A Campus that Reflects India: Diversity, Belonging and Community at Ashoka

Befittingly located in a sprawling campus where lush green trees whisper to each other, long corridors hum of youthful voices and the redbrick walls talk of excellence, Ashoka University stands tall in the Indian education fabric not only because of its interdisciplinary curriculum but also because it has intentionally cultivated a campus where students irrespective of ability, background, identity or language learn in an environment that respects the individuality thus fostering equity in thought and conduct.

Ashoka University, by its policy of inclusivity, has successfully engineered a sense of belongingness and community where students from different social and economic settings can comfortably blend in without being judged. It is no wonder that the campus reflects the diversity of India, where students of all backgrounds converge to interact and thrive with the common goal of becoming altruistic leaders.

Unity in Diversity

Ashoka University has welcomed students from all educational boards, including JNVs, KVs, CBSE, ICSE, and state boards, staying true to its mission of providing a well-rounded education to a diverse range of learners, integrating them into a unified group of young leaders who take pride in their history while actively shaping their present for a brighter future. The admission process is quite comprehensive and considers not just academic excellence but also co-curricular achievements. The application considers a student’s gradual academic progress from class 10 to 12, personal essays, a letter of recommendation and a one-to-one interview. What is satisfying is the nicely arranged timeline that gives a student ample time to make decisions and prepare for each aspect of the application process without feeling rushed. The conscious decision to have this mixed bag of students from rigorous and elite ICSE schools to rural-focused JNV is to allow a fluid mixing of thoughts and ideas to create the Ashokan brand: conscious of grassroots problems, critical of policies and creative in offering fresh, feasible solutions.

Unique Pairing

Ashoka offers an excellent housing policy wherein students from different countries, cities and languages are housed together, offering a beautiful blend of culture and perspectives. The Dorm Olympics, organised by the Resident Assistants once every year, is an interesting and unique ice breaker to bridge the gulf between cities, cultures and economic status. The vibrant common rooms conveniently located at every Residence Hall make it easy for one and all to mull around and find someone of a similar thought process. A year on campus definitely forges bonhomie among students from Nagaland to Kerala, from Ethiopia to Canada! Added to the above are 40 student-driven clubs and societies that offer something to cater to every diverse interest and aptitude, thus leading to the gradual building of a unique, creative and cohesive cohort.

Supportive Infrastructure

Ashoka University’s empathy is visible in the grand infrastructure conducive to students facing physical and mental challenges. Instructions are offered in braille across the campus, ramps and spacious elevators offer easy movement for students with disabilities, and the Office of Learning Support truly is supportive in its willingness to offer added help to students facing difficulties. The round-the-clock wardens cannot be disregarded as they often go out of their way to care for a sick child, offering much relief to worried parents.

An Ashokan never goes to sleep hungry. The innumerable eating joints on the campus and the vending machines enable a student to grab a bite if they have failed to go to the mess on time while preparing for a project or completing an assignment. Special mention for the excellent and well-equipped Sports Complex to keep the sporty students entertained and engaged.

Abolishing the Rural and the Urban

One of the most appealing factors of Ashoka University is its policy of offering scholarships to students of potential. Studying in a reputed university with a multifaceted curriculum is no longer a distant dream for students who want to make a mark in their lives. This policy helps the university to blend the rural and the urban thoughts and culture, thereby keeping the atmosphere of the campus much grounded and realistic.

Collaborative Campus Culture

The university calendar is filled with events that offer a throbbing platform for students of various backgrounds, languages and streams to come together to collaborate and deliver successful programs celebrating diverse cultural heritage. Initiatives like ‘Haats’ expose the international and non-local students to local Haryanvi culture and heritage, whereas ‘Safarnama’ allows the students to undertake a ‘safar’ or journey across Delhi exploring its rich history, culture and cuisine.

In conclusion, one cannot help but agree that Ashoka has opened the doors for a free flow of not just ideas but also perspectives to develop conscientious individuals who would learn how to coexist in harmony despite the differences.

The Melting Pot
~ Soha Brahma

Straight from school, piping hot,
Students are thrown into a pot.
Shades of red, green and yellow,
They are all kinds – boisterous, loud and mellow.

A common ground to blend,
They develop their unique trend.
With residue from their past,
They metamorphose fast,
To be individuals, more aware and new.
Like them, you will find very few!

– Written by Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major, Ashoka University