The Cultural Evangelist: Puja Rai Shetty and the Echoes from Back Home

If you are an ardent follower of the BANA Facebook group or have been a part of BANA or Tulu cultural events, then you’ve surely stumbled upon the name Puja Rai Shetty. She regularly shares stories, news, and tidbits about the Bunts—celebrating their cuisine, culture, and community milestones with equal passion.

The story of Puja Rai Shetty is just that—a story of quiet, consistent service that is ever-inspiring. The story of a knowledge bearer.

So, who is Puja Rai Shetty?

Puja is a seasoned IT professional with over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. With a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, she has built a formidable career while continuing to invest in her community and culture. She currently lives in the suburbs of the Boston area with her husband Ashwin and daughter Sneha.

Beyond the world of software and systems, Puja is deeply involved in the healing arts. She is a certified life coach, a Ho’oponopono healer, and a graphotherapist—helping individuals tap into their inner strength and rewrite the narratives of their lives.

But perhaps what most defines Puja is her enduring pride in her cultural roots. Since her move to the U.S., she has been a long-standing member of BANA (Bunts Association of North America). She served as a part of the Board of Directors for six years and the regional representative for the New England area.

From 2015 to 2019, she completed two terms as General Secretary of the New England Tulu Koota in Boston working with Mr. Bhaskar Sherigar, where she welcomed new members and strengthened the bonds within the local Tuluva community. She’s also been an active volunteer with the New England Kannada Koota Seva Mandaara since its inception in 2013.

Her love for Tulu language, cuisine, and culture is ever-present. She is fluent in the language and takes pride in having learned to read and write in Tulu during the pandemic in 2020 under the guidance of Satish Agpala through his online “Tulu Lipi” classes. Her journey continues today through her connections with both New England Tulu Koota and AATA (All America Tulu Association), from whom she credits much of her learning and cultural enrichment.

Puja grew up in Bhadravathi, and pursued engineering at Malnad College of Engineering in Hassan. She is the granddaughter of Late Mrs. Leelavathi Rai, the first female MLA of Dakshina Kannada , and draws daily strength from her grandmother’s legacy. Her father, Sudhakar Rai, is from Vitla, Kundadka, and Kaidale, and her mother, Geetha Rai, hails from the Kodial Guthu and Bakrabail families. Her brother, Vikas Rai, lives in Bangalore.

She was surprised by the request, unsure why her story merited a feature. When she agreed to a conversation, a member of our editorial team connected with her for nearly an hour-long call. Puja was humble, a little nervous, and entirely genuine.

Before that call, our team combed through every single post-Puja had shared on the BANA Facebook group. None of them were throwaway shares. If it celebrated someone’s achievement, she added heartfelt congratulations. If it was about cuisine, she sometimes left it captionless, letting the food speak for itself. Her posts on tradition and heritage often included thoughtful notes—or sometimes, just quiet reverence. Every post had a purpose.

When asked why she shares so diligently, her response was simple: “Because they needed to be shared. I like sharing knowledge and celebrating the success stories of those in our community.”

But the interviewer pressed further—did she ever feel discouraged by the low engagement? Posts often received fewer than five likes in a group of over 1,200 members. She calmly replied that it didn’t bother her. In fact, many of her posts are now requests. People reach out and ask her to share on their behalf—too shy or hesitant to post themselves. And often, she was already preparing to share the same content.

At events, people come up to her and thank her. They learn from her posts. They remember what she shared. They just rarely engage. People are more likely to leave a negative review on Yelp than a positive one, and similarly, the engagement on these well-loved posts is minimal.

What also stands out is her unwavering positivity. Whether online or in person, Puja radiates encouragement. She's the type of person who will never hesitate to help if it's within her means. Her support is quiet but steadfast—the kind that doesn’t ask for recognition. She lifts others up, gives freely of her time and knowledge, and makes those around her feel seen. In a world often overwhelmed by self-promotion, Puja remains a generous presence, quietly doing the work that holds communities together.

In her ongoing journey to connect more deeply with her roots, Puja is currently learning and practising Yakshagana under the tutelage of Dr Rajendra Kedlaya (guru of Yaksha Hejje - and an initiative by AATA), the traditional folk theatre of coastal Karnataka. With its rich storytelling, vibrant expressions, and spiritual undercurrents, Yakshagana offers her another dimension through which to honor and understand her heritage—not just as a viewer, but as a student and participant.

Puja is more than just a sharer—she’s a cultural evangelist. By posting about Yakshagana performances, recipes, rites, and regional achievements, she helps knit together a scattered diaspora into a meaningful whole. She offers community members—especially the younger generation—a thread to pull at, a portal into a rich and evolving heritage.

She is a preserver for Bunt pride and Tuluva culture. And by doing this day in and day out, without accolades or expectation, she’s not just preserving culture—she’s ensuring its transmission.

Her role isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s about access. For every grandchild born in Boston or Toronto who’s never been to a Bunt wedding, or tasted jackfruit curry the way it’s made in Vitla, her posts are breadcrumbs home. And for elders who may not use Instagram or modern tools, her quiet, familiar Facebook posts offer a sense of continuity.

She’s the one people call when they need help organizing, publicizing, or celebrating something. And she never says no—if it’s within her reach, she finds a way. That generosity has made her a cornerstone not only of the BANA Facebook group but also of the broader cultural scaffolding that sustains identity in the diaspora.

She is the living archive of a community’s milestones. A torchbearer who carries forward the traditions, stories, recipes, and language of people who live across continents but share one root.

In a world that’s often loud, performative, and fleeting, Puja’s service is the quiet kind that sticks, that teaches, that honors.

And it’s time we said thank you.

Puja is currently the Secretary of All American Tulu Association and part of the spearheading committee for the Siri Parba 2025. - https://aatana.org/committee/