Meiya Gujjalu

Category: Blog

  • The voices we leave behind

    https://www.dailycal.org/opinion/the_soapbox/the-voices-we-leave-behind/article_4f08e0f8-5d4d-4625-ac51-7cb26866d300.html

    I attended a conference on sustainability and culture at Stanford, where I had the privilege to meet Olivier Bancoult who leads the Chagos Refugees Group.

    Olivier shared the story of his people’s exile from the Chagos Archipelago in the 1960s, where they were forcibly removed them from their land to make way for a military base, displacing them to Mauritius. Despite their relentless fight to return home, their story remained largely unheard.

    This is a tragedy that goes far beyond the borders of the Chagos Islands. It’s a global issue where decisions made by those far removed from the land are impacting the lives and futures of communities that have no power in these decisions.

    Olivier’s story reminds us how vital it is to include diverse voice— especially those most affected by our decisions—in every conversation. We need to make space for these voices in research and policy, not as a formalities, but because their knowledge and experiences are key to shaping real, lasting solutions.

    I encourage you to check out the Chagos Refugees Group website or read Olivier’s newly published book to learn more about their powerful story. I also wrote about this topic in my recent Daily Cal article, where I share my thoughts on how we, as students, can play a part in making science more inclusive on our campuses.

  • Slipping into lifelong friendships

    It’s crazy and a little wonderful to think that people I met by chance in a freshman dorm are now the ones I trust on icy trails, passing around a bag of granola as the sun rises over Yosemite.

    We set out at 5 a.m., half-asleep, joking about the permit we forgot to get. It was snowing and we slipped often, but the clumsiness felt like just another part of the journey. We watched the sunrise stretch across the valley, taking in the scale, the stillness, and the simple joy of being fully in the moment.

    There’s something beautiful about being outside together. Maybe it’s the small acts of care when someone’s pace slows, the inside jokes born from near-missteps, or the way a long hike strips everything down to just the now. Whatever it is, I’m grateful—for these experiences, the views, the laughter—and most of all, for these friendships that have taken root along the way.