Sharing Sacred Spaces: A Global Online Learning Exchange with Somaiya Vidyavihar University

In Fall 2025, I implemented the first iteration of the Global Online Learning Exchange (GOLE) in my Hinduism class, which fulfills core curriculum requirements and focuses on the study of religion in a diverse, global context. My course was for honors students, and I focused on the philosophy and practices of Hinduism in India and the United States.

Although creating global citizens is part of St. John’s mission, and India’s economic and cultural influence is increasing, not all students can visit India. The virtual exchange program through GOLE allows for interactive global connections and opportunities for students to develop cultural awareness.

My honors students and I partnered with Abhishek Ghosh, Ph.D., the Dean of Dharma Studies in Somaiya Vidyavihar University (SVU), based in Mumbai; his teaching assistant Sudha Sunil; and his graduate students who were taking an online course on world religions. We worked on a project that explored the aesthetics and functions of sacred spaces in Maharashtra and New York.  Both Mumbai and New York serve as the financial capital of their respective countries. Through this project, students from St. John’s and Somaiya Vidyavihar shared their research on sacred places they had visited and learned about their counterparts’ experiences and perspectives. 

Prior to the exchange in preparation for the project, St. John’s students read a chapter on Hindu temples, which explained the theology and history of temple worship in India. Students from Somaiya Vidyavihar read a different article about ancient Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain temples in India.

Our GOLE program began with my joining one of Dr. Ghosh’s online classes and introducing the project and GOLE’s aims to his students. His students were excited about collaborating with students from St. John’s and curious about Hindu temples in New York City. Over three weeks, students from both universities interacted and learned from one another.

Since we had different time zones, we could not meet synchronously. However, we created a shared learning environment in CANVAS. To start the virtual exchange, St. John’s and SVU students participated in an icebreaker activity via Padlet by introducing themselves with a selfie and a self-description that included their hobbies and a memory of a visit to a sacred space. After making their initial post, each student had to respond to a post from a student in the partner university. Students’ answers reflected the diversity of religious and secular beliefs as they shared stories of visits to churches, temples, mountains, museums, and beaches.

Students from SVU were older, and many had work experience in banking, teaching, and academia. St. John’s students were intrigued that they took a break to earn a master’s or Ph.D. in dharma studies and were inspired by their passion. Similarly, SVU students were impressed by the openness and inquisitiveness of St. John’s students.

One student from SVU responded to a post by a student from St. John’s as follows: “I really loved reading your reflection. It’s so refreshing to see someone approach a sacred space outside their own faith with such openness and curiosity. The way you described the Bhakti Center,  especially your experience of chanting the mantra and feeling that sense of community, captures something universal about spiritual spaces—that moment when belonging goes beyond belief.”

Cross-cultural awareness is central to the GOLE program. Students from both institutions appreciated the role of sacred spaces in Mumbai and New York and the different programs they host. In Mumbai, there was a focus on the ancient and aesthetic, with many students showcasing their visit to large medieval stone temples. In New York, there was a focus on the pragmatic and functional, with students highlighting small temples and centers that offer meditation and yoga sessions and perform weddings. This distinction was something that we reflected on in post-project class discussions.

One student from St. John’s was surprised at how sacred spaces are shared by different religious communities in some places of worship in Mumbai. She reflected, “I really loved hearing the stories of students and the role of sacred spaces in their lives. I was surprised that it’s not uncommon for people of different religions, Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs to worship in the same place. While New York is very diverse, the city’s communities are segregated and have clear boundaries around their sacred spaces.”

This partnership with SVU and St. John’s exemplifies the spirit of GOLE by breaking down barriers and preparing students for the interconnected world they will navigate as global citizens. While recognizing cultural differences, it was rewarding to watch students realize the unifying aspects of human behavior. One of the students from SVU made the following comment on a St. John’s student’s post: “Even though our paths and traditions differ, the inner journey of awareness, faith, and self-analysis feels so similar.”