixing social events with thought provoking discussion events. These foci emphasize SAS’s goals, which are: to raise awareness of and promote advocacy for South Asian/South Asian American culture, politics, and relevant issues, and create a safe environment for those who share an interest in all things South Asian. SAS is not necessarily just for South Asians: it is open to all that share an interest in any aspect of South Asia. Everyone is welcome in this organization.

The main focus of the South Asian Society this year has been to expand the mission to include more events relating to South Asian Americans. Historically, SAS has been very international-student heavy. This year, the board consists largely of Americans. There has been an attempt to include more events pertinent to South Asian Americans.

Furthermore, as Kenneth Gunasekera, the President of SAS explains, “we rely heavily on the support and fantastic faculty associated with the Council, and we plan to make use of them as best as possible. Last semester we had events with both World Fellows Prodyut Bora and Abhik Sen, and this semester, for South Asian Awareness Month (including the bit of spillover into March) we plan on hosting a discussion event led by a faculty associated with the Council.” The latter event, which is yet to be announced, will focus either on changing Bollywood film culture or elections in India. 

During the rest of the semester, SAS plans to better connect with the freshmen class to get them involved in the South Asian Society. It plans to host a Bollywood film showing, and organize a South Asian performance show.

Please see https://southasiansociety.sites.yale.edu/ for further information.