This page contains articles by Study India's ambassadors on selected topics. The Study India 2009 ambassadors are Emily Yarrow, Jack Chapman and Rebecca McMurray (Mumbai) and Max Waldron, Elegia Clancey and Danielle de Bruin (New Delhi).

Dance, by Jack Chapman
Mumbai, by Rebecca McMurray
Work placement at Action For Autism (AFA),  by Elegia Clancey
Work placement at the British Council by Max Waldron
Food, by Emily Yarrow

Study India, Dance by Jack Chapman
The study India programme exposed us to aspects of Indian life which backpackers and tourists don’t get to see and helped us really understand the subtleties of the culture.

What struck me particularly was how highly Indians value their culture, heritage and tradition. This, for me, represented a major contrast between the UK and India. Although in Mumbai, the heart of Indian Bollywood cinema, we were shown many different types of Indian dance and got to listen to a wide spectrum of Indian music.

At the programme’s official opening, put on by the British Council in Mumbai we were shown a traditional Indian dance and it was explained to us that the dance was a narrative, telling a traditional Hindu story and that each move represented a particular plot point of the story. This was a concept I had never come across in UK or European culture but seemed to be something that all Indians could understand.

Later in the week we were given a lesson in how to perform some of these moves and it was interesting to see the attention to detail and absolute control of the body that these dances demanded. We were also shown and participated in some modern Indian dance and this was more in line with what we understood to be ‘Bollywood.’ This type of dance was also completely unfamiliar to us as a Western audience but is what dominates Indian popular music videos.


Study India, Mumbai by Rebecca McMurray
Mumbai is often described as a ‘melting pot of culture’, and from the moment I arrived there I witnessed many of the reasons for this.

The city is full of people from all over the world-many are from other cities or states in India, and have travelled to Mumbai in search of work. As a result, there are a huge variety of languages spoken, with English being one of the more common ones. All the locals are happy to speak to you and are especially happy if you manage to slip in some Hindi!

One of the most striking things about the city is the huge diversity in people-there is a large wealth gap in Mumbai, with a strange absence of what we class as ‘middle-class’. The wealth gap is illustrated all across the city; new skyscrapers alongside sprawling slums and rickshaw drivers alongside chauffeur driven cars.

The colonial heritage of Mumbai is plastered all across its’ landscape. The Gateway of India, Mumbai University and the courts are reminders of British rule in India, and at times it is possible to forget where you are. However, with the increasing competition of India on a global scale, it is obvious that Mumbai is a changing city with new buildings springing up everywhere.

Mumbai is a buzzing city full of diversity with new and old, tradition and modernity, and rich and poor existing alongside each other-this is striking to someone visiting this beautiful city for the first time.


Study India work placement at Action For Autism (AFA),  by Elegia Clancey
The most useful piece of advice we were given while in India was that whatever one thinks about the country, the opposite is also true. This is the case when you consider almost any part of life in India - nearly everything in the country both meets and defies assumptions and expectations. I was particularly interested in education and I was able to see different forms of this while on the programme.

I spent my week’s placement at the charity organization Action For Autism (AFA), and although I have had experience with children who have autism, spending time at the school run by AFA was a completely new experience. While the organisation has limited resources, and relies heavily on donations, the staff and students are nothing less than inspiring. The education at this school focuses on developing the pre-vocational skills of the children as well as physical activities for them.

I quickly realised how different it was from other schools we experienced on the programme, which were privately funded and wealthier. Hearing about the other student’s experiences at their schools, I realised just how extreme the differences can be. Everything from the school grounds, sports offered, classes, size, food and equipment were worlds apart. I would in no way wish this to be read as me favouring one school, I am merely overwhelmed by the contrast. Both types of institution reveal the complex and innovative ways in which India’s children are being educated, a population larger than the whole of the United States.


Study India work placement at the British Council by Max Waldron
During Study India I was fortunate enough to work with the British Council. From the outset I was given responsibility for developing an online marketing plan for ‘Low Carbon Futures’, a climate change initiative, and managed to produce a detailed written report by the end of the week. One of us had joked on arrival that their greatest fear was five days of photocopying for dull bureaucrats; I’m pleased to say I was subjected to nothing of the sort.

What I gained more than anything was a greater insight into Indian culture: I found that taking part in the day-to-day does a great deal to turn you from a passive onlooker to a genuine participant in Indian life. In many ways I also felt that the benefit was directly related to what was put in – the very fact you’re reading this probably means you’re eager to throw yourself into something new, and that certainly counts for a lot.

The reason the work placement is so valuable is that is helps to untangle the puzzle of India a little. Getting under the skin of such a complex and intriguing country – often referred to as a ‘functioning anarchy’ (whatever that means) – involves more than just going through the motions. It demands a real willingness to integrate with the people on a personal level. A weeklong internship is an ideal way to do that, and it’s definitely something that sets Study India apart as a truly unique experience.


Study India, Food by Emily Yarrow
You are probably thinking that you will be sick of curries after three weeks in India, but fear not! Curries are only one of the many wonderful, aromatic dishes available in India, and they need not be spicy either. You will be surprised by the vast wealth of flavours, smells, tastes and textures that will tantalise your senses.

On the programme you will have the opportunity to sample fare from the many different regions of India both sweet and savoury dishes. Indian food can be served and sampled in many different ways, and there are many delicious and diverse treats to be had. Chai, or Marsala Chai is a very popular hot tea which is delicately flavoured with different spices depending on the seller and area; mouth-wateringly sweet, Chai is a welcome treat available at almost any street corner. Often ‘Chai Wallahs’ or tea sellers are also a great place to meet local people and gain insight into the local culture.

Lentils, rice, chicken, and okra are all common in restaurant style food, and the vast array of available dishes will boggle the mind endlessly. Vegetarians, you too are in for a delight, with many dishes being purely vegetarian.

Kulfi Ice-cream cannot be missed, and on a hot day of exploring around Mumbai, or after a little too much chilli, is a refreshing delight.