Select Page

Category : Community


Masuma Halai Khwaja, Visiting Artist Fellow, on Using Textiles to Create Cultural Narratives

Masuma Halai Khwaja, Visiting Artist Fellow, on Using Textiles to Create Cultural Narratives

Masuma Halai Khwaja joins the Mittal Institute this spring as a Visiting Artist Fellow. A visual artist, she explores textiles as a medium to weave together personal memory, diverse histories, and cultural intersections—creating narratives that transcend their origins. Working with fabrics sourced from local flea markets, she integrates embroidery to symbolize the fragmentation of traditions in the face of globalization.

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.

Climate Insights: Book Recommendations from Harvard Faculty

Climate Insights: Book Recommendations from Harvard Faculty

Over the last few weeks, 17 Harvard faculty have joined the Mittal Institute Climate Platform as new affiliates, greatly increasing the platform’s reach and expertise. Now, these affiliates are sharing some of their top climate reads. Stay informed on the climate crisis, its global impacts, and some meaningful actions you can take. Enjoy the list!

Watch Now: The Mittal Institute’s Top Event Videos of 2024

Watch Now: The Mittal Institute’s Top Event Videos of 2024

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.

The Mittal Institute’s Highlights of 2024

The Mittal Institute’s Highlights of 2024

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 Mittal Institute’s Winter Reading Recommendations

The Mittal Institute’s Winter Reading Recommendations

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!

Indian Classical Musician Bahauddin Dagar Brought Drupad Tradition to Campus

Indian Classical Musician Bahauddin Dagar Brought Drupad Tradition to Campus

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.

Spotlight on the Himalayan Caucus at HKS

Spotlight on the Himalayan Caucus at HKS
The Himalayan Caucus at the Harvard Kennedy School may be one of Harvard’s newer South Asian-focused student groups, but its reach and breadth has grown rapidly. Started in December 2023, the Himalayan Caucus represents and shares the cultures from Himalayan countries...

Indian Classical Musician Bahauddin Dagar in Residence at Harvard this October: A Q+A

Indian Classical Musician Bahauddin Dagar in Residence at Harvard this October: A Q+A

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).