On some days at Parul University, the campus resembles a fully functioning film set.
You can see a student in a long dress at one end using a spot of sunlight for the perfect fashion shot. A few blocks away, someone is capturing the mist rising off a plate of momos before the first bite.

These aren't random shots they are portraits - Nakshatra and Harshit Mehta. She is a design student whose design eye tells a story with clothes. He is a B.Tech student whose camera lens will make you taste the food before you find the place.
They started right here, after class like everyone else, but their impact now goes so far beyond the university, all the way to brands, cities, and audiences, across India. Their experiences also tell a wider story: that at Parul University, inspiration is not grounded only to the classroom, it moves.

Nakshatra, When Fashion Speaks Without Words

If you happened to visit our Design Faculty on any given day, you would be enveloped by the warm, rhythmic thrum of sewing machines, the crunching sound of fabric rolls being moved and even laughter over sketchbooks. Nakshatra would be in the zone, relaxed and alert, camera in one right hand and swatches of fabric in the other; A real style expert in the making.

Nakshatra does not shout her style articles; they seduce you like an impeccable outfit with a story in every seam. A sun-filled corner of campus is her catwalk and a casual cup of coffee on the quad has now become a stylistic event. You look past her 'costume,' to the intent of the fabric, the play of colors and the subtle self-assurance with which she wears them.

What began as little posts to share her style with friend, when her work began to gain popularity, her influence has spread far beyond her hometown of Vadodara. Now, Nakshatra collaborates with brands all over the world to evolve their designs into her style. Her portfolio runs the gamut of local designer shoots in Ahmedabad, an accessories brand in Mumbai and sustainable label in Delhi (She has definitely gone beyond campus and is establishing herself in the larger world of fashion).

Despite the growing catalogue of partnerships, she has not lost her wonder for the little things in life at the university like the colors of autumn trees next to the library, the feel of handmade paper in the studio class, and the energetic swirl of cultures and fashions that rushes by her in the halls.

Harshit Mehta, The Taste of a Story

While Nakshatra's world is one of visual beauty, Harshit is one of taste and feeling. You'll most often find him active, either hovering over a steaming pile of momos at a campus stand or framing up the interactions of light and pastry on a well-made cake at his local coffee shop. 

Harshit is not merely reviewing the food, he is inviting you along the journey with him. You can almost hear the crackle of the snacks as you inform yourself. You can smell the spices as you engage with the food discourse. You can imagine the hot cup in hands when you think about roadside chai - it isn't a beverage, it is memories served in a paper cup. The signature dish of a restaurant is not a single taste; it is a tale playfully told through a menu, spell-binding chefs and histories collective contexts to celebrate. 

And like Nakshatra, his influence has also seeped far beyond the domain of academia. It seems Harshit has been asked to experience and converge dining stories across venues, all over the country, including street food events in Indore, artisanal dessert tastings in Pune and launching high-end restaurants in Jaipur. 

Travel adds another dimension to his writing because he has not only reviews to write but also memories and new cultural sensibilities to share with his readers. It's no simple task balancing that with a B.Tech calendar. But he does a great job in this duality, often referring to his engineering mind as he uses that rational mental capacity in making his art, whether it's to plan his shoots, analyze an audience response or try new ways of making/creating (as with cracking a technical problem!)

A Campus That Nurtures More Than Degrees

If you have been to Parul University, you would appreciate that the campus is a lot more than buildings and classrooms; it is a canvas. It is one day a filming location, the next a brainstorming place, one day Nakshtra finds the perfect background under a jacaranda tree, and Harshit finds a secret snack point between classes.
We have always thought that education is not only about preparing you for a job, but giving you your voice. Sometimes that voice is stitched into fabric, and on some occasions, it gets captured in the image of a frying pan.

Our teachers want for students to blend their passions with their studies. A project may be content, a hobby may equal a brand, this is the beauty of being here: you do not have to choose between your degree and your dreams.

More Than Followers, Building Connections

In the external world, success is often equated to views, likes and shares. Upon observing Nakshatra and Harshit, we found something deeper. They have built communities. The followers of Nakshatra not only imitate her look but gain assurance from her self-expressiveness. Harshit's audience goes to discover the stories behind their food, not just going to the places that he suggests. Both are making ripples that extend further than the subject matter in their own diverse ways. They don't follow trends; they create moments. Here lies the purest form of influence.

An Invitation to Dream

If you are a student walking these streets today, on Grinta, with a guitar on your shoulder, or drawing in a sketchbook, or sharing street food with a friend, remember that your passion has a home here. Nakshatra and Harshit are where they are now because they started with simple posts. What didn't just stop them was talent but the school environment that encouraged exploration, learning, and sharing.

Parul University does not just allow you to take a trip; we take the trip with you. We share in your excitement of achievement, we help you navigate the learning curve, and we jump for joy when your output has moved one of our students to make that initial trek! 

Here, influence does not simply mean having your name in lights. It means understanding our stories that we share with each other and how they go past the campus and reach all sorts of new places, to new people and new horizons.