Category : News

South Asian Music Association: Bringing Cultures Together Through Music

Nov 2, 2026 | News, Students

The South Asian Music Association (SAMA) is bringing the rich traditions of Indian classical and South Asian music to life at Harvard. Through student performances, cross-cultural collaborations, and visits from renowned artists, the organization creates opportunities for the Harvard community to experience and engage with these musical traditions. We spoke with Kavi Kapoor, President, about SAMA’s role on campus and the importance of sharing South Asian music with new audiences.

Dr. Guglielmo Zappalà on How Pakistan’s Floods Are Shaping Farmers’ Decisions

Oct 29, 2026 | Climate, Faculty, In Region, News, Pakistan

Dr. Guglielmo Zappalà, a Harvard University Environmental Fellow, is investigating how climate change is reshaping agricultural livelihoods in Pakistan. Building on a 2024 survey of more than 2,000 farmers in Punjab, his latest research —which earned a 2026 Mittal Institute faculty climate research grant—examines how the devastating 2025 floods have influenced farmers’ perceptions of risk, their interest in crop insurance, and the decisions they make to adapt to a changing climate. We asked him about the project, what he hopes to learn, and how the findings could inform future climate adaptation policies.

Rahul Mehrotra on Rethinking Cities and Infrastructure in a Time of Flux

Oct 27, 2026 | Faculty, News

How do you plan for a city that exists for only a few weeks but must support millions of people? That question is at the heart of the Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, and the subject of an interdisciplinary panel organized by the Mittal Institute. Part of Infrastructure in a Time of Flux: Methods, Conditions, and Situations, a November 12-13 symposium curated by Rahul Mehrotra and Dan Borelli at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, the panel brings together scholars – including Mittal Institute faculty – to explore the infrastructure, planning, and social systems that make these temporary sacred cities possible. We spoke with Prof. Mehrotra about the symposium, the ideas behind it, and what attendees can expect.

Dr. Mir Sumira, Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Fellow, on Mapping Climate Resilience in the Indian Himalayas

Oct 27, 2026 | Climate, Fellows, India, News

Dr. Mir Sumira is a Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University’s Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, where she studies disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and sustainable development, with a focus on vulnerable mountain regions. Her current research uses geospatial technologies to develop a GIS-based Digital Land Resilience Model (DLRM) to help assess climate risks and land resilience in rapidly growing metropolitan areas of the Indian Himalayas. In this Q&A, Sumira discusses her research, how the model works, and how it could help Himalayan cities better understand climate-related risks and plan for a more resilient future.

From Jalgaon to Harvard: Meet Ritesh Deokar, MPP ’26, Harvard Kennedy School

Oct 27, 2026 | India, News, Students

Growing up in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India, Ritesh Deokar never imagined he would one day study at Harvard. After building a career in public service and development, he came to Harvard Kennedy School to deepen his understanding of public policy, graduating this past spring with a Master in Public Policy (MPP) degree. In this Q&A, he reflects on his journey from India to Harvard and how the experience has shaped his approach to policymaking and his hopes for India’s future.

From a Fleet to a Way of Seeing: What e-Rehri Taught Us About Designing the City

Oct 27, 2026 | In Region, India, News

In 2022, Electric Rehri (or e-Rehri for short) was named a winner of the Mittal Institute’s Seed for Change competition for its work to make street vending more sustainable and affordable. The project retrofits traditional Indian street carts with electric vehicle technology, helping vendors transport fresh produce more efficiently while reducing emissions. Since receiving the grant, e-Rehri has moved from an initial prototype to the deployment of a fleet of electric carts in Chandigarh, India. Founded by Gauri Nagpal, a 2023 graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Design and current doctoral candidate at Cornell University, the initiative demonstrates how community-driven ideas can lead to practical solutions that support local livelihoods and advance sustainable urban mobility. Below, Nagpal reflects on the project’s journey, its progress to date, and what comes next for e-Rehri.

Sneha Shrestha (IMAGINE) on Art, Identity, and Cultural Continuity

Oct 20, 2026 | Arts Program, News

Sneha Shrestha, known as IMAGINE, is a Nepali artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, sculpture, and large-scale public installations. Drawing from Nepali script, ritual, and architecture, her practice explores language as form and atmosphere, cultural memory, and how living Himalayan cultures shape our sense of belonging. A recipient of the ICA/Boston’s 2025-26 Foster Prize, her work is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Harvard Art Museums, among other institutions. Sneha also serves as the Mittal Institute’s Arts Program Manager.

A Space for Connection: Harvard’s South Asian Women’s Collective

Oct 14, 2026 | News, Students

The South Asian Women’s Collective (SAWC) brings together students at Harvard to celebrate their shared cultures, explore questions of identity, and build a community grounded in connection and support. In this Q&A, juniors Nishi Patel, who immigrated from Gujarat, India, and Mahi Patel, from Ohio, discuss how SAWC creates space for the diverse experiences of South Asian women, the importance of representation and belonging, and the events and collaborations they’re looking forward to this academic year.

Evaluating Crop Insurance as Climate Policy: Research Highlights Lessons from Odisha

Oct 14, 2026 | Climate, News

As climate shocks increasingly affect agricultural livelihoods, crop insurance is becoming an important tool for helping farmers manage risk. At the webinar “Evaluating Crop Insurance as Climate Policy,” speakers examined India’s experience with crop insurance, the evolution of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), and new research from Odisha on what influences farmers’ decisions to enrol and benefit from crop insurance. The research was supported by the Mittal Institute through a Faculty Grant to Professor Emily Breza, facilitating the team’s work on climate resilience in Odisha.

Support for South Asia Research: Faculty Grants Now Open

Oct 9, 2026 | Announcements, Faculty, News

The Mittal Institute invites Harvard faculty from across the university to apply for funding for research related to any of the countries we work with in South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and/or Sri Lanka. This opportunity is open to all Harvard University faculty members. Applications are due by December 4, 2026.

The Mittal Institute Presents the 2025-26 Year in Review Report

Oct 7, 2026 | Afghanistan, Announcements, Arts Program, Associates, Bangladesh, Faculty, Fellows, In Region, India, Myanmar, Nepal, News, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Students

The Mittal Institute is excited to announce the release of the 2025–26 Year in Review report. As every year, the comprehensive Year in Review Report includes updates on all major faculty-led programs, lists awards and fellowships, highlights the work of students, student organizations, and scholars, and summarizes events and other achievements. The report offers valuable insights into the institute’s mission of connecting Harvard and South Asia.

Vaishnavi Patil’s Journey from Harvard Ph.D. to The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Oct 7, 2026 | Announcements, Graduate Student Associates, News

Vaishnavi Patil, an alumna of the Mittal Institute’s Graduate Student Associate program, earned her Ph.D. from Harvard’s Department of History of Art and Architecture in May 2025. Her doctoral research examined female deities—particularly mother goddesses—and how religious production, patronage, and institutional development shaped their evolution across South and Southeast Asia. She has since joined the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as Assistant Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art. We spoke with Vaishnavi about her new role and how her time at Harvard shaped her career trajectory.