From improving digital literacy in India, to researching ways to prevent Alzheimer’s in Bangladesh and beyond, Harvard’s class of 2024 is full of graduates with big ideas for South Asia. These movers and shakers will now set off across the globe, eager to put into practice their years of learning. We curated a list of profiles on some notable graduates across many of Harvard’s schools — though this list is not all-encompassing, it gives you a flavor of the many ways that our Harvard graduates aim to improve the world. Congratulations, Harvard University Class of 2024!
PROFILES OF SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY GRADUATES
When your soulmate’s a classmate
Alria and Vyankatesh Kharage (Harvard Graduate School of Education)
Husband and wife — both pursuing master’s degrees at Harvard — merge love for education to help students in India (source: Harvard Gazette).
Finding new ways to learn
Saif Kamal (Harvard Graduate School of Education)
Series of life-threatening medical problems changed Saif Kamal – but not his desire to pursue opportunity, help others do so too (source: Harvard Gazette).
Acting on opportunities to break barriers, one at a time
Ananya Chhaochharia (Harvard Kennedy School)
Ananya Chhaochharia MPP 2024 uses her determination and HKS experience to break down barriers for women in India (source: Harvard Kennedy School).
Graduate Profile
Samirah Jaigirdar (Harvard Divinity School)
Samirah Jaigirdar, MTS ’24, reflects on the growth experienced at HDS, both personal and academic (source: Harvard Divinity School).
Crack the Code for Girls
Kavya Krishna (Harvard Graduate School of Education)
Kavya Krishna empowers girls in low and middle-income countries through digital literacy (source: Harvard Graduate School of Education).
Researching new ways to prevent Alzheimer’s
Irfan Chaudhuri (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
Irfan Chaudhuri, SM ’24, reflects on his calling to public health (source: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).
Bridging the private and public sectors to improve the lives of the most vulnerable
Chetan Aggarwal (Harvard Kennedy School)
Chetan Aggarwal, MPA ’24, wants to make a difference in India, his home country, and improve digital literacy at the grassroots level (source: Harvard Kennedy School).
You can solve anything
Priyanka Pillai (Harvard Graduate School of Design)
Priyanka Pillai wants to take on big problems — and has learned how good design can help (source: Harvard Gazette).
Solving global health disparities through medicine and international development
Bharath Ram (Harvard Kennedy School)
Bharath Ram MPA/ID 2024 wants to use his degrees in medicine and international development to reduce global health disparities in an affordable and sustainable way (source: Harvard Kennedy School).