Two summers, one calling: A Notre Dame student’s path back to India
When a place welcomes you once, it has a way of calling you back. For Ty Harrington '26—a program of liberal studies (PLS), philosophy, and theology major from Carmel, IN—that place was India. His first visit came through an Institute for Social Concerns fellowship at Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV), where he spent eight weeks studying the intersection of Indian philosophy, spirituality, and care for the earth. A year later, he returned to Mumbai to assist Rev. Mark Poorman, C.S.C., on a faculty research project. What began as a quiet summer in an ashram unfolded into a return journey that reshaped his perspective on faith, learning, and the wider world.
captured by Ty
A rejuvenating rhythm
Harrington still speaks with fondness about that first trip, which took him to GEV located in the Palghar district in the Sahyadri Mountains, a tranquil area about two and a half hours northeast of Mumbai. “It was an amazing opportunity to be in a beautiful place with wonderful people,” he said. Life at the ashram unfolded at a slower pace. “There was a feeling of calmness alongside streams of intellectual nourishment from the research and conversations. That balance created a very nice and rejuvenating rhythm of life.”
His project, supported by the Institute for Social Concerns, explored how Indian religious traditions form a philosophy of the earth. Immersed in an ISKCON community, he spent long days reading, interviewing, writing, and reflecting. The experience allowed him to produce a thoughtful humanities research paper, in addition to expanding his perspective and strengthening his Catholic faith.
An unexpected invitation
The following spring, an email from one of his professors changed Harrington’s summer plans. “I was shocked and found it hard to believe,” he recalled. “When I left India, I knew I wanted to come back, especially to Govardhan Ecovillage, but I thought it would be a long time. What are the chances that two of my summers at Notre Dame would be spent partially in India?”
This second opportunity brought him to Mumbai as an undergraduate research assistant on a high-profile faculty project examining the moral challenges that Catholic universities face around the world. Harrington joined Father Poorman at St. Xavier’s College to listen to students, faculty, and administrators and to explore how Catholic identity takes root in a global, multi-faith city.
Days in Mumbai were full but purposeful. “We’d wake up, have breakfast, then spend five or six hours interviewing people on campus,” Harrington said. Breaks were brief, but he enjoyed walking through the college’s stone courtyards and chatting with students between sessions. Two conversations stand out: meeting the rector, Rev. Keith D’Souza, S.J., and speaking with a young Jesuit professor. “From a research perspective, those were fascinating,” he reflected, “but what stayed with me was how fortunate I felt to sit face-to-face with people from a completely different context about issues that matter deeply to both of us.”
where Ty and Fr. Poorman conducted their research
A city of scale and spirit
The contrast between a remote ashram and bustling Mumbai gave Harrington a new appreciation for India’s complexity. “Being right in the center of the action gave me a new perspective on the immensity of India and its incredible diversity,” he said. “Mumbai feels like a convergence of so many stories, cultures, and histories.”
The experience also enriched his faith. “Studying Indian philosophy and spirituality strengthened my Catholic faith,” Harrington noted. “Seeing the correlations and parallels between traditions gave me a lot of faith. Both trips gave me perspective and helped me see my own systems of thought in a more contextualized light.”
Relationships built across two summers remain at the heart of Harrington’s memories. At Govardhan Ecovillage, he formed a close friendship with Mohan, a monk who guided the Notre Dame group. “That friendship means a lot to me,” Harrington said. “I never thought I would be able to reconnect so soon, but I visited him again this summer.” In Mumbai, a dinner with the Jesuit community at St. Xavier’s offered another moment of genuine welcome and conversation that he will carry forward.
Advice for fellow students
during his return to India
Harrington encourages classmates to approach India with intention and openness. “Reflect deeply on why you want to go,” he advised. “It is an intense adjustment and will require periods of adaptation. If you decide to go, be radically open. Do not treat it like a box to check. Go because you believe India has something to teach you, and you are willing to listen.”
He also urges students in the humanities to look toward India’s intellectual heritage. “India has such a rich tradition in philosophy and religion,” he said. “Thinking about the trajectory of world thought, India plays a primary role. There is so much to learn.”
Notre Dame’s presence in Mumbai continues to grow, with opportunities that range from summer and semester study abroad to Global Professional Experience internships, NDBridge immersive experiences, ISC summer fellowships, and faculty-mentored research. Harrington’s two summers show what is possible when curiosity meets opportunity: one conversation leads to another, and one journey opens the door to a second.
“You discover your context is not the only context,” Harrington reflected. “That expands your heart and your mind.”
Editor’s note: For the backstory on Harrington’s first summer, see our earlier feature on his Govardhan Ecovillage fellowship.
Originally published by at mumbai.nd.edu on September 16, 2025.