Shreyas Veturi

Coming to UCL, Telugu Society was more than just another student group to me. It was the first time I’d seen a space where a part of my identity that had always felt quiet or background suddenly felt central and celebrated. After growing up at a school without any Indian — let alone Telugu — representation, that meant a lot.

As First Year Representative, I’ve seen firsthand how much impact this society can have: the friendships formed at small socials, the pride during cultural events, the comfort of hearing your language spoken naturally in conversation. But I also think we can build even further.

As President, I want to focus on three things: deeper community, bigger ambition, and wider inclusion. Deeper community means making sure freshers don’t just attend one event and disappear, but genuinely feel integrated. Bigger ambition means scaling our flagship events and strengthening collaborations with other societies so Telugu culture is visible across campus. Wider inclusion means ensuring that whether you’re fluent in Telugu or just curious about the culture, you feel welcome.

For me, this isn’t about a title. It’s about building the kind of society I wish I’d had growing up — confident, visible, and proud.