Photo of Viraj Artham in Blau Hall, April 2025. (Photo by Spark Social Impact Consulting)
Viraj Artham, a first-year Economics and Political Science student at the University of Michigan, is a self-proclaimed chai connoisseur. With his roots embedded in the Indian capital of New Delhi and a village in Andhra Pradesh, he grew up with a diverse array of Indian foods. His love for masala chai stems from early childhood memories of drinking the sweet-spicy drink with biscuits every morning. Viraj has worked to contribute to the thriving Indian community in Atlanta through his work with VT Seva, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of others. Through his work, he has created sustainable farming practices and provided Indian food to local communities in need. On campus, he supports the Ann Arbor community through pro-bono consulting with small businesses. In hopes of becoming a small business owner one day, Viraj dreams of opening a café that integrates his love of chai and his diverse ancestral roots. He loves exploring coffee shops and tasting different chai types in his free time.