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Bridging the Gender Gap in Rural India Healthcare: Madhavi Jha ’25 Shares Student Grant Update

Bridging the Gender Gap in Rural India Healthcare: Madhavi Jha ’25 Shares Student Grant Update

Madhavi Jha, a doctoral student in Economics, spent this past winter in Suri, India, conducting research for her project, “Addressing Gender Disparities in the Diagnosis of NCDs in Rural India.” Supported by a Mittal Institute Student Grant, her work examines gender disparities in diagnosing and treating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in rural India, with a particular focus on men’s lower engagement in preventive healthcare.

From India to the World: Student-Led India Conference at Harvard Showcases Country’s Rising Global Influence

From India to the World: Student-Led India Conference at Harvard Showcases Country’s Rising Global Influence

The annual India Conference at Harvard is a student-led initiative that delves into India’s dynamic diversity and its growing influence on the world stage. For over 22 years, students from across Harvard’s schools have brought together thought leaders from business, economics, education, and culture to provide a comprehensive view of India’s present and future trajectory.

Harvard Researchers Broaden Study on Extreme Heat’s Effects on Health and Livelihoods

Harvard Researchers Broaden Study on Extreme Heat’s Effects on Health and Livelihoods

Climate projections indicate that South Asia will face an increasing number of extremely hot days, posing severe direct and indirect threats to human health and livelihoods. However, traditional temperature measurements—whether from weather stations or satellites—fail to capture the localized effects of extreme heat. Enter the Heat Adaptation and Treatment Strategies (CommunityHATS) study, an initiative that follows hundreds of women working in the informal economy across a variety of indoor and outdoor environments in South Asia to provide a granular understanding of how extreme heat and humidity are truly experienced at the community level.

Ranjitsinh Disale, Harvard Ed.M. Student and Global Teacher Prize Winner, on Transforming Education in India

Ranjitsinh Disale, Harvard Ed.M. Student and Global Teacher Prize Winner, on Transforming Education in India

The Mittal Institute spoke with Ranjitsinh Disale, an M.Ed. student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Global Teacher Prize Winner 2020. He reflects on his journey since winning the award for transforming education for young girls at Zilla Parishad Primary School in Paritewadi, Solapur, Maharashtra, India, and the driving forces behind his work.

On Birth, Transformation, and Divinity: Previewing the “Birthing the Goddess” Book Talk

On Birth, Transformation, and Divinity: Previewing the “Birthing the Goddess” Book Talk

On March 4, the Mittal Institute will host an author talk on Birthing the Goddess: The Feminine and the Idea of Birth with three of the book’s five authors. This collection of essays explore birthing myths and traditions from the research of five close friends who have a common interest in the mysteries of the Feminine Divine. We spoke with one of the authors, Stella Dupuis, who gave us a preview of the talk and some insight into the book.

Rethinking India’s Digital Health Ecosystem: An Update on the Work of the India Digital Health Net

Rethinking India’s Digital Health Ecosystem: An Update on the Work of the India Digital Health Net

For the past seven years, the India Digital Health Net (IDHN)—an interdisciplinary team of experts from medicine, computer science, data science, and law based at Harvard and in India–has contributed to shaping India’s evolving digital health ecosystem. This year, IDHN achieved two significant milestones. In the essay below, Dr. Verghese Thomas, Assistant Professor of Research in the Division of Medical Informatics at St. John’s Research Institute and Associate of the Mittal Institute, provides further insights.

Climate-Resilient Trekking in Nepal: A Grant Report by Allen Wang, MDes ‘25

Climate-Resilient Trekking in Nepal: A Grant Report by Allen Wang, MDes ‘25

The Mittal Institute awarded 14 student grants this winter, allowing students to set out for locations across South Asia to complete research, internships, or language studies. Allen Wang, a Master in Design Studies (Ecologies) student from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, traveled to Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara to complete a research project, “A climate-resilient future for the trekking industry in Nepals Everest region.” Allen details his experience in this grant report.

Seeds of Change: Two Journeys of Impact, Innovation, and Reflection

Seeds of Change: Two Journeys of Impact, Innovation, and Reflection

The journey of two of the Seed for Change 2020 winner projects, Growthosphere and Sahayak, exemplifies how seed funding can act as a springboard for bold ideas with the potential to create lasting impact, and the diverse pathways through which meaningful change can be fostered. Growthosphere, born from a vision to empower marginalized youth through entrepreneurial mentorship, has grown into a thriving initiative that bridges skill gaps and cultivates innovation. Meanwhile, Sahayak’s endeavor to address labor migration through rural skill development has provided key insights into the structural challenges of fostering systemic change. 

India Fellow P. Arun’s Work on Communications and Surveillance in Early Twentieth-Century Colonial India

India Fellow P. Arun’s Work on Communications and Surveillance in Early Twentieth-Century Colonial India

The Mittal Institute welcomes India fellow Dr. P. Arun, a postdoctoral scholar whose work explores the interplay of politics, law, and technology. Under the mentorship of Prof. Sugata Bose, Gardiner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs, Department of History, Harvard University, he will delve into the surveillance practices of late colonial India, examining how postal and telegraph systems were weaponized against colonial subjects and anti-colonial movements. In the interview, Arun shares insights into his research, his aspirations for the fellowship, and the broader significance of his work.