When Aanya Bhardwaj first arrived at McGill University from Delhi three years ago, the campus felt overwhelming. “I remember walking through the Y-intersection during Activities Night, feeling completely lost,” she told me during our conversation at a bustling Café Campus last week. “Then I saw the Indian Students Association booth, and it was like finding a piece of home.”
This sentiment echoes across McGill’s South Asian community, where the Indian Students Association (ISA) has evolved from a small cultural club into one of campus’s most vibrant student organizations. With over 500 active members, the group has transformed how South Asian identity is expressed and celebrated at the university.
“We’re not just about Bollywood nights anymore,” explains Rohan Sharma, the current ISA president, as we meet in the McLennan Library. “Though don’t get me wrong—our Diwali celebration last November still packed SSMU ballroom to capacity.”
According to McGill’s enrollment data, international students from India have increased by nearly 35% over the past five years, making them one of the fastest-growing international student populations on campus. This demographic shift has prompted the ISA to reimagine its role beyond cultural preservation.
The association now runs professional networking events connecting students with South Asian alumni working across Montreal’s business landscape. Their mentorship program pairs first-year students with seniors who help navigate everything from course selection to finding apartments in neighborhoods like Parc-Extension, where many Indian international students eventually settle.
“When I first joined the executive team, we primarily focused on cultural events,” says Priya Patel, who served as vice president last year. “Now we’re equally invested in advocacy and community support. International tuition at McGill is brutal—over $45,000 annually for many programs. We’ve created emergency funds and resource guides specifically for students facing financial hardships.”
The group’s evolution reflects broader conversations happening across Canadian universities about the role cultural associations play in student life. Professor Amrita Singh from McGill’s Department of South Asian Studies notes that these organizations have become increasingly important as international enrollment rises.
“These associations now function as essential support networks,” Professor Singh explained during our phone conversation. “They’re filling gaps in university services while preserving cultural connections. For many students, especially those experiencing their first Canadian winter, these communities become lifelines.”
The ISA’s impact extends beyond campus borders. Their community outreach initiative partners with local South Asian businesses and cultural centers throughout Montreal. Last winter, they organized volunteer groups at the Parc-Extension Food Bank, where many student volunteers found themselves serving fellow international students struggling with Montreal’s rising cost of living.
“That was a wake-up call for us,” Sharma admits. “We realized our responsibility goes beyond throwing great events. Many of our members are facing serious challenges—housing insecurity, food insecurity, visa complications. We’ve had to become advocates and resource providers.”
These evolving responsibilities haven’t come without growing pains. The association faced criticism last year from some South Asian students who felt events catered primarily to North Indian cultural expressions while neglecting the diversity of South Asian identities.
“We heard that feedback loud and clear,” says Meera Krishnan, the association’s cultural secretary. “This year, we’ve made deliberate efforts to celebrate regional diversity. Our Holi festival included South Indian cuisine, Bengali musical performances, and even Pakistani dance forms. We’re learning that representing ‘Indian culture’ means embracing incredible diversity.”
McGill’s administration has taken notice of the organization’s expanding influence. Last semester, the ISA received the Student Society’s Impact Award, with the selection committee citing their “exceptional commitment to student well-being and cultural education.”
Deputy Provost Fabrice Labeau praised the group’s contribution during an interview in his James Administration Building office. “What impresses me about the ISA is how they’ve balanced cultural celebration with practical support systems. They’re modeling what inclusive student leadership looks like.”
The organization has also navigated politically sensitive territory, particularly as international tensions between India and neighboring countries occasionally spill into campus discourse. The executive team has established guidelines emphasizing their non-political nature while still creating space for nuanced conversations.
“We can celebrate Indian culture without endorsing any particular political stance,” explains Sharma. “Our events are about connection, not division. We’ve partnered with Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan student groups for joint events. That’s something I’m particularly proud of.”
For graduating members like Bhardwaj, the association has transformed her university experience. “Before finding ISA, I was seriously considering transferring somewhere with a larger South Asian community,” she confesses. “Now I can’t imagine my McGill experience without it. I’ve found my people here.”
As we wrap up our conversation, she shows me photos from last month’s Bollywood dance competition that drew over 800 attendees from across Montreal universities. “Look at this crowd—it’s not just South Asian students anymore. We’ve got people from every background experiencing our culture. That’s when you know you’re making an impact.”
With undergraduate international student tuition increasing again next year, the ISA is preparing for another influx of Indian students seeking both community and practical support. They’re expanding their orientation programming and developing a comprehensive guide to navigating both McGill and Montreal as a South Asian student.
“This isn’t just a cultural club anymore,” Sharma emphasizes as we part ways. “For many students, it’s the difference between surviving at McGill and truly belonging here.”
The journey of McGill’s Indian Students Association reflects a broader evolution happening in cultural student groups across Canadian campuses—moving from preservation to advocacy, from celebration to community-building. In finding their place at McGill, these students are simultaneously reshaping what campus culture means for everyone.
