Building SOM Connections in Mumbai and New Delhi
On a recent trip to India, admissions officer Amber Walsh ’09 met with prospective students, toured houses of worship, and sampled a variety of delicious cuisines.
Is there anything better than eating delicious masala dosa every morning? I’m not sure, but I really enjoyed the breakfasts in India that provided a foundation for a day of exploring cultural and historic sights and chatting with incredibly engaged prospective students.
My trip started in Mumbai, where SOM hosted a master class with Deputy Dean Anjani Jain. I provided an overview of the program before Anjani led the 80 attendees through his research and practical work with the automotive industry, pulling examples from Japan and the U.S. Two SOM alumni, Vikram Wagh ’04 and Parag Jalan ’18, also attended and shared their perspectives on their decision to attend SOM, their experiences in New Haven, and the rich relationships with classmates they are enjoying as alumni.
In my free time, I explored the city and had an amazing seafood meal at Mahesh’s Lunch and a fresh coconut on Juhu Beach. I visited the Shree Siddhivinayak Temple, which honors the Hindu god Ganesh, and paid my respects with jasmine flowers. I also spent some time at Haji Ali Dargah, a Mughal-style mausoleum that holds the tomb of the Muslim saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. Located on an island that is only accessible at low tide, this Sufi shrine was a special place to visit. It provided a peaceful place for prayer and it was lovely seeing families out to enjoy the water.
My next stop was New Delhi, where SOM hosted another master class with a full house! The energy was contagious and the prospective students asked insightful questions throughout. I loved chatting with the attendees, and many expressed how much they appreciated Yale SOM’s presence in India and the opportunity to get a deeper insight into the school and curriculum.
In New Delhi, I made a special trip to visit the Lotus Temple, a beautiful Baha’i temple. I learned a lot about the Baha’i faith during my visit to the information center and enjoyed the peaceful prayer space inside the temple. I loved that the temple was open to the public free of charge, and it was great to see how many visitors were enjoying the space. Based on a recommendation from my SOM classmate Suviena Bagrodia ’09, I had a wonderful Nepalese meal at Lah Kitchen in the urban village of Humayunpur—a unique neighborhood with Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Tibetan cuisines and shops along narrow pedestrian roads. It was a joy to explore.
To wrap up my trip, I was thrilled to meet up with Suviena, who was hosting an event for her start-up, Big Little Hood, which provides co-working space and support for working parents. I am always so inspired by the work of the alumni who are fulfilling the SOM mission to be leaders with purpose and impact. Suviena is no exception, given her career in mission service and commitment to education and creating opportunities for others.
This was my third trip to India; I first visited as an SOM student taking the Global Social Enterprise course. Each time I return, I am awed by the history and warmth of this incredible country. I hope to have many more opportunities to visit, as there is so much more I want to explore…and so much more dosa I would like to eat.
