Before the New Year, Dhiman Chattopadhyay, associate professor in the Department of Communication, Journalism and Media (CJM), traveled to India for a business-cum-leisure trip to reunite with old friends and colleagues and to engage at universities throughout the region. During his time back in the country he grew up in, he delivered lectures, hosted workshops and formed academic connections that he hopes to apply to his research and teachings at Ship.

“It’s always good to go back to Kolkata,” Chattopadhyay said. “I no longer know how to define home. I say, ‘I went home to Kolkata, then I came back home to Pennsylvania.’ That’s where I grew up, so in a sense, it’s home. But the US has been home for so long now.”

The trip provided an opportunity to reconnect with old friends from school and others from his days as a journalist. “My college friends are all over the world, but many of my school friends are still in the city…these were informal, fun meetings, where you go back to being 16, cracking corny jokes.”

Chattopadhyay also connected with colleagues from his first job at the Asian Age, a newspaper that he worked in for nearly 30 years ago. “This time, someone had the bright idea to create a WhatsApp group for former colleagues. It started with 10 or 15 people and grew to 130 within a week. Initially, we planned to meet at a restaurant, but as the numbers grew, we had to book the Press Club of Kolkata’s lawns. It was amazing—meeting people I hadn’t seen in 25 years, catching up on where life had taken us.”

Some of his colleagues still work in journalism as editors, special correspondents and well-respected authors; others have moved into other roles such as consulting, public relations or corporate communication.

“I’m teaching a course on international journalism this semester, with a focus on conflict reporting. Some of my former colleagues are still in the field, covering elections, border tensions and political conflicts. One of them is in Iran next week, so I asked if they’d do a Zoom session with my students. These connections will be invaluable in bringing real-world perspectives into my classroom.”

Chattopadhyay’s trip also involved conducting workshops at lectures at the Symbiosis International University in Pune and the Sister Nivedita University in Kolkata.

“At Symbiosis, their School of Media and Communication has a fantastic program. I conducted a series of interactive sessions over three days with their master’s (SIMC) students on media, culture, and youth issues. I could see those ‘aha’ moments when students realized why we were doing certain exercises. I also conducted a half-day workshop for faculty and PhD scholars on digital media and mixed-method research.” Their dean Dr. Ruchi Jaggi, and program head Dr. Patankar both showed keenness to conduct mutual study-abroad programs and have faculty collaboration on research and pedagogy.  

Chattopadhyay also attended classes at Sister Nivedita University. “I spoke on mass media today, digital technology and the role of AI. They have a student-run television studio, so they interviewed me, and the video is up on YouTube. Their dean Dr. Minal Pareek, is also applying for a Fulbright, and we hope to bring her to Shippensburg, which would be great for fostering more academic exchange.” Dr. Pareek is also in talks with Shippensburg University for a Memorandum of Understanding that would foster student exchange programs.  

Another major highlight of Chattopadhyay’s trip was delivering the keynote address at a book launch at the Press Club of Kolkata. The book honored a pioneering media scholar, Dr. Tapati Basu, the first woman to lead a mass communication department in eastern India.  

His speech emphasized the ever-changing role of mass communication educators. “I spoke about how we need to prepare future journalists, especially with AI and digital technology changing the field. I also discussed how educators need to adapt—not just to new tools, but to new ways of understanding students.” 

Comparing the US and India, Chattopadhyay acknowledged the similarities in education and culture. “India was traditionally more aligned with the British academic system—three-year undergrad programs. But now, they’re shifting to a four-year model, largely because so many Indian students come to the US.” He noted that many of the chain restaurants and businesses that exist in the US are virtually all-throughout India and English is very widely spoken, making it easier for people from the US to travel. 

“The cultural ‘McDonaldization’ has also been happening for years. You see Starbucks, Burger King and McDonald’s everywhere in the big cities.” 

Chattopadhyay’s trip to India served as both a reunion among childhood friends and as a way to connect with professionals like himself. His visits to Symbiosis and Sister Nivedita and his interactions with his lifelong friends and colleagues continue to forge new opportunities and knowledge that he carries with him in his teachings at Shippensburg University.  

Chattopadhyay’s hope is that the university will attract more international students. “America has always been a global melting pot, and continuing to attract the best minds is what will keep it strong.”