Neha Thomas
For Soubyanta D. Chakraborthy, his first impression of Kozhikode was quickly shaped by the hospitality of autorickshaw drivers in the city. 鈥淓veryone here is so welcoming. I do not feel like an outsider at all,鈥 he said.
Mr. Chakraborthy, a delegate from West Bengal, is one of over 800 attendees at the four-day 18th All-India Conference of the Students Federation of India (SFI), which began here on Friday (June 27, 2025).
Participants from outside Kerala have especially appreciated the warmth of Kozhikode, finding it conducive to sharing their cultural experiences and building connections across regional boundaries.
鈥淚t has been a wonderful opportunity to learn about a new State and its culture,鈥 said Aanisha, the organisation鈥檚 Punjab State president.
When asked about Kerala鈥檚 traditional food, Sakhi, a student from Jamia Millia Islamia, pointed out the distinctive colour of the water served in restaurants. 鈥淚n Kerala, the water is pink!鈥 she said, referring to 鈥榢aringali vellam鈥 鈥 water infused with herbs, roots, bark, and seeds.
Shivagi Pozta, a delegate who had travelled all the way from Himachal Pradesh, preferred to stick with the classics. 鈥淒osa with some coconut chutney is my favourite,鈥 she said.
The participants also shared insights into the SFI鈥檚 activism in their respective States. 鈥淲e are the strongest progressive political organisation in Delhi,鈥 said Mehina Fathima, a student at the Delhi University. Those from the Capital acknowledged that activism often came with challenges. 鈥淲e organise pro-Palestine protests outside the Israeli Embassy and are frequently detained as a result,鈥 said Sakhi.
Maharashtra State president Rohidas said the organisation had been working with girls from tribal communities. 鈥淲e recently helped 6,000 tribal students gain admission to residential schools,鈥 he added. Mr. Rohidas mentioned that he is a PhD scholar. Two other PhD scholars from Maharashtra had also attended, and all three said they were balancing their activism with academic research.
The conference created a space for students to connect across regional and linguistic boundaries. As they sat together, Sujith Tripura and Somnath Nirmal 鈥 central committee members from Tripura and Maharashtra, respectively 鈥 discussed issues in their home States and expressed a desire to visit Wayanad.
A photo of Delhi鈥檚 Mehina Fathima and Rajasthan鈥檚 Abhijeet Poonia raising their fists at Kozhikode Beach perfectly captures how students from across India have come together on the shores of the Arabian Sea.
S. Nanshana, a State committee member from Kerala, said a significant number of delegates had come from outside the State. The conference will conclude on Monday (June 30, 2025).