In a column in the Business Today Magazine, Prof. Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School and faculty director of the Mittal Institute, highlights the challenges of extreme heat and how awareness, information, and experimentation are needed to address the problem.
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.
Harvard offers a wide array of courses on South Asia, ranging from language to history, politics, economics, religion, and much more. Check out a selection of what is offered during Spring 2025. Please refer to the Course Catalog for the most up-to-date information. We will continue to add to this list as we hear about more courses.
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 is excited to announce the release of the 2023–24 Year in Review and 2023–24 Arts Program reports. Like 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 Arts Program Report highlights the incredible impact and accomplishments of the Mittal Institute’s various arts initiatives, which include fellowships, exhibitions, and events. Both reports offer valuable insights into the institute’s mission of connecting Harvard with South Asia.
Looking back at the journey of the Seed for Change competition 2022 winner, e-Rehri, exemplifies how bold ideas can create lasting impact. Born from a vision to support informal vendors in Chandigarh, this initiative has grown into a transformative solution for mobility, sustainability, and livelihoods. From its first prototype addressing lockdown challenges to the deployment of an electrified fleet, e-Rehri has become a testament to innovation driven by community needs.
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!
The Mittal Institute’s Visiting Artist Fellowship is a unique opportunity for mid-career visual artists from around South Asia to spend eight weeks on the Harvard campus. The program differs from a typical artist residency program in that it is research-centered, providing artists with the vast resources of Harvard’s intellectual community to enhance their artistic practice. Applications are open until January 9, 2025.
Rinan Shah and Robert Rahman Raman joined as Mittal Institute India Fellows in November 2023. As their fellowships draws to a close, read about their time spent at the institute, including their experiences, contributions, and explorations below.
The Seed for Change (SFC) student grant competition provides up to $30,000 to bold, creative student projects that have the potential for widespread impact in India. Applications are open until February 7, 2025.
Dr. Fatima Zahra, a Mittal Institute Associate, spearheads research at the intersection of human development, labor markets, and artificial intelligence with a focus on the future of learning and work. Several of her projects look at Bangladesh, where she is originally from, including her studies on how climate change impacts child development and what employment barriers Rohingya fathers face in refugee camps. The Mittal Institute spoke with her about her motivation and approach to study climate change in Bangladesh and how socioeconomic and political factors are essential to understanding its impacts.
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.