More than Bollywood

India Club members work to share their culture while creating life-long memories and friends

BY CARLENE COOMBS

Showing India is more than Bollywood and providing students with life-long memories are the primary goals the Indian Club presidency had in mind when putting together their performance for the 2020 Winter Semester Culture Night that was canceled because of the world-wide coronavirus pandemic. Through four individual dances, the club hoped the audience, as well as the performers, would gain a better understanding of Indian culture.

“We wanted to show our culture and show even though people think of India as one thing, we are from one of the most diverse countries in the world. We have 22 official languages, over 1,500 dialects, and every state has their own dance and their own... attire,” said vice president of the India Club Vidya Irene Purushottam, a junior from India majoring in TESOL.

Purushottam said when deciding what to do for the performance, they wanted to showcase traditional Indian dances rather than exclusively Bollywood, which the country is known for internationally.

“When people think of India, they think of Bollywood,” said Purushottam. “Bollywood is a huge part of India because it’s the cinema experience, but that’s not really our culture. Bollywood is inspired by the diverse culture we have in India.

“We’re showcasing cultural dances from four corners of India. So, we have one classical dance, two traditional dances, and one folk dance.”

According to Purushottam, the performers were split into two groups, with each group performing two of the four dances. She also added they planned to have very colorful and traditional costumes.

Shimran Sharma, a junior from Fiji studying biochemistry, said she was excited to learn the traditional dances and not just Bollywood dances.

“I thought it was perfect because I have Indian blood. It’s nice to see where my [ancestors] come from and to actually learn what their culture is like.”

Purushottam said she hopes the traditional dances will educate people, as well as club members, on what Indian culture is.

“Slowly, I think people are starting to gain a better perspective of what Indian culture is. We are more than curry and Bollywood.” - Vidya Irene Purushottam

While the club focused on traditional Indian dances, it still included Bollywood elements in its performance, said Rajkumar Tamang, a junior from Nepal majoring in social work and president of the India club. “We are doing the cultural dance, but it’s fused with Bollywood music. There is a Bollywood taste.”

Tamang shared one of his favorite parts about putting together a Culture Night performance is seeing those performing learning and enjoying the dances.

“If we see they are making memories, that’s [my favorite part]. I see this as the [students] coming and dancing and having fun.” Rosemae Maagad, a junior from the Philippines majoring in education, said she loves participating in clubs outside of her culture so she can learn about other countries, which is why she joined the India club. “It gives me the opportunity to experience a new [culture]. It’s a privilege to learn a new culture.”

Purushottam shared she enjoys seeing others who are not from India participate in learning about Indian culture.

“It makes me so happy people are so open and willing to participate and showcase your culture, and they have the same enthusiasm people [from India] have. For someone else who is not part of my country to be as excited, I think that’s something I’m really looking forward to.” •

Below, Members of the Indian Club work on four different dances. The club vice president said India has 22 official languages and more than 1,500 dialects. Photos by Keyu Xiao