On Wednesday, April 4th, SAI hosted an opening reception for its Spring Art Exhibition, “Showcasing Research in South Asia Through Visual Arts.” It features 2D and 3D art and artifacts inspired by Harvard students who traveled to South Asia sponsored by Harvard SAI travel grants. The show was curated by Sheliza Jamal (Graduate School of Education) and Neeti Nayak (Graduate School of Design).
Tushar Madav and Sarvnik Kaur’s documentary Soz: A Ballad of Maladies gives the world a look at the Kashmir region without media-sponsored stereotypes or rhetoric. In an interview with SAI, the filmmakers of Soz: A Ballad of Maladies discuss their film and the importance of telling the overlooked stories of artistic dissent in Kashmir.
After realizing that he could use food to make an impact within communities, Neel Ghose founded the Robin Hood Army to serve neighborhoods across India, Pakistan, and other Asian countries. Learn more about his mission and strategies from this interview.
Professor Tarun Khanna began his tenure as the Director of SAI in 2010. Under Professor Khanna’s leadership, SAI began to emphasize the full spectrum of the University’s intellectual activities – across the social sciences, arts and humanities, and the pure sciences. SAI developed into a platform to help connect faculty and students from across all of Harvard’s schools with each other and with scholars, institutions, and well-wishers in-region.
Former visiting fellow Hasna Moudud discusses her work, methodology, and travels through Mongolia along the Silk Road.
The Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute’s (SAI) new India office, in the heart of the beautiful Lutyens-designed part of New Delhi, has officially opened, marking a new era of Harvard’s direct engagement with the region.
Raile Rocky Ziipao is the 2017-2018 Arvind Raghunathan and Sribala Subramanian South Asia Visiting Fellow at SAI. His research interest includes frontier highways, the political economy of Indigenous/Tribal/Adivasi development, critical infrastructure studies, philosophy of Indigenous methodology (perspective from within), and an alternative path to modernity.
Assa Doron and Robin Jeffrey just published their book, Waste of a Nation: Garbage and Growth in India, this month with Harvard University Press. The book examines national assets and obstacles for achieving a cleaner India. The authors argue that obstacles that appear unique to India are volume, density, and the caste system. The authors also discuss India’s assets, including old practices of frugality; recycling; global experience and science; and dynamic entrepreneurs, officials, NGOs, and citizens. In a written interview with SAI, the authors give insight into their book, research, and what India is doing to combat garbage growth.
The Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute (SAI), Harvard University, is officially opening its new India headquarters in New Delhi. Throughout 2018 and beyond, leading scholars from South Asia-related fields are delivering a series of free public lectures in Delhi, and the new SAI HQ marks a new era of Harvard faculty and students directly engaging with the region, gaining invaluable insights and experience by committing time and resources in South Asia.
SAI’s new India Seminar Series, at our Delhi headquarters, is gathering steam. We have plenty of exciting events planned for Spring 2018 and will continue for the rest of the year and beyond. You can find all the details on our events page and by subscribing to our weekly newsletter. On March 8, 2018, feminist historian Uma Chakravarti and feminist publisher Urvashi Butalia gave a seminar on Partition.
SAI Director Tarun Khanna responds to the Chronicle article.
Applications for the 2018 SAI Crossroads Program open on March 15! Last year, we welcomed 50 first-generation college students from South Asia, Africa and the Middle East to Dubai for a fully-funded career development opportunity with Harvard faculty.