Center For South Asian Studies

Professor Mandira Bhaduri

Bikele Nasta Club Blog

The University of Michigan has offered instruction in the Bengali language (or "Bangla" as it is known to its speakers) since 2004. It is one of only a few universities in the United States that offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of Bangla. Classes include students of Bangladeshi and Indian descent, as well as non-South Asian students interested in Bengali language, culture, and history.

In Fall 2006, students, encouraged by Professor Mandira Bhaduri decided that meeting a few times a week in the classroom did not satisfy thier desire to explore Bengali culture. They founded the Bikele Nasta Club as a forum for informal chat on current events, Bengali culture, and general social interaction. The club soon spread to include members of the Bengali community in Ann Arbor, and has now grown beyond its original social mission. The Bikele Nasta club hosts potluck dinners, participates in cultural events, and works to support continued Bengali education at the University of Michigan.