By: Renae Visico
The hallways of the Student Center’s fifth floor echoed music, joy, and laughter. On Oct. 14, the Brooklyn College (BC) Pakistani Student Association (PSA) hosted the Desi Gala at the Occidental Lounge in the Student Center.
“Desi,” which is a term derived from the Sanskrit word for “land” or “country,” refers to those who come from the broader South Asian subcontinent: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The PSA aimed to create an event that represented all Desi cultures without solely focusing on Pakistani culture.
“We wanted to make sure that the Gala was a space where Desi students could see themselves and their culture represented while also creating an environment where students who weren’t Desi felt welcomed and encouraged to participate,” PSA Vice President Tahreem shared with the Vanguard.
Many students who attended sought to learn more about Desi culture, and the Desi students who came looked forward to seeing their culture being expressed and represented on campus.
“I’m from Bangladesh, and I just wanted to see how [the Desi community at BC] makes their events, and if they’re fun,” said sophomore Fariha Sangida. “This is my first time going to an event in Brooklyn College.”
The Gala started off with popular party games like musical chairs and tug-of-war, which was a favorite among many students who attended.
“I could see that [tug-of-war] was more trendy, and I feel like activities like those help you with your health,” said sophomore Tayyaba Khursthid.
Students were then challenged to meaningfully interact with Desi culture and media. They were tested in their knowledge of Bollywood movies through trivia and scene re-enactments.
“The acting [of Bollywood movie scenes] really shows the culture of Bollywood, and it’s super fun to see everybody take part in it,” said sophomore Mahi Zamil when asked what his favorite part of the Desi Gala was.
Bollywood, a portmanteau of Hollywood and Bombay (the former name for Mumbai, India), is a popular Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai. Bollywood movies are known and loved by many for their drama, comedy, action, and musical numbers.
Attendees were encouraged to dress up as their favorite Bollywood character or put on a Bollywood-inspired outfit. Fashion was a glamorous way for students to pay homage to the Bollywood movies that have made a personal impact on their lives.
“[My outfit] was inspired by the movie ‘Jab We Met,’ and I’m the character Adit,” said Bangladeshi Student Association (BSA) President Shabrin Juthi. “I’ve always liked [Adit’s actress] throughout Bollywood, whatever movie or character she does.”
Other attendees, especially the Desi students, viewed the Bollywood-themed Gala as a way to reconnect with modern parts of their own culture.
“I feel pretty connected [to my culture]. I love getting to relearn some of the older movies and then seeing people enjoying the movies’ characters,” said senior Hana Begum. “I know the characters, but I don’t know the movie names. So I would love to learn their names.”
Aside from Desi movies, students engaged with Desi music through games. As the organizers shuffled through a playlist of upbeat Hindi songs, including hits like Udit Narayan’s “Main Nikla Gaddi Leke,” players had to pick an item from the table that corresponded to the song’s title or lyrics.
“Music is a universal language, and that was one of the ways we incorporated Desi culture to establish a sense of connection,” Tahreem added. “We wanted students to feel comfortable asking questions, participating, and simply enjoying the event.”
After being treated to chicken biryani and samosas, attendees of the Desi Gala were invited to the dance floor to continue celebrating Desi music and culture with the BC community.
“I didn’t know a lot of people [at the Desi Gala], but I talked to them and ended up making more connections,” said BC student Ratul Ahmed. “That’s another interesting part: that you can just come and show up.”
The interactions fostered by the Desi Gala allowed students from different South Asian backgrounds to learn more about each other and come together through their shared cultural heritage.
“Getting the community together is so important,” Juthi told the Vanguard. “I feel like PSA did a great job with this event, so it’ll help me better plan BSA events.”
Ultimately, PSA wanted students to better understand the unique cultural diversity throughout the BC community through highlighting Desi culture. The Desi Gala created a space where students could proudly express and engage with Desi culture on campus.
“Desi culture is made up of so many different traditions, backgrounds, languages, and experiences,” Tahreem told the Vanguard. “We hope students were able to see the sense of community and pride that comes with celebrating our culture.”
For more information about the Pakistani Student Association, visit @brooklyn.psa on Instagram.