The India Center Marks Republic Day with Celebration of Community, Scholarship and Global Partnership
The India Center highlights student experiences and achievements, new awards and deepening ties between UCF, India and Central Florida.
Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 20, 2026
The University of Central Florida’s India Center brought students, staff, faculty, community leaders and international partners together to celebrate India’s Republic Day — an occasion defined by democratic ideals, cultural pride and expanding global collaboration.
The annual event reflects the center’s growing role as a hub for academic exchange, research dialogue and community engagement between UCF and India and showcased the center’s support for student experiential learning, scholarships, and cross-cultural programs that prepare the next generation of global leaders.
As guests arrived, they were greeted by College of Sciences Student Ambassadors, Indian cuisine and a vibrant musical performance from Knights Khayal, a student-organized Desi music group. The atmosphere reflected both celebration and connection, reinforcing the sense of community The India Center cultivates for students and the broader community.
Opening the program, The India Center Director Yogesh Joshi welcomed attendees with a message of reflection and shared purpose.
“It is a profound honor to stand before you today as we celebrate India’s Republic Day—a day that marks the spirit of democracy, sovereignty, and the enduring values of the Indian Constitution,” he says.
Joshi described The India Center as “more than just an academic unit,” calling it “an incubator for ideas, research, and education on contemporary India” that builds bridges between “the world’s strongest and largest democracies.”
Interim Dean of the College of Sciences Joshua Colwell reiterated the importance of culture, community and global engagement within UCF’s mission.
“Events like this foster connection, belonging, and shared understanding—key elements of building a stronger community and supporting student success,” Colwell says.
He added that Republic Day celebrations demonstrate “the power of democratic values, global partnership, and community engagement, and the role universities can play in advancing all three.”
The program also featured remarks from the Consul General of India in Atlanta, Shri Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan.
He addressed the audience on the importance of strengthening ties among UCF, the Central Florida community and India, emphasizing collaboration in education, research and cultural exchange. He noted that UCF is among a small number of universities in his jurisdiction with a dedicated India Center, highlighting UCF’s growing role in deepening international partnerships.
“It is a great honor to be back here for the second time in a row,” he says. “This is also the second India Center in the United States and the most active. Thank you to Yogesh Joshi and the Interim Dean for giving me the opportunity to build a partnership with The India Center and celebrate Republic Day with you all.”
Scholarship support and philanthropy formed another cornerstone of the celebration. Shannon Duvall, assistant vice president of development and partnerships at the UCF Foundation, emphasized the lasting value of educational investment made possible by dedicated donors.
“Scholarships are transformational,” she says, “providing students not only financial support but also the freedom to focus on their studies, the confidence to pursue ambitious goals, and the ability to say ‘yes’ to opportunities that shape their futures.”
She thanked donors for helping “build a lasting culture of philanthropy that uplifts generations.”
The event also introduced the inaugural India Center Awards, recognizing individuals across the university and Central Florida community whose leadership has strengthened collaboration, community engagement and cross-cultural understanding. The celebration continued with a classical Indian dance performance from Knights Nakshatra that honored the cultural traditions of Republic Day.
Closing the celebration, Joshi returned to the themes of collective progress and gratitude, emphasizing how the evening reflected years of collaboration and shared vision
“Today’s celebration show how academia plays a role in forging deep, enduring links between the people and cultures of the world’s strongest and largest democracies,” he says.
Reflecting on the community behind the center’s growth, he added, “I set off toward my destination alone, but people kept joining, and a caravan was formed.”
With community, scholarship and international partnership at its core, The India Center’s Republic Day celebration highlighted both a historic national milestone and a growing collaboration shaping student success, research innovation and global understanding at UCF, signaling an even stronger future ahead.