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Scholarship helps Indian American student connect with roots
Prasiddha Sudhakar awarded 2024 CLS for Hindi study, connects with Indian heritage through language immersion.
Prasiddha Sudhakar awarded the critical language scholarship / Image - Carnegie Mellon University
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program, an initiative led by the United States Department of State, is facilitating a profound cultural reconnection for Indian-American students such as Prasiddha Sudhakar through immersive language study.
Sudhakar, currently pursuing a master's degree at the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Melllon University, will study Hindi as part of the scholarship.
"Being able to reconnect with my heritage in some way, like being able to learn Hindi, is something I've wanted to do since I was a child," Sudhakar who was born in the U.S. to Tamil speaking immigrants said.
The Rutgers University graduate has already studied French, Dutch, Spanish, German and Persian. “I was born in the U.S., but I lived in six different countries growing up. I have an international background and this really shaped my worldview. I think that learning languages was always a big part of it,” she said.
As a civic technologist combating online hate speech and misinformation, Sudhakar recognizes the pivotal role of language in grasping nuanced cultural dynamics. She opted to study Hindi language as it would aid her current research project in understanding the cultural dynamics shaping the online Indian communities.
Paige Zalman, associate director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development at Carnegie Mellon, praised Sudhakar for bagging the highly competitive scholarship.
“I was so impressed by her dedication to the process, and I was truly overjoyed when we found out that she had been selected for the award,” Zalman remarked. “Not only will her important research be bolstered by her intensive Hindi study this summer, but I am certain that she will also make a lasting impact on the other members of her CLS cohort due to her linguistic skill, cultural empathy, and kind heart.”
The CLS Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with funding allocated by the U.S. Government. With an acceptance rate around 10 percent, the program provides U.S. students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in languages and cultures critical to U.S. security and economic prosperity.
American Councils for International Education supports the program's implementation, ensuring its effectiveness in nurturing language proficiency and intercultural competence among American students.
Through these initiatives, the CLS Program cultivates a new generation of linguistically and culturally adept individuals, equipping them to navigate complex global landscapes and contribute meaningfully to America's global interactions.
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