In 2024, the Mittal Institute community came together for virtual and in-person events in Cambridge, New Delhi, and beyond, on a diverse array of topics: a deep dive into the impacts of heat, lectures on ancient architecture and global health, an exploration of Bangladesh’s history and future, and much more. View our curated list of some not-to-be-missed events, and visit our YouTube page for more.
As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on the meaningful research, engaging events, and vibrant community that define the Mittal Institute. To bid the year a proper farewell, we’ve curated a list of our most newsworthy highlights. And as we step into 2025, we do so with a sense of optimism and ambition. Here’s to a year filled with possibility, progress, and purpose.
The winter chill in the air invites us to slow down and savor one of life’s simple pleasures: a good book. Reading in the winter is a ritual of comfort, reflection, and escape. We invite you to explore our list of reading recommendations – there is sure to be something for everyone on this list! We hope it inspires your own reading pursuits. We would also love to hear some of your recommendations. Tag us on Instagram or Twitter with #HarvardSouthAsiaReads. Happy reading!
In mid-October, distinguished Indian classical musician Bahauddin Dagar was in residence at the Mittal Institute. The renowned rudra veena player, who is carrying the Dhrupad tradition forward, spent a week engaging with the Harvard community and sharing his rare art form and musical talents. The culmination of the week-long residency was a concert attended by over 170 attendees. Check out the concert recording and photos here.
The Mittal Institute is pleased to welcome Distinguished Artist in Residence Ustad Bahauddin Dagar, a renowned rudra veena player. Ahead of his visit, we spoke with Dagar about how to balance tradition and artistic freedom, the peculiarities of the rudra veena, and what attendees can expect from his performance on Oct. 17, which will be part of ArtsThursdays, a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts (HUCA).
This fall, the Mittal Institute welcomes a new Visiting Artist Fellow from Nepal: Saurav Ghimire, a fiction and docu-fiction filmmaker who explores how to subtly disguise personal elements to achieve a universal story. Learn about his artistic motivations and save the date for the October 22 Art Exhibition and Film Screening.
Pranab Bardhan, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, is a leading Indian economist and author of a new memoir, Charaiveti: An Academic’s Global Journey. The book weaves together Pranab’s observations and anecdotes about the economy, politics, and culture, his life travels, his professional endeavors, and more. Ahead of his Oct. 3 book talk at Harvard, Pranab gave us a glimpse into his book and some themes he will share at the talk.
Saturday, September 21, marked Harvard’s first-ever South Asian Convocation, co-hosted by the Mittal Institute and the South Asian Student Association (SAA). This unique celebration of the South Asian community at Harvard attracted over 300 undergraduate and graduate students, as well as affiliates and faculty members.