Global South Asian Studies

Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant

Namaste!

Wesleyan University welcomes Dhara Kanchan as the 2025-26 Fulbright FLTA for Hindi. She comes from Jhansi, a city in India known for its rich history and cultural heritage. Dhara is passionate about sharing the vibrant tapestry of her homeland’s culture. She is a dedicated scholar, holding a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in English. She plans to pursue a PhD focused on the fascinating intersection of translation studies, cultural studies, philosophy, and folkloristics. Her academic work includes co-translating a classic Hindi short story published as a chapter in Becoming Translators: Theory and Practice of Translation, and she has presented papers at national conferences.

In her role as an FLTA for Hindi, Dhara is committed to creating an immersive and learner-centric classroom. As a cultural ambassador of India, she brings her love for Indian literature, art, and media into her teaching to foster a dynamic and engaging learning environment. She also has experience teaching underprivileged children through the Social Service League at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and has worked with non-profit organizations dedicated to the upliftment of government schools in India. Beyond her academic pursuits, Dhara is a devoted musician with over five years of training in Indian classical ragas on the synthesizer and has recently begun learning the flute. She is also a certified yoga practitioner, and she holds a diploma in the Bhagavad Gita, which enriches her understanding of Indian philosophy.

For Dhara, this opportunity to teach at Wesleyan is a chance to deepen her intellectual horizons and immerse herself in American culture while building meaningful connections with people from diverse backgrounds. She views this experience as a living embodiment of her core principle: Sa Vidya Ya Vimuktaye (knowledge is that which liberates), a journey of transformation for both herself and society.

Dhara can be reached via email; dkanchan@wesleyan.edu, at the language table on Tuesdays 12pm-1pm in Usdan, or at her office hour Tuesdays, 2pm-3pm in Fisk Hall, 301.  Please see her events along with other GSAS events here.