South Asian Scholar Association (SASA)

In the past decade, Berklee's population of South Asian Students has grown exponentially, and as their numbers grow, so do their needs. The South Asian Scholar Association (SASA) was founded in 2021 by Berklee India Exchange (BIX) Assistant Director Chantal Tribble and BIX student employees Nandini Samanta and Shivaraj Natraj.

Housed within the institute of Berklee India Exchange, SASA aims to be a place of fellowship and a landing pad for South Asian students transitioning both in and out of college life in Boston, New York City, and Valencia.

2025 SASA Treasurer Aasmi Ghambir cites SASA as necessary "because representation isn’t just about checking a box. It’s about building community, offering support, and making space for expression that reflects who we are. SASA creates room for South Asian voices to thrive rather than assimilate."

SASA burst onto the scene celebrating South Asian festivals like Holi and Diwali, drawing students from all walks of life. With food, music, and some quick dance lessons, SASA immediately achieved its goal of exposing the greater Berklee population to South Asian culture and traditions.

The 2022 SASA Showcase was the first event of its kind to celebrate the diverse styles and interests of South Asian Berklee students. The recital hall was packed for this unprecedented production. The Showcase paved the way for future generations of the SASA Executive Board to dream even bigger. 

In 2025, SASA made Berklee history as the first student organization to single-handedly produce a sold-out public show at Boston’s prestigious Brighton Music Hall. 

The concert titled Mehfil: A Coke Studio Tribute was made possible by 50 SASA members coming together to book the venue, negotiate contracts, launch a crowdfunding campaign, handle marketing and social media publicity, and musically arrange, direct and produce a concert that celebrated unity in diversity through the richness of South Asian music and culture. 

SASA members have access to the entire Berklee India Exchange Network for cultural and professional support through connections to BIX Founder Zahara (Annette Philip), core staff, as well as alumni and supporters of BIX. With the goal to impact students even before they get to Berklee, BIX created The Atlas, a guide for South Asians moving to Boston.

SASA has proven itself a needed and valued space at Berklee and has aspirations to aid in new student orientation, organize industry trips, and engender conversations surrounding what it means to be a South Asian musician today.

South Asian students and their allies who join SASA will not only find a place of community that assuages experiences like homesickness and isolation, but will grow as people through BIX mentorship and support.

SASA's Holistic and Experiential Learning Model results in:

• Sense of Belonging
• Professional Development
• Interpersonal Skills
• Branding and Marketing Literacy
• Artist Identity Development
• Band Management
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Presentation Skills
• Self-Advocacy Skills

Classroom-to-career pathways are a primary focus for BIX. SASA members can join the BIX Musician Database—a platform connecting Berklee students and alumni with paid performance opportunities across the US with BIX support and mentorship.

2025 SASA President Deeptha Ganesh says SASA has made her a better leader and community member.

"SASA has given me the confidence to work hard and dream bigger. It has shown me that taking chances can often pay off in more ways than I could have imagined, while also giving me a community that I know will support me even if things don’t work out as expected."

Follow SASA on social media for the latest events and resources.

All admitted students and alumni across every Berklee campus are welcome to sign up for SASA here.

• Boston
• NYC
• Valencia