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.
As another academic year comes to a close, we pause to reflect on a year chock-full of lively events, knowledge exchange, and connection-building. The Mittal Institute’s community turned out in full force for our virtual and in-person events in our Cambridge space, our New Delhi office, and other locations across the globe. Learn about 10 of our not-to-be-missed events – please visit our YouTube page for more.
From improving digital literacy in India, to researching ways to prevent Alzheimer’s in Bangladesh and beyond, Harvard’s class of 2024 is full of graduates with big ideas for South Asia. These movers and shakers will now set off across the globe, eager to put into practice their years of learning. We curated a list of profiles on some notable graduates across many of Harvard’s schools — though this list is not all-encompassing, it gives you a flavor of the many ways that our Harvard graduates aim to improve the world. Congratulations, Harvard University Class of 2024!
Summer break is on our doorstep, and as classes pause for a respite, we invite you to peruse our list of reading recommendations from our community members. There is something for everyone on this list, and we hope that it inspires your own reading pursuits!
As the summer approaches, the Mittal Institute extends a warm invitation to Harvard’s community to visit the New Delhi Office. 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!
On May 2-3, the Mittal Institute kicked off its spring flagship events with standing room only for an Honorary Lecture by Prof. Diana Eck with faculty from across the university, alumni, students and many distinguished guests and experts on South Asia. The momentum continued with a Science and Technology symposium focused on AI, empathy in medicine, genetics, and climate change in South Asia, culminating with this year’s annual Harish C. Mahindra Lecture by WHO expert Soumya Swaminathan.
