For fifteen years, the South Asia Institute at Harvard University has worked in India and other parts of South Asia to advance scholarship and research, seeking to connect Harvard to India and to the wider region, advancing mutual understanding and improving lives. The Institute is a part of Harvard University. We work with Schools and departments across the University, and we are guided by the same principles of operational autonomy and scholarship that have made Harvard a center of academic excellence for nearly four centuries.
The Institute supports academic research projects and works with other university partners on multiple events throughout the academic year. One such event was “The Pakistan Conference” organized by students from Harvard and held on April 27, 2025. Following our principles of operation, we did not consult any benefactor of the Institute about this conference. The students, along with their faculty advisor, independently determined the topics and speakers presenting.
The Institute also supports the annual student-run India Conference at Harvard, which this year was held on February 15-16. In the case of the India Conference also, we do not consult any benefactors; the student organizers, along with their advisors, independently determine the topics and speakers.
Please know that we share the grief and anguish with our friends, colleagues, and loved ones in India who have been affected by the attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, and we offer our heartfelt condolences.