JHU Students Attend Reception Hosted by India Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra

It was a delight and privilege to attend the diaspore reception hosted by Ambassador Kwatra at the India House. The elegant grounds of the Ambassador’s residence provided a great setting to connect with student leaders and officers from various Indian student organizations across Johns Hopkins campuses. Our conversations cantered on opportunities for greater engagement and the importance of bringing together the diverse Indian student communities.

I also had the opportunity to interact with student leaders from area graduate schools, notably establishing new contacts with Georgetown and Carnegie Mellon. One of the highlights was an extended discussion with Deputy Chief of Mission Ms. Namgya C. Khampa, where we shared updates about our organizations’ activities. Both Ms. Khampa and Ms. Mohapatra from the education wing were generous with their time and extremely supportive, reaffirming the Embassy’s commitment to engaging and supporting students.

Ambassador Kwatra was enthusiastic about meeting us and expressed his appreciation for the contributions Indian students are making in academia and cultural events. He encouraged the various organisations present to work towards hosting a collective Diwali celebration next year and offered the Embassy’s support for such an initiative. We were glad for his welcoming and supportive remarks.

It was also valuable to connect with dignitaries and friends from various Indian government agencies, the DC government, several leading think tanks, and the private sector companies like Google. Building and nurturing these relationships is hugely beneficial for the SAIS South Asia Society and our broader community.

Finally, a special mention to Project Dhoom for their outstanding cultural performance and to those who provided a taste of delicious Indian cuisine—a rare treat in DC!

Drishti Mukherjee, BSPH, President, Johns Hopkins Indian Student Association, also attended the event. “It was a wonderful experience meeting with members of the community and speaking with Mr. Vinay Kwatra. I truly hope that the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health can continue to engage in such meaningful events in the future,” she said. “It was an excellent platform for social networking, and for graduates like me, opportunities like this are incredibly valuable for building connections and shaping our next career steps.”