Category : Students

Dr. Thiyagaraj Gurunathan, Bajaj Fellow, on Exploring Caste, Contagion, and Medicine in India

Sep 3, 2026 | Fellows, India, News, Students

Dr. Thiyagaraj Gurunathan is the Jamnalal Kaniram Bajaj Fellow for Fall 2026, working with Prof. David Jones, A. Bernard Ackerman Professor of the Culture of Medicine and Chair of the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University. An early-career researcher at the intersection of health humanities and cultural studies, his work examines the cultural meanings of contagion in South Asia, particularly in India, with a focus on caste, disease, and outbreak narratives. During his fellowship at Harvard, he is drawing on his background in literature and cultural studies to advance his research toward the history of medicine. We spoke with Dr. Gurunathan about his research and his hopes for his fellowship.

Presenting the Mittal Institute Fellows + Graduate Student Associates

Sep 2, 2026 | Graduate Student Associates, News, Students

The Mittal Institute’s Cambridge Office fosters South Asian scholarship by hosting Fellows, Visiting Artist Fellows, and Graduate Student Associates. Fellows are scholars and practitioners who come to Harvard to utilize the university’s resources to contribute to self-driven, independent research. Graduate Student Associates (GSAs) are graduate and Ph.D. students from across the different schools at Harvard who conduct research focused on South Asia. This Academic Year 2026-27, we welcome 4 new Fellows and 22 new and returning GSAs.

Mittal Institute Message: Catastrophic Flooding in Nepal

Sep 1, 2026 | Announcements, Community, In Region, Nepal, News, South Asia in the News, Students

We join the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association (HUNSA) in expressing our solidarity with the communities affected by the devastating floods and landslides across Nepal. Our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods, as well as the first responders and local volunteers working on the ground.

One Harvard, Young Harvard: Celebrating Community, Connection, and the Harvard Journey

Aug 19, 2026 | Alumni, Community, India, News, Students

On July 25, the “One Harvard, Young Harvard” Mixer brought together incoming and returning students, alumni, faculty, and University affiliates for an evening of conversation and camaraderie, celebrating the connections that sustain Harvard’s community in India.

Courses on South Asia at Harvard: Fall 2026

Aug 18, 2026 | Announcements, News, Students

Harvard offers a diverse range of courses on South Asia, spanning language, history, politics, economics, religion, and beyond. Explore a selection of Fall 2026 offerings. For the latest updates, please consult the Course Catalog. We’ll continue to expand this list as new courses are announced.

The Mittal Institute’s 2026 Seed for Change Winners

Jun 22, 2026 | In Region, India, News, Students

Focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, the Mittal Institute’s annual Seed for Change (SFC) competition awards funding to bold, creative ideas developed by Harvard students with the potential to drive meaningful impact in India. Meet this year’s winners.

The Mittal Institute’s Summer 2026 Student Grant Recipients

Jun 8, 2026 | Announcements, In Region, News, Students

Each semester, the Mittal Institute offers grants to Harvard students to further their research, language study, or internship opportunities. For summer 2026, 12 students received funding to pursue projects across five countries. Their work spans a wide range of topics, from examining postnatal care in India, to studying food and chronic disease in Nepal, to immersing themselves in the languages of Sanskrit and Tibetan.

Commencement 2026: Celebrating Harvard’s South Asian Community

May 21, 2026 | Community, In Region, News, Students

From advancing conversations on the future of the Arctic to reimagining how design and grassroots advocacy can shape more sustainable communities, South Asian members of Harvard’s Class of 2026 are bringing bold ideas and global perspectives. As they graduate and begin the next chapter of their journeys, these students carry with them a commitment to scholarship, innovation, and meaningful impact. While this selection of profiles is far from comprehensive, these profiles offer a glimpse into the many ways Harvard students are preparing to engage with and contribute to the world. Congratulations to the Harvard University Class of 2026!

Graduate Student Associates Showcase Their Research on South Asia

May 20, 2026 | Graduate Student Associates, News, Students

This academic year, the Mittal Institute has supported 20 graduate and PhD students from across the different schools at Harvard who conduct research focused on South Asia. These Graduate Student Associates (GSAs) engage in monthly working groups to receive feedback from one another and exchange ideas.

From Harvard to Goa: Graduating Harvard Seniors Reflect on Teaching, Leadership, and Learning Through PSIL

May 15, 2026 | Announcements, India, News, Students

As Harvard seniors prepare to graduate this May, three students are reflecting on an experience that took them far beyond the classroom. Liz Zheng, an applied mathematics concentrator; Kat Ravichandran, who is pursuing a double concentration in computer science and philosophy; and Brooke Decho, who is studying engineering sciences, participated in this year’s Program for Scientifically-Inspired Leadership (PSIL) in Goa, India — an immersive educational initiative supported in part by the Mittal Institute.

More Than a Meal: Sarthak Agarwal ’27 on School Meals, Equity, and Access in India

May 5, 2026 | Announcements, India, News, Students

Sarthak Agarwal ’28, a doctoral candidate in Population Health Sciences at Harvard University, received a Mittal Institute grant to study India’s school feeding program, the largest of its kind in the world. While its benefits are widely recognized, understanding the operational, financial, and governance systems that sustain it is critical to its continued success. His research, which he details in the below Q&A, examines these enablers and challenges to identify practical lessons for policymakers.

PSIL in Goa: From Program to Practice

Apr 5, 2026 | India, News, Students

Every January, Dominic Mao, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies in Harvard’s Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Andrea Wright, Assistant Dean of Harvard College, train and accompany a group of Harvard undergraduates to India in what’s known as the Program for Scientifically-Inspired Leadership (PSIL). There, they collaborate with local college students to deliver a comprehensive liberal arts and sciences curriculum to high school students. This immersive camp provides intense, hands-on learning experiences, exposing high school participants to diverse academic disciplines, extracurricular activities, and meaningful cultural exchanges. By fostering interactions across these three groups, the program creates a vibrant environment for intellectual growth and cross-cultural understanding.