by Anish Parcha
Image Credit: Emilie Leclerq
As a freshman at Sciences Po, during my first few weeks, I always wondered: what ties the 2As together? What makes them such a cohesive group, with every conversation among them reflecting positivity, engagement and curiosity. I looked from afar and analysed — maybe it’s the lectures, the collective struggle to get good grades or maybe the lack of space on campus, so as to keep seeing each other no matter where you are. This rudimentary analysis led me to constantly question: What defines the Sciences Po community? How is this vibrant, diverse, inclusive and deeply dynamic culture fostered and transmitted? And how can I perhaps be a part of this culture and reflect it, in my own way?
My quest to find the answer ended when I witnessed it in its purest form, an experience of both immersion and realization. Through the course of celebrating Diwali and Halloween I understood what makes Sciences Po Le Havre a place like no other.
Starting the journey, an early spark: The night of Oct. 22 was perhaps an early initiation for me to find my answer. This time the hallways of Sciences Po echoed with sounds of awe as people described their elaborately constructed outfits; these overlapping conversations set the tone of creativity, cohesion and, most importantly, inclusion. I walked in a bit late when a few incredibly talented musicians from sciences po le havre’s classical music band LHarmony were performing ‘Danse Macabre’. I quickly found my seat and took a quick glance around the amphi to realise the sheer perfection to which everyone had crafted their outfits. To my left stood a spot-on Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, and to my right, a vampire with fake blood and fangs that looked alarmingly real. Strangely enough, through impersonation and fear emerged an unexpected compassion that united the entire student body.
The event was organised by numerous associations — they curated a perfect student experience by embodying the spirit of Halloween, right from the incredibly petrifying haunted house to the blended decorations around campus. The famous sculpture “La Victoire de Samothrace” marking the entrance to Sciences Po was decked with cobwebs, symbolising the dynamism that runs through campus life — a community where birds gather not merely to rest, but to prepare for flight together through integration. Holistically, I finally found the first part of my answer! The fact that the community at Sciences Po is built through collaboration, curiosity and laughter—all of which were inculcated in the essence of Halloween.
Sustaining the community, a late surprise: Diwali, known to be one of the largest campus festivals, was celebrated in an incredibly decorated “Salles des Fêtes Franklin”. The Indian origin festival bloomed in an international setting. The atmosphere surrounding the event was brilliant, as I walked into the auditorium I felt a sense of cultural expression engulf me, every corner of the auditorium was reverberating with effort, grace and honest participation, all the students performing were frantically finalising their performance before getting onto the big stage. The Bureau des Arts set the tone for the event by defining the essence of Diwali through their perfect organisation, coordination, weeks of planning and seamless execution. The Bureau des Arts practically removed all organisational obstacles and made way for celebration contributing to a central theme of diwali being a culmination of happiness. I quickly headed upstairs to find my seat, with the words “Happy Diwali!” echoing through the auditorium. Over the course of the next hour, I witnessed sheer talent and creativity which left me in utter admiration for the cultural brilliance that I witnessed—from the rhythmic energy of the Bollywood dance to the poised grace of the Chinese dance performance, and the playful optimism of the musical theatre club. It’s rare to imagine such a harmony of styles and spirits in one evening within an auditorium in Le Havre. This is what makes Le Havre special, it’s not simply a city in northern France but within it lies a community that embraces global identity, harnesses diverse culture and celebrates life with friends who eventually become family. The progression of Diwali was a perfect representation of the bright lamps that were placed along the auditorium, representing light, happiness and vibrance. Every performance was followed by loud cheers and a strong wave of adrenaline flowing through the auditorium, so as to portray a constant wave of support the student body has for each other, when expression is complemented by belonging.
Finally, as the upbeat drums of ‘Uptown Funk’ played by the incredible band Mushulicious lit up the auditorium, I found my answer in its entirety with total conviction that the Sciences Po culture of building community centres on support, expression and energy, the kind that lights you up every time you see a familiar face on campus.
Le Dragon Déchaîné 