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Rupa Mahajan
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Major: undecided
Favorite Raas Moment: being rolled out!
Short Bio: I'm a freshman from Jacksonville, Florida and I'm so excited to
be on Basmati Raas! I love all types of dancing and I trained in
Bharatnatyam for 10 years before coming to college. When I'm not
dancing, I love doing lots of yoga, playing tennis, baking, going to
the beach and spending time with my friends and family. I decided I
wanted to be on Raas because it looked like everyone was having such
a great time and I wanted to try something new. I know we're going to
have an awesome year!
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Sumona Nag
Hometown:Columbus, OH but recently Saratoga, CA
Major: Biomechanical Engineering
Favorite Raas Moment: I think this would have to be my sophomore year of raas at Wash U when
we only had 4 returning members on the team. We had to build up a
team from the very beginning. The dedication, hard work and the
love for dance that shined from each and every member gave us a unity
and bond that led us to win Dandia Dhamaka that year. Being my
first year of choreographing and winning a competition with the most
amazing and unique team of dancers is an experience I will never forget!
Short Bio: Dancing
has been one of the biggest parts of my life for as long as I can
remember. I have taken ballet, tap, jazz, and bharatanatyam for
many years and was on our high school dance team for 4 years and Wash
U's raas team for 4 year. Aside from dance, I love to play tennis
and I am a huge Ohio State football fan. GO BUCKS! In
my free time, which I don't seem to have much of, I like to hang out
and relax with friends. I am excited to join Stanford's raas team
this year and keep my dance career rolling! |
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Nisha Patel
Hometown: South Toms River, NJ
Major:Undecided
Favorite Raas Moment:Lol…there
are really like too many to count, but I think I’ll always remember our
Garden State Garba Competition when we all came off stage blaming
ourselves for something. When it was time to announce the
winners, we filled in on stage behind everyone else, not really paying
much attention because we were feeling pretty bummed. Then, we heard
“Stanford Basmati Raas” for second place. And in the rush to get
through the other teams toward the front, I remember tripping, sprawled
out on to the trophy table to stop myself from falling. Ecstatic
best describes the moment.
Short Bio: I’m
a sophomore, pre-med, probably majoring in a totally fuzzy major like
history. I “hella” love the East Coast, and grew up at the beach
because the Atlantic Ocean is only 10 minutes from my house. I
like music…rock, hip hop, rap, and techno mainly…I always have some
song stuck in my head. And I watch a lot of movies…but not really
Bollywood because it’s boring. I was a total wallflower at most
Navratri garbas, until I really started enjoying it after I went to
India in high school. Before Basmati Raas, I had zero dance
experience, but ended freshmen year feeling like the team had inspired
some degree of talent out of me. My closest friends freshmen year
were fellow teammates, a second family of sorts. Trying out for
the team really felt scary because there were so many people who were
good dancers, but looking back on the awesome year our team created for
ourselves, it was the best decision I made as a freshmen.
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Molly Robertson
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Major: Undecided
Favorite Raas Moment:SO MANY. Dancing onstage at Dandia Dhamaka 2007
for the first time together as a team, then later watching the video
(it's a classic). Singing garba music for 2 hours with the Rutgers and
Johns Hopkins teams on the way to the GSG afterparty. All of our
"clean up sessions" on campus that turn into mega taboo/raas video/not
actually getting anything done sessions. Becoming brown.
Short Bio: I'll be a sophomore this year and I'm still
figuring out my major. I grew up in Seattle, where I did competitive
Scottish Highland dancing for many moons. When I got to Stanford,
however, I couldn't find any other Scottishly-inclined dancers, so
decided to try the closest thing I could find, which was obviously
raas (besides the lack of kilts and bagpipers). I am so glad I did!
Being a member of Basmati Raas was the defining part of my freshman
year. Besides making my music collection even wackier, I have gotten
to perform on campus and around the country, learn a ton about my
adopted culture, and become such close friends with my teammates that
we are family. There are some things that you pretty much can't do as
a group without becoming friends, and apparently twirling dandia at
Taco Bell is one of them.
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Mitali Thakor
Hometown: Clarksville, MD
Major: Anthropology, Feminist Studies
Favorite Raas Moment: Shaniqua! ... and JiguBaby's face right before we won 2nd at Garden State Garba 2007
Short Bio: I'm a senior (09 omg!) and I have no idea what I'll be doing next year. Probably playing on cell phones with sex workers in Thailand (seriously. that's my thesis research obsession). I'm also into sneakers, costumes, social bookmarking websites, diaspora studies, postcolonial theories, and my planner. And being a total beast at SLACKJAW -- the best game ever |
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Amanda Romero
Hometown:Tampa, FL
Major: Undecided
Favorite Raas Moment:Stepping
on a safety pin during competition, running offstage to have Ali yank
it out, then finishing the dance and getting 2nd place. HEY OOHHHH.
Short Bio:I
am not of any Indian descent. I am an Americanized Cuban and I like
dancing and dry humor. I'm going to be a junior and will be abroad in
Florence for most of the year so sadly, I won't be able to compete with
Basmati Raas this year. But I will be at practices in the Fall with my
123s and inappropriate jokes.
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Nikita Vashi
Hometown: Lake Forest, IL (suburb of Chicago)
Major: Classics
Favorite Raas Moment:When I said Raas was a way of life. On camera.
Short Bio: I'm a rising Junior this year who has been a member of Basmati Raas for
the past two years and co-captained this past year. I am a Classics
Major and Pre-med, although I pretty much majored in Raas when I was a
co-captain (much to my parents' chagrin.) I have been a part of two
very different raas teams in my time at Stanford, both wonderful in
their own unique way, and firmly believe that the dance forms a family
around it. Few have found Basmati Raas and have not found a community
of acceptance, hard work, laughter, and fulfillment. I'm really sad I'm
not going to be around for fall quarter since I'm studying abroad in
Athens, but I promise to be around as much as possible in the winter
when I return. And I'll firmly tell anyone that will listen that raas
is the most fun you can ever have with a pair of sticks.
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Bansi Shah
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Major: Mathematical and Computational Science
Favorite Raas Moment: Hearing Rajan rant and rave about tongue cleaners.
Short Bio:I
grew up in the Chicago area and having been dancing since I could walk
- especially raas! This has included area dance performances, FOGANA,
kathak, a hiphop squad at my high school and bhangra. I love eating,
sleeping, dancing, traveling, math and raas!! This is hands down one of
the quirkiest, fun-loving, caring and enjoyable teams I've ever been
on!!! |
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Indralakshmi (Indu) Premakumar
Hometown: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Major:Biomechanical Engineering
Favorite Raas Moment: oohh this is hard, since we have so many great
memories. If I had to pick I would say my favorite moment was winning
Rangeelo Raas in 2007, and feeling like there is nothing better in
this world than dancing.
Short Bio: If you see a hyper bubbly tall dark girl
who is constantly giggling and is being teased by just about
everyone, that is probably me. I was born and raised in Sri Lanka,
and moved here to California three years ago, and currently live with
my mom and grandparents. Ironically, even though I grew up in South
Asia, I didn't know what Raas was untill I came to California and
went to a garba during Navaratri, where my friends taught me how to
do one-two-threes and dance with dandiya sticks without whacking
myself on my head. Basmati Raas showed me a whole new aspect to raas/
garba, where the element of competitive dancing brought forth a
storyline, complicated formations, and the incredible feeling of
being on stage and having the best time in your life. Through
practices, building props and midnight rendevouzs to Taco Bell, my
team became my "family", and some of my best memories from this last
year is during these "Raas bonding" sessions. Other than Raas, I love
spicy Indian and chinese food, and watch a lot of movies, specially
hindi movies with Sharukh Khan in it, and romantic comedies.
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Andrew Hung
Hometown:Toronto, Canada
Major: Economics
Short Bio: I'm a sophomore with a penchant for live music (talk to me about
music!), conversations, and witty puns. This is my first year on the
team - aside from hankering after good Indian food every now and then,
I was probably like the least informed person in South Asian culture
before Raas. The reason I joined Raas is because everybody looks so
freaking happy when they do it! I just want to figure out what the
secret to this undying happiness is. |
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Vanisha Gandhi
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Major: Undecided
Favorite Raas Moment: Woah…..this is so hard! It would probably be winning 2nd place at
Garden State Garba in New Jersey after what we thought was a totally
crappy performance tainted by a few unsuccessful stunts and a painful
safety pin mishap. That or hearing our fans cheer us on during our
performance at Rangeelo Raas!
Short Bio: I’m
a rising sophomore and yet have to decide what I want to major in,
although I’m thinking something related to science and humanities. I
was born and raised in SAN FRANCISCO, yes in the city, and don’t let
anyone tell you otherwise...haha. I grew up going to garbas during
Navratri and performing to Hindi songs at social gatherings; I’m also
trained in Kathak, a classical dance of North India. Being a part of
Basmati Raas freshman year was an amazing transition for me because not
only did I get the chance to continue dancing, now at the collegiate
level, but I’ve also made an extremely cohesive group of friends that
have become my family. Being on Basmati Raas was the highlight of my
freshman year at Stanford; whether it be while learning new
choreography, making props for upcoming competitions or just hanging
out, watching Raas videos and sharing our knowledge of the Gujarati
language (don’t worry….no experience necessary, just ask the one and
only Mali Ramachandran), I have learned that being on Basmati Raas is
not just an extracurricular activity…it is a “way of life” that I will
cherish forever. |
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Nick N. Oza
Hometown: Morgan Hill,CA
Major: Masters in Mangement Science & Engineering
Favorite Raas Moment: So many to choose from...I honestly think the greatest of all of them
was the first win, where the GWA guy said: "You know Rohit...You've
gotta be smart to win first place..." at which point, I looked at Jay
and he knew the announcer was talking about us, and then the rush from
there till the end of the night! A true adrenaline rush and one of the
greatest feelings in my life. This was from the '04-'05 team of Basmati
Raas.
Short Bio: I
am the biggest Gujarati Non-Gujarati I know. I go to more garbas than
99% of the gujus that I know, and I know a LOT! I love garba and raas
with a passion, at the same time, I love almost any form of dance.
Growing up, I never thought dance was a cool thing, but now I realize
it is as much a sport that requires technique and practice as any
other. When not dancing, I love to play soccer, volleyball, or almost
any other sport. If the weather outside is gloomy, I am always game for
an indoor game of almost anything. Basically, I love to have fun, play
games and exercise my brain! Academically speaking, I am the perpetual
student, even tho my official run at schooling has now come to an end,
after I have accumulated 2 MS's and a BS, but keep on the look out for
more degrees in the future :-D In the end, it all comes down to working
hard, playing hard; "Life is a Game, Play it Hard!" |
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Nithya Rajagopalan
Hometown: Naperville, IL (suburb of Chicago)
Major: Economics
Favorite Raas Moment: Dancing raas in the middle of the streets of NYC
Short Bio: Hi! I am a senior at Stanford majoring in Econ. I have been dancing
since the age of 5 but only started doing raas in college and fell in
love with it =)
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Nikesh Patel
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Major: American Studies
Favorite Raas Moment: This is a difficult question because this past year was rather
memorable to say the least. So, instead of thinking back, I'm just
going to reflect on the one memory that comes immediatley to mind.
During a sit down discussion in the middle of one of our practices, I
remember smelling something rather peculiar in the air...something in
the way of body odor. After sniffing around for a little bit, I
realized the smell was being emitted from a certain someone. I
mentioned this to another guy, but no one really believed me and just
dismissed my aimless observations. But, a couple of hours later at the
end of practice during a team huddle, one of the guys started
questioning the stench. And, soon enough, everyone was beginning to
notice it. Of course, the person who was responsible for the smell had
no clue, though he heard about it later. Its hard to describe, but you
had to have been there, so join the team!
Short Bio: I'm
a rising Sophomore and have been a member of Basmati Raas for a year
now. I am from San Francisco and a fervent believer in the 49ERs, the
Giants and the Golden State Warriors. I played soccer and basketball
for four years in high school and still love to play those sports.
Other interests of mine include spending time with my familiy, watching
tv, exercising and sleeping. Before coming to Stanford and subsequently
the Raas team, I was pretty unfamiliar with Gujarati culture. While I
have come to appreciate Raas and Indian music now, I had other stronger
reasons for joing the team. Honestly, it made my freshman year
memorable! Being a part of the team introduced me to some of my closest
friends and traveling and competing only solidified those bonds.
Competing on stage and perhaps losing a "stick" to an audience of
hundreds is quite exhilirating. And, oh yeah, the afterparties are
great ways to meet students from other schools...ask Rajan, he can tell
you all about it.
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Rushi Talati
Hometown: Clarksville, MD
Major: Biological Sciences, Economics
Favorite Raas Moment: Performing at George Lucas’s party and Zavain getting yelled at for playing with the mechanical bull
Short Bio:I’m
a freshman from Maryland—which is surprisingly well represented on this
team. I’ve grown up loving raas and garba and I’m really excited to be
part of Basmati Raas. I’m looking forward to all the new experiences
and what’s sure to be a memorable year. Oh, and if you ever get the
chance, ask Rajan why he’s a junior and non-staff member living in an
all-frosh dorm…sketchyy. |
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Zavain Dar
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
Major: Symbolic Systems, Mathematics
Short Bio: I'm from Berkeley, and am currently a sophomore. I enjoy long walks
on the beach, and romantic dinners in front of a fire. Honestly
though, this whole "Raas" thing has been really new and exciting for
me. When not twirling sticks with great zeal, i enjoy playing
basketball and going to the gym, hanging out with friends and family,
and playing lacrosse on the Stanford men's team. I'm pretty excited
about the whole traveling thing, i've never really been to maryland or
anything, but i mean who hasn't heard rave reviews about the
incredible state? |
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Neel Murthy
Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
Major: Mathematics
Favorite Raas Moment:Becoming a team member
Short Bio: I went to Huntington Beach High School, had a blast in Orange County.
I am a pretty chill and straightforward guy, I love to dance and Raas
is a great dance, so its a perfect match. Other than that, I'm all
about Poker, Basketball, movies, video games, and just relaxing. |
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Muthu Alagappan
Hometown: Houston, TX
Favorite Raas Moment: When I realized I didn't know 80% of the people in my dorm because of raas... Honestly though, my favorite raas moment will most likely change by the end of the year, but for now, its either getting rolled out and being excited about waking up at 7 AM or winning the raas v bhangra basketball game...easily.
Short Bio: I was born in England, moved to Texas when I was two and lived there ever since. I never really danced before joining raas except for random high school performances where all the boys pretended they didn't like dancing and everyone ended up doing different moves at different times. I really like sports, specifically basketball and tennis (how un-indian) and I am a huge Houston Rockets fan. I spend most of my time at Stanford biking from Wilbur to the math/science corner, and I spend the rest of my time biking back. I am really excited about the upcoming year, performing at competitions, and being a part of Basmati Raas. |
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Niket Biswas
Hometown: Plano, TX
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering... and fb.
Favorite Raas Moment: after countless failed attempts of being launched headfirst and forward aerial-ly by BC aka Powerhouse into and onto bright blue during practice, supported tirelessly by every guy on the floor, once showtime came, we landed it. in the clutch. cuz that's how we roll, on BR.
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Balaji Chandrasekhar
Hometown: Bethesda, MD
Major: Biomechanical Engineering
Favorite Raas Moment: Winning Garba With Attitude last year and riding the Escalade limo to the after-party.
Short Bio: I'm from Bethesda, MD, right outside of D.C., where I was groomed at an all-boys prep school for nine years of my life. In addition to spreading a tremendous amount of East Coast pride, I spend most of my evenings with the raas team pushing the standard for high-knees and energy. The biggest draw of Basmati Raas has by far been the people that have come to be my on-campus family. I feel that something about the competitive spirit plays a huge part in fostering unity and everlasting friendships--not to mention some unforgettable Saturday nights. Outside of raas, I spend my time working on my non-raas dance moves, catching up on all the work I should have been doing during the week, shopping at J. Crew, eating as much as humanly possibly, throwing game, and riding my bike with the Stanford Cycling Team. |
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Rajan Patel
Hometown: Casselberry, FL (suburb of Orlando)
Major: Biomechanical Engineering
Favorite Raas Moment:Wow,
this is hard...either winning GWA in 2006 and having the stretch hummer
come pick us up for the afterparty or performing on stage at Dandia
Dhamaka in 2007. And, no, my favorite moment has nothing to do with
RMN. And if anyone else mentions it and you're curious as to what it
is, just ignore them, it's all a myth.
Short Bio: I'm a rising junior (still trying to figure out my major...yeah, i
know, its sad) and have been a member of Basmati Raas since my freshman
year. I was born in Detroit, Michigan and now live in Orlando, FL. I
grew up going to Navratri since I was little. Although, when I was
younger, I never danced because I thought it was stupid, I just played
football outside with all of my friends. However, I later saw the light
and fell in love with garba/raas. Being a member of Basmati Raas has by
far been one of the most substantial parts of my Stanford experience.
I've made an extremely close-knit group of friends, learned to dance at
a much higher, competitive level, and enjoyed traveling the nation
going to competitions with the team. I love raas to the point that it's
literally all I play on my iPod, no joke. I also love taco bell,
sports, and sleep. I love lamp
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Nikhil Saralkar
Hometown: Germantown, MD
Major: M.S. / Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering
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Sheel Tyle
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Major: Economics/Human Biology
Favorite Raas Moment: My favorite Raas moment came before I made the team. Rajan came into my dorm room and, for close to an hour, introduced me to Basmati Raas, BobTube, the Stanford Move, the Lagaan introduction video, and Desi Dance Teams
Short Bio: I hail from New York and used to be a Buffalo Bills fan until they put up a total of six points on the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers defense. When not flipping Rupa, you can find me singing Aicha, Yunhi Chala, or Aankhon Mein Tu Hai with Siddharth. I also tend to speak in various accents and enjoy speaking in languages that I don't actually know. I look forward to an exciting year of Raas, to traveling across the country on red-eyes, and to lobbying Stanford President Hennessy to make college free for everyone
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Tara Bozorg-Grayeli
Hometown: Tempe, AZ
Fav Quote: H: "How come we play war and not peace?"
C: "Too few role models"
-Calvin & Hobbes
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