THE TEAM
Meet the faces behind all the events!
Shreya Basak
Chair Person
Shreya grew up in a multicultural environment with a mixed sense of belonging to Kolkata, Varanasi and New Delhi. After completing her Master’s in Physics, she came to Leuven and found a home in ISAL. She loves being a part of cultural programs and volunteering for social outreaches. Now, she is in the path of expanding her professional horizons beyond research and works as an Engineering Consultant in Leuven.
Alekhya Eedubilli
Vice-Chair Person
Alekhya is a student of Food technology at KU Leuven and Ghent University of Belgium - so naturally, she has a knack to snack. Originally from Chennai, she is fond of bright colours and spicy food. She is good with flavours, painting and playing tennis! She is also fond of coming up with new ideas (however unattainable they are). She is always excited to meet new people as it gives her room to learn more and more. Learnt anything interesting about anything? She's all ears.
Atibhav Chaudhry
Logistics
Atibhav is a PhD student at KU Leuven's Insurance research group. He was born in Gurgaon but he grew up in Melbourne. This unique blend of cultures shapes his outlook on life. He has a profound passion for volunteering, especially helping those experiencing homesickness. Atibhav thrives on travel, relishing the opportunity to immerse himself in various cultures and meet people from diverse backgrounds. When he's not travelling or volunteering, you can find him following sports or sharing the latest memes/reels.
Aryaman Prasad
Secratary
Aryaman came to Leuven in 2021, and has been volunteering for ISAL ever since. He is an engineering student at campus group T, but that alone is not what would describe him. He has various fields of interest, from fitness, boxing and rock climbing to taking part in acting, dance and logistics for ISAL events. Apart from this, he's also an avid cook and takes interest in reading philosophy while simultaneously being the group's meme enthusiast. He does not shy away from exploring a new role when it comes to seizing new opportunities.
"Everyone's the landlord in their own story. Remember to always tip your landlord." - Aryaman
Mohamed Irfan
Logistics
Meneer, as his friends affectionally address him, hails from the south of India. After practicing dentistry for almost a decade, he obtained a double Master's from KU Leuven. He has been applying his knowledge of science in Managing Language Barriers in Unplanned Care for his doctoral studies in Leuven. He loves to run and has been in several half-marathons across the globe. Having a knack for cooking and pastries, he loves to host people and send them off with satiety. Apart from this, he is also an avid reader and a landscape photographer who loves taking pictures of wildlife as well.
Chaitanya Srivastava
Creatives & Web Design
Chaitanya has been living his life across the world, partaking in multiple international cultural events, but takes comfort in saying that he hails from the mighty city of Mumbai. He's currently studying at Group T, doing the Engineering Technology bachelors course. Hobbies like cooking, music production have now become a second nature to him, but his passion is filmmaking - wherein he always tries to push the boundaries with larger-than-life storytelling. He loves exploring different cultures, meeting new people and forming connections to learn more about the world around him.
Bodhi Satwa
Logistics & Operations
Bodhi is a Master's student in Astrophysics at KU Leuven, who balances his academic pursuits with his passion for music as the electric guitarist for the band "Ehsaas." He values diversity and creativity, seeing the world as a vibrant tapestry of cultures, languages, and cuisines, and finding inspiration in both the mysteries of the universe and the rhythms of music.
Mansi Singh
Logistics & Operations
Mansi is a passionate criminology student at KU Leuven who finds joy in all things creative. Whether it's dancing, singing, or exploring the world of art, she brings a playful energy and sense of humor to everything she does. Born in India and raised in Belgium, Mansi is the child of a Nepali and Malayali family, but was nurtured in a Gujarati community, adding yet another layer to her rich cultural background. Above all, Mansi values building and nurturing community, always focused on bringing people together and celebrating the connections that make us stronger.
Terrin Babu Pulikottil
Logistics & Operations
Terrin Pulikottil, born in Kerala and raised in Tamil Nadu, hopped to Italy for good pizza and a Master’s degree, then explored Portugal as a researcher amidst beautiful beaches. Now in Belgium, he's break-apart-ing stuff with big robots for his PhD. When he’s not solving circular manufacturing puzzles, he’s backpacking around the world, experimenting with cooking, surfing waves, and dancing to Latin beats.
“யாதும் ஊரே யாவரும் கேளிர் - I am a world citizen. Every citizen is my own kith and kin” - Kaniyan Poongundran, Purananuru (Tamil Classic), 1st Century BC
Deewakar Sharma
Logistics & Operations
Deewakar comes from the land of 5 rivers, Punjab, India, and is currently working at IMEC.
He has been in Europe for more than 10 years ( nearly 7+ years in France and has been in Belgium since 5. He loves traveling, hiking, and Bhangra.
He loves trying new things - from dance to sports to cuisines to deserts, count him in. One line sarcasm and comedy comes natural to him - poke him at your own risk
Durgasruthi Pully
Social Media Manager
Sruthi hails from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, a land of ancient art, vibrant temples, and beaches. She works as a research associate at KU Leuven and brings our team a tapestry of talents and experiences. She has an insatiable love for travel and photography, capturing moments and memories to cherish forever. She has a great passion for dance and is an active performer of ISAL’s dance team – Adwitiya. Moreover, Sruthi’s culinary skills and her belief that great food is the key to one’s heart reflect her warm and welcoming nature.
Nidhi Soni
Social Media Manager
I moved from Bombay to Brussels to pursue my Master’s in Multilingual Communication and Cross-Cultural Communication Management from KU Leuven Brussels. Having learnt French for more than 5 years, I came to Belgium to immerse myself in the culture and get a holistic understanding of the French Language. Besides French, I have also pursued studies in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. I have a natural affinity to linguistics, and am fascinated by cultural studies. Apart from my academics, I enjoy literature and art. In my free time I like to read books ranging from fiction to psychology. As an individual I’m the curious and creative kind. Painting, crafting, crocheting is what keeps me busy on the weekends. Fun fact, I love cleaning, it is something that is extremely relaxing to me.
Visshalini Dinesh Kumar
Culturals
Visshalini, from the melting pot of South India – Hosur, is a student at KU Leuven with a
strong passion for building a supportive and inclusive community for both Indian and
international students. Currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, she navigates
life driven by curiosity and creativity. Committed to academic excellence, Visshalini also takes pride in fostering vibrant cultural engagement. She enjoys writing poems in Tamil and English, dancing, listening to music, and reading books. Whether she's grooving to her favourite tunes or getting lost in a good book, she thrives from creative experiences.
“Dubito, ergo sum, vel, quod idem est, cogito, ergo sum.” – Réne Descartes
Idris David
Culturals
I'm Idris, born and raised in Belgium and currently pursuing my master's degree in social and cultural anthropology! I love bringing cultures together and celebrating those unique things which make us human across borders. I have fallen in love with Desi culture, whether it's Ghoomar dancing, celebrating Holi or eating way too spicy food. Within the association, I'm dedicated to bridging the gaps between India and Belgium, thus bringing both countries and both peoples closer together. In my free time, I love to spend time with my friends and family, to eat my occasional portion of Belgian fries and of course to dance, from Bollywood to Ballet and from Bhangra to Bharatanatyam!
Laissez les bon temps rouler et allons danser (Let the good times roll and let's go dance) ~ New Orleans saying
Aaron Prakash
Onboarding
Aaron is an audiophile and electronics enthusiast pursuing a Master of Electrical Engineering at KU Leuven. Born and raised in Bangalore, on a staple diet of video games, old school Disney and Top Gear he brings a touch of old Bangalorean flair and blended cultural appeal to everything he touches. He enjoys grand touring across Europe while sampling all the local culinary treats and dancing to Europop in the street with his Balkan friends. He also enjoys applying his dry sarcasm and observational humor more practically through stand-up comedy and occasional videos on Instagram.
Home is where the heart is
ನಮ್ಮ ಊರು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು
Arun Sundar S
Culturals
Originally from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Arun came to KU Leuven’s Faculty of Engineering Science to pursue a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering after working in the industry for 3.5 years. His life motto, "பாத்துக்கலாம்", has guided him through various phases — each one deepening his understanding of automobiles, and people. Now in his “who would’ve thought” chapter in Leuven, Arun continues his routine of staying curious and building meaningful connections.
Suta Soni
Onboarding
Suta is a student at Group T, pursuing a bachelor's in Engineering Technology in Electronics and ICT. Adventurous by nature, she enjoys exploring the unknown, whether through travel, meeting new people, or watching horror and sci-fi films. Her creative side shines through painting, cooking, and various art and craft projects, which help her stay grounded and expressive. With a strong curiosity about different cultures and a genuine interest in people, she loves to travel and explore more.
Vivek Kumar
Logistics
Vivek is a PhD student at KU Leuven, conducting research in quantum physics and superconductivity. Born and raised in New Delhi, he has called Belgium home for the past year. Beyond his academic work, he embraces a broad spectrum of passions, from modelling and acting to boxing, hiking, reading, and traveling. Deeply curious about the human experience, Vivek is drawn to exploring diverse cultures, meeting people from all walks of life, and forming meaningful connections that enrich his perspective on the world