On Friday, September 27, 2024, Rt. Hon. KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal, spoke to more than 400 students, affiliates, and faculty at Harvard Kennedy School’s JFK Jr. Forum. This Mittal Institute co-sponsored talk kicked off with a welcome by Kashish Bastola ’26 and Setti D. Warren, Director of the Institute of Politics. The Prime Minister then took the stage and talked about the current state of governance and development in Nepal, the move from transitional justice to climate justice, and relationships with India, China, and the United States.
The conversation was moderated by Michael Puett, Walter C. Klein Professor of Chinese History and Anthropology and Director of the Asia Center at Harvard University, and Fatema Z. Sumar, Executive Director of the Harvard Center for International Development.
Hitesh Hathi, Executive Director of the Mittal Institute, welcomes Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the First Lady Radhika Shakya.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli signs event posters at Harvard Kennedy School.
Kashish Bastola, a Harvard College Junior, opened the event.
Setti D. Warren, Director of the Institute of Politics, welcomes speakers and attendees.
Prime Minister PM Sharma Oli speaks to a packed crowd at Harvard Kennedy School’s JFK Jr. Forum.
Attendees capture Prime Minister Oli on the stage.
Michael Puett, Asia Center, and Fatema Z. Sumar, Center for International Development, moderate the conversation.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli speaks about the threat of climate change and Nepal’s commitment to climate justice.
Kailash Pandey, co-chair of the Himalayan Caucus at Harvard Kennedy School, asks a questions.
After the event, student group leaders, as well as faculty and affiliates, attend a private reception with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
All the photos above were taken by Martha Stewart.
Mittal Institute as co-sponsor
The Mittal Institute co-sponsored the event together with the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, the Harvard Center for International Development, and the Asia Center at Harvard University.
Many fellows, staff, and affiliates of the Mittal Institute attended the event and later posed for a group photo with the Prime Minister and the First Lady.
From left to right: Sneha Shrestha, Arts Program Manager; Tarun Khanna, Faculty Director; Carlin Carr, Assistant Director of Programs and Outreach; Samaga Pokharel, Student Worker; Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli; First Lady Radhika Shakya; Nilanjana Mukherjee, Bajaj Fellow; Arpit Shah, Raghunathan Fellow; Saurav Ghimire, Visiting Arist Fellow; Hitesh Hathi, Executive Director.
A unique experience for Nepali students
The two groups that represent Nepali students on campus, the Himalayan Caucus at Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association (HUNSA), attended the event and asked several questions. One of them was Kailash Pandey, who reflected on the Prime Minister’s visit below:
The Prime Minister’s visit was historic, especially given our nation’s urgent need for climate resilience. While the discussion could have been more focused and delved deeper into current challenges and strategies for sustainable development, it successfully brought Nepal’s issues to the forefront. I see great value in strengthening Nepal’s academic research through partnerships with institutions like Harvard to guide impactful policies for sustainable development and reduce Nepal’s dependency on remittances for socioeconomic mobility.
Members of the HUNSA group also posed in front of the Nepali flag in Harvard Yard, which was raised in honor of Prime Minister Oli.
