It's a long way from Mumbai to Magnolia Street, but Auburn's Indian student population is never far from the comforts of home.
The Indian Student Association is an Auburn organization created to preserve and share the culture of the far East both for it's native students and for others who are interested in learning more about Indian culture.
"ISA has been a registered organization on Auburn's campus for the past 25-30 years," said Nakul Kothari, graduate teaching assistant in mechanical engineering and president of the ISA. "I came in 2012, and the organization only had 20 to 30 people. The ISA is actually the second biggest country-based organization on campus now. We currently have about 140 people on our roster, and every year the population keeps increasing."
Originally a place for students of a shared nationality to enjoy some of the comforts of home, the ISA now functions as a beacon for Indian students at Auburn, strengthening roots and cultivating a community here on the plains.
Comprising multiple regions, languages and religions, the ISA works like a hub for students from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries in addition to India.
Oddly enough, out of the multitude of languages present in the organization, English is the primary language.
"When I came to Auburn, four of us were staying together, and the common language between all four of us was English," Kothari said. "In India, we all speak different languages, and the only one that connects us together is English."
Though many students who come to the United States from India have already taken English classes during their primary schooling, the communication barrier works as a motivator to master the language, Kothari said.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs has worked for four years to integrate the University's existing international students with its new arrivals, providing free, unlimited shuttle access to the Atlanta airport during the fall semester.
Like most Indian students who come to Auburn, Kothari was received by members of the ISA at the Atlanta airport when he arrived and allowed to stay in one of their homes free of charge until his own housing situation was settled.
For Alabama native Micah Bowden, senior in aerospace engineering, housing a student during their first week alone abroad was eye-opening.
"It was a good opportunity to forget about myself and realize how lonely and confused I was my first time out of the country in India," Bowden said. "It was a really cool opportunity to get to spend his first week with him here in the US, helping him adapt to different cultures and taking him to different places around Auburn."
Bowden, one of the ISA's non-ethnically Indian members, heard of the organization through his friends, but decided to join full-time out of his love and appreciation for the culture.
Through internships, work and family visits, Bowden interest in India was set before his role in the ISA was.
"I was just really fascinated by their lifestyles, their mindset," Bowden said. "It's a vibrant, dynamic place. The ultimate thing that drew me to India so much is the people. They're really laid back, easy-going people, and, culturally, they're the most selfless people I've ever encountered. I had strangers in India who went to further measures to help me out than I would expect my best friends to do here in the U.S."
That same selflessness he experienced in India has extended to the Plains in different ways, Bowden said.
The lack of an Indian grocery in the Auburn-Opelika area has been alleviated through group trips to Atlanta bearing student grocery requests.
The groups travel to the Patel Brothers grocery in Decatur, Ga., and bring back flat breads, spices and vegetables considered staples in ethnic Indian diets.
Despite fostering such a close community outside of school, Bowden and Kothari agree that the events the ISA hosts are it's biggest and most widespread productions throughout the year.
ISA events can range from traditional Hindu festivals, like Navratri, to more club-style dancing in Bollywood night, drawing students of all ethnicities and origins in the process.
"When I first started at Auburn, I had made a few friends, but not a lot," said Nishant Jain, ISA Treasurer and senior in chemical engineering. "When I joined the Indian Student Association, I met so many people. They're not just friends anymore. They're family."
Tickets to the four main events throughout the year are not priced differently for Indian and non-Indian students, only ISA members and non-members.
Though initially conceived as a home away from home for Indian students, Kothari said the group's main focus is sharing their culture with all who are interested.
"All our events are for everyone," Kothari said. "We do that because we know that we don't all want to be in groups, like we know the importance of getting out into the world and making friends, not just remaining in your own friend circle."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
