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During winter break, we were able to visit one of our closest Colgate friends in his home of Kolkata, India. Our friend, senior Ushnish Ray, was an excellent host and showed us all there was to see in Kolkata in addition to a few other regions of India. Although we spent a lot of time seeing sights and enjoying a vacation abroad, we were able to learn a lot about India that is applicable to Colgate and the SGA.
The first aspect of India that we brought back with us was the true kindness and emotional openness of the people we met. Not dissimilar to the members of the Colgate Community, the people we met in many places we traveled to were always willing to tell us about their country, show us things we hadn't seen before, and share about their own experiences. The people we were able to talk to and befriend were often the products of very difficult upbringings and still had limited means. However, they were friendly to a group of Americans that, at least superficially, had little in common with them. As visitors in India, it was truly striking how their community welcomed and encouraged us. We hope that the traditional spirit of acceptance and kindness in the Colgate Community can continue to be strong here as well.
The second aspect of India that we brought back with us was the enormity of the environmental challenges that the world faces as it continues to develop. We were fortunate enough to travel to Shimla, India in the Himalayas for part of our trip where the views were breathtaking and the air was crisp. We were able to mountain bike, hike, and spend time outdoors with little pollution of any kind. However, our time in Kolkata, a city of over five million, was an entirely different experience. It has grown very fast over the past several years without the necessary infrastructure and standards for transportation. The result is a very crowded and poorly laid out metropolis that has some of the worst air pollution in the world. Breathing was noticeably difficult and most outdoor surfaces were covered in a layer of soot.
Here at Colgate, we can't directly confront the pollution in India, but we can do out part here to be sure that the natural environment of the world is protected. On January 31, Focus the Nation will kick-off at Colgate with a day of workshops, speeches, and events. It is important for us to take the time to remember that most of the world's environment is not as protected as Colgate's campus and unfortunately, we as a student body are not doing everything we should to be environmentally friendly. Whether you are a senior or first-year, please use your time at Colgate to become educated on the challenges the world faces regarding the environment. Take an environmental studies class, join an environmental group, or attend some of the Focus the Nation events. Everyone can play a part and together, Colgate can make a difference.
