Visit from the Consul General of India–Chicago

The University of Missouri-St. Louis welcomed His Excellency, Mr. Shri Sudhakar Dalela, Consul General of the Republic of India in Chicago, to campus on January 27, 2020. The visit included a luncheon with faculty members and administrators, followed by a coffee and tea event with Indian students on campus, and capped off with a meeting with Interim Chancellor & Provost, Dr. Kristin Sobolik. During his visit, Mr. Dalela highlighted that the UMSL campus community can become more involved with the Indian community of the greater Midwestern region.

UMSL graduate student, Manoj Ponagandla, expressed great appreciation for the visit. He was excited by the idea of bridging the gaps between the UMSL campus communities and the Indian communities throughout the Midwest. “The India Initiative program on campus is currently inactive, but all it takes is the involvement and up-keeping from our community to keep the culture and current events alive in our minds and discussions,” Ponagandla said. Manoj went on to express that, “it is difficult missing the major cultural festivals, holidays, and rituals native to India while being here, so having a community on campus that is involved and informed is a way to create a supportive and shared space for those of us here that want to be attentive to the Indian experiences taking place in the Midwest and also India.”

To get more information on Indian government programs for Indian students to/in the US or to learn more about Indian funding for research co-operations, feel free to visit the sites linked below:

http://www.usief.org.in/

https://www.iusstf.org/