This spring, the Mittal Institute offered a variety of programming, from a reflection on the Mittal Institute’s 15-year journey connecting Harvard with South Asia, to critical conversations on building climate resilience, to a captivating presentation of the work of artist Naiza Khan. Below is a list of some not-to-be-missed event recordings – please visit our YouTube page for more.
As the summer approaches, the Mittal Institute extends a warm invitation to Harvard’s community to visit the India office in New Delhi. Whether using the office space to conduct research, participating in scholarly discussions, or immersing oneself in the vibrant academic milieu of the region, the office offers a unique opportunity to engage with South Asia’s rich cultural heritage and scholarly legacy. The office has planned several events that will connect Harvard with India’s intellectual scene. Come and be a part of it!
From exploring social inequalities to bridging medicine and science, Harvard’s Class of 2025 is filled with graduates pursuing bold, world-changing ideas. We’ve curated a selection of standout profiles featuring South Asian graduates from across Harvard’s schools. While not exhaustive, this list offers a glimpse into the diverse paths these students are taking. Congratulations to the Harvard University Class of 2025!
As climate change intensifies, extreme weather events—especially heatwaves—are placing growing pressure on India’s healthcare system. To better understand these challenges, the project “Climate Change, Health Security, and Emergency Care in India: An Exploratory Evaluation” was launched with support from a Mittal Institute grant.
The Mittal Institute welcomes Professor Nasir Uddin, a Visiting Scholar from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, where he is a senior faculty member. He is a cultural anthropologist who will be working on campus through mid-summer on a theoretical, comparative, and ethnographic understanding of the “politics of genocide denial.” We spoke with Professor Nasir Uddin to learn more about his research.
Focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, the Mittal Institute’s annual Seed for Change (SFC) competition awards funding to bold, creative ideas developed by Harvard students with the potential to drive meaningful impact in India. Meet this year’s grand prize winner, The Paal, who is working to empower smallholder farmers, particularly women, to own insured, high-quality cattle by turning livestock into a retail investment asset class.
This academic year, the Mittal Institute has supported 20 graduate and PhD students from across the different schools at Harvard who conduct research focused on South Asia. These Graduate Student Associates (GSAs) engage in monthly working groups to receive feedback from one another and exchange ideas.
Each semester, the Mittal Institute offers grants to Harvard students to further their research, language study, or internship opportunities. This coming summer 2025, 12 students were awarded grants to carry out projects across five countries. Their work spans a wide range of topics, from examining antibiotic access in India, to studying death and dying in Tibetan Buddhism, to immersing themselves in the languages of Pashto, Sanskrit, and Tamil.
Shivangi Chopra, a Master in Public Administration in International Development candidate at Harvard Kennedy School, spent this past winter in New Delhi, India, designing and implementing a culturally sensitive breast cancer awareness curriculum for adolescent girls in government schools.
Each year, the Mittal Institute supports faculty-led research projects that bring together scholars from diverse disciplines and regions, all focused on themes relevant to South Asia. We are delighted to announce this year’s grant recipients.
Saravanan Thangarajan, Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery Candidate at Harvard Medical School, traveled to Tamil Nadu this winter to explore the impact of climate change on maternal and infant health. Supported by a Mittal Institute Winter Research Grant, he interviewed mothers struggling to protect their children from heat, air pollution, and other environmental stressors. Below, Saravanan shares findings from his research and how the experience will impact his future academic path.