This week, The Argus spoke with Mallika Srinivas ’25, the current president of Shakti, the University’s South Asian student organization. A government and Latin American Studies major, Srinivas plans to return to Chennai, India, after graduation to follow up on a research project she contributed to at a biodiversity NGO.
The Argus: Why do you think you were nominated to be a WesCeleb?
Mallika Srinivas: One, I’m like, really appreciative. And two, I have my hands in a lot of different parts of this campus. First off, with Shakti: running that club is really, really fun, and opens up the whole South Asian community [on campus]. And then being on the International Student Advisory Board opens up that community to me. I’ve just been trying to involve myself in what Wes has to offer. So I’ve been able to meet people through that.
A: Can you talk more about your involvement in Shakti and what that’s looked like since freshman year?
M: So I actually heard about Shakti through my [First-Year Seminar]. Someone came in and was like, “There’s a South Asian Club you guys should join.” I DMed her. And I also grew up in Minnesota, and there wasn’t a South Asian community there for me to dip myself into. I think [Shakti] was such a good way to start my freshman year. We had our brunches together, and we had Diwali and Holi. I was able to have a community on campus that felt more tied to my heritage, in addition to everything else. I think the friendships I’ve made from Shakti haven’t always revolved around our identities, but have been friendships because we click as people.
A: How do you think Shakti has changed over the years?
M: I think Shakti as a club has varied a lot from year to year, depending on the size of each incoming and outgoing class and how involved they want to be in a cultural club. My freshman year, [2021–22], we had a really big membership. I think that our numbers might have dwindled [since then]. But you get to see who sticks around for all the events and wants to be part of leadership down the road. It’s a smaller community for meetings, and I think the larger South Asian community pulls up for stuff like the [mock] wedding [Shaadi] and Holi. I think the numbers vary a lot based on the events and based on their level of involvement. But overall, there are core members, and then there’s everyone at times.
A: You mentioned the wedding. What is that, and how are you involved in it this year?
M: Oh my God. Okay, so the wedding is a mock Shaadi. Shaadi means wedding, and it actually only started last year. We had it in the Russell House backyard, and it’s basically our spring formal, but we wanted to make it an event. And what better event than a Desi wedding? We have a fake bride and a fake groom, they’re usually seniors, and we officiate the wedding and do everything that’s traditional like a Desi wedding.
It’s very secular, but we just kind of pick and choose the most fun parts from all of the [cultures]. And so we have the Baraat, which is where, traditionally, the groom would ride in on a horse. But we just have the groom. This year we’re doing it in the chapel. The groom’s gonna come down from above and have his groomsmen cheering him on and do a dance number, and then I’m gonna walk in [as the bride] this year. I will be getting married tonight, which is really exciting, and then we exchange vows. They’re always silly. Someone officiates. And I also think it’s a really nice senior send-off, because our friends get to write maid of honor speeches that just kind of commemorate our time in the club. And all of our non-South Asian friends can also join in on the dances, and I think it’s one of the best ways to end the year.
A: Amazing. What have you been up to your senior year?
M: I have the time to take classes that are purely just for my interest. And so I’ve really been leaning into South Indian dance and also looking into post-colonial studies. I want to give a shout-out to this class with Professor [of Environmental Studies Giulio] Gallarotti, [“Globalization in Practice: Activism in the Global Village” (GOVT389)]. This has taken up so much of my time. But, like, I’m not complaining. It’s basically a class where we get a problem each week and we actually have to tangibly solve it; we have to pull up with numbers and…funding [sources] and sponsors, and present it like we [are] pitching an idea. I actually was able to connect that to my last summer internship in South India, and was able to kind of create [an] idea for an app that teaches financial literacy to rural fisherwomen. It was so cool, because I get to send these presentations back to my old boss and be like, “What if you did this?” I think it’s one of the most impactful classes.
A: What was it like returning to South India?
M: I was born in India, and then we moved to Minnesota when I was 10, and then my parents moved back to Chennai, which wasn’t where I grew up. It’s the next state over. My parents just wanted to take care of their parents, and so they’re there right now. That’s where I interned. It was actually really interesting, because I stick out like a sore thumb. I had to really immerse myself, learn Tamil, [and] dress the way I should over there. I think it’s also really nice to be able to spend time with my grandparents. I think my parents moving there has been hard, but ultimately I am so glad they did that.
A: How do you think you’ve changed since your freshman year?
M: I think when I came into freshman year, I came in like, guns blazing, like I’m going to be the most social person I can be, because I really wanted to attract a friend group. And I did that in one sense, and then I also threw myself into Shakti. I kind of had these two groups going. I think what I realized towards the end of freshman year was that if you’re going to do that all the time, you’re going to burn out. And so I think over the years, I’ve just kind of learned to take time for myself and let the FOMO turn into the joy of missing out, because sometimes you just need a break. You need to rest. There’s always something going on, every weekend and every week. And so you just have to pick and choose intentionally who you want to interact with, the things you want to do. You know, like, be more intentional with your time, and you don’t have to do everything. And so I think that’s something I’ve really put into practice.
A: Since you’re a senior now, are you doing a thesis or a capstone?
M: I did a capstone for my Latin American Studies major. I wrote that on Simón Bolívar, who is a liberator of Latin America, and I critiqued him, as you do at this school. I just critiqued his leadership style, and I appreciated his militaristic style but critiqued how he governed. I did that last semester, so I’m quite chilled out right now.
A: What is your involvement at the SOC Fashion Show? You designed a line last year?
M: Yes, I did design a line last year. It was called Milana. I was so excited by it. I watched the SOC Fashion Show my sophomore year, and I literally was entranced by the whole production. I think it’s such a fun concept, especially for the POC communities. It’s a coalition of not just Shakti members, but [Asian American Student Coalition] and Ujamaa members. All of them come here and get to just show off their talent. And it is so amazing. I was really excited about my line last year because I combined a lot of Desi and South Indian elements from my hometown into everyday fashion. It felt like a representation of my time here, which has been stylish with a non-South Asian aspect and a South Asian aspect. And then, I just made it work. The music, I did a little trap remix. And then I had M.I.A. [for] one of the songs, because she incorporates those elements too. The models were all stunning. And this year, I’m just a model.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Janhavi Munde can be reached at jmunde@wesleyan.edu.
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