Category : Students

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.

Contrasts, Mirrors, and Gradients: A Mumbai Design Studio Experience

Mar 27, 2026 | Announcements, News, Students

This February, design and real estate students embarked on an academic journey to Mumbai as part of a joint Development Project and Option Travel Studio at the GSD. Led by Professors Rahul Mehrotra, David Hamilton, and Jerold S. Kayden, the field trip allowed students to translate many of the questions that naturally emerged from their research to the site, particularly those regarding the Elphinstone Estate, an old industrial site serving as the studio’s focal point.

Building Dialogue Through the South Asian Studies Colloquium

Mar 10, 2026 | Announcements, Community, Graduate Student Associates, News, South Asia in the News, Students

The South Asian Studies Colloquium at Harvard brings together scholars, students, and enthusiasts to share research and ideas across disciplines. With presentations by graduate students, faculty, and visiting fellows, plus a guest lecture series, each session encourages lively dialogue and feedback. Open to the entire Harvard community, the colloquium fosters connections, sparks cross-disciplinary conversations, and explores the rich histories and cultures of South Asia. We spoke with Colloquium organizers Seton Uhlhorn, a Mittal Institute Graduate Student Associate and Ph.D candidate specializing in classical Urdu literature, and Afeef Ahmed, a Ph.D candidate who studies Early Modern South India and the Indian Ocean, to learn more about what inspired the series.

Faith or Expertise? Adil Ahsan, a Public Policy Ph.D Candidate, on Who Delivers Public Health Messages Best

Mar 3, 2026 | Announcements, News, Pakistan, Students

Adil Ahsan, a Ph.D candidate in Public Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, spent his summer in Lahore, Pakistan through a Mittal Institute student grant. His study examined whether handwashing messages delivered by religious leaders are more effective than those from secular authorities, in order to evaluate the extent to which low trust in state institutions can blunt informational interventions among religious populations. We spoke with Adil for more on his project.

Harvard Divinity Student Kazal Barua ’27 Studies How a Bangladeshi Monk Reimagines Monasticism

Feb 9, 2026 | Announcements, Bangladesh, News, Students

Kazal Barua ’27, a Harvard Divinity School Master of Theological Studies student, spent his winter conducting research in Bangladesh through a Mittal Institute student grant. His project, “Reimagining the Roles of Buddhist Monastics in Bangladesh: The Case of Shasana Rakkhit Bhikkhu and BCCUL” examined how a Buddhist monk blends spiritual insight with corporate skills to lead a financial organization, drive cross-religious community development, and reimagine the traditional role of monasticism. We spoke with Kazal for more on his project.

Ayurveda, Western Medicine, and the Mind: Josh Mysore ’26 Conducts Student Research in India

Feb 2, 2026 | Announcements, India, News, Students

Josh Mysore ’26, a Harvard College dual concentrator in Computer Science and Social Studies, spent his summer conducting thesis research in Kerala, Bangalore, and Auroville, India through a Mittal Institute student grant. His project examined the history and frameworks of Ayurvedic medicine, in contrast with Western medicine, to understand how culture and scientific method shape concepts of the mind and psyche. We spoke with Josh for more on his project.

Courses on South Asia at Harvard: Spring 2026

Nov 19, 2025 | Announcements, News, Students

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 2026. 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.

Brewing Belonging: International Tea Brings Students Together at Harvard

Oct 28, 2025 | Announcements, Graduate Student Associates, News, Students

International students make up more than a quarter of Harvard’s community, and many arrive searching for a sense of belonging. To help create that connection, Thomas Elliott, Programs and Administrative Coordinator at the Mittal Institute, is launching “International Tea”—a new gathering designed to bring students together and foster community. The first tea will be held on October 22nd and is open to invited Graduate Students and Fellows from regional centers. We spoke with Thomas about how this initiative came to life and what he hopes it will offer.