Indian student shares culture

Sharing his culture one curry bowl at a time

Friends say Indian student and convert to the Church is all-around great guy

BY BRADY SMITH

Sitting at a small table inside a cramped room is a man with a warm smile. He has a large spoon and is stirring some curry that emanates a sweet yet spicy smell. He is dishing up rice and curry to five students sitting with him around the small table. Kodandarao Chellapilli, or “Vinny,” as his friends call him, is a student at BYU–Hawaii from India who studies computer science. Chellapilli said, “I am sharing part of my culture with my friends and one of the best parts of my culture is the food.” Chellapilli said he has a unique story compared to other students who go to school at BYUH. “I joined the Church a couple years ago in India, and from there, went on to serve a mission in India. I am now a student at BYU–Hawaii and living a life I couldn’t picture years ago.”

Chellapilli said he is the middle of three children, and he was the first to join the Church in India.

“There are not a lot of church members in India, and the first time I met the missionaries, I blew them off. But eventually I met with them, and it helped that there was a cute girl there to keep me coming back,” Chellapilli explained.

Sitting in Chellapilli’s hale, he explained why he is having students over and sharing his culture with them. “My mother is very sick and in the hospital, and I am trying to raise $3,700 for a plane ticket back home to visit her.”

Chellapilli explained he invites his friends over for dinner, and if they wanted to contribute to his plane ticket, that would be great. But if not, he said he is just fine to sit down and enjoy a meal with friends.

He said life is different in India and the children have a responsibility to look after their family and parents. Chellapilli emphasized the fact that his parents have never given him money, and in his culture, he is supposed to fund and help his parents. So with his mom in the hospital, he feels a responsibility to help her.

The more time people spend around Chellapilli, the more they recognize his happy and positive influence on the people around him.

The students sitting at the table shared stories of Vinny and laughed as they talked about Vinny’s first time driving, or Vinny trying to speak with an American accent.

Tai Gonzales, an intercultural peace building major, said, ” Vinny is just a great all-around guy and is one of the most giving people.” Gonzales added he really hopes Vinny can get home and visit his mom in India.

Chellapilli explained to get to his hometown of Yellamma, India, it takes two days of travel for him, which includes flying and driving. “I would love to visit my mom in person when the semester is over, but if not, I want to at least pay for her hospital bills,” he said. •

Kodandarao Chellapilli, or “Vinny,” joined the Church in India a few years ago and says he would have never dreamed he would be going to school at BYU–Hawaii. Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbillos