NEWSLETTER
March 23, 2018
Now in its second year, the 2018 Crossroads Program is a fully-funded career development opportunity for accomplished, ambitious young people who have already had to overcome significant barriers to higher education. Among this year's faculty are SAI Director Tarun Khanna , and Karim R. Lakhani , Charles E. Wilson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School.
The Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute’s (SAI) new India office, in the heart of the beautiful Lutyens-designed part of New Delhi, has officially opened, marking a new era of Harvard’s direct engagement with the region.“We believe that our Delhi office will enable us to grow our collaborations with Indian academic and cultural institutions, and contribute to the development of outstanding research," said Mark Elliott , Vice Provost of International Affairs.
SAI Research Affiliate Hasna Jasimuddin Moudud spent 2015 through 2017 traveling through Mongolia and Bangladesh visiting the sites of Buddhist learning centers, which thrived because of the Silk Road. The goal of her research, she says, "is about bringing peace in the world, nothing less. Since the Silk Road is not always about a single country, I see ways in which the Silk Road can continue to build connections between cultures."
FEATURED PUBLICATIONS
Ronak D. Desai, SAI Affiliate, examines the nature of Pakistan's debt and how recent U.S. politics could strengthen the country's relationship with China: " By making foreign countries financially dependent on China, debt trap diplomacy has proven effective in allowing Beijing to achieve multiple objectives simultaneously through purely economic means. These include creating markets for its cheap exports, gaining access to invaluable natural resources, and garnering a competitive advantage over its rivals, such as India."
The recent art showcase "The State of Housing," co-curated by Rahul Mehrota , examines the past 70 years of urban planning in India. " Despite this clear and present crisis" the curators note, "there is no sustained discussion on housing, whether in the nation’s public life or within the professions of architecture and planning."
IN-REGION EVENTS
Tuesday, March 27, 6-7:30 PM, New Delhi

Dr. K. Thangaraj is a senior principal scientist and group leader at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), in Hyderabad. His main research interests are the origin of modern humans, cardiovascular diseases, mitochondrial disorders, male infertility, sex determination, forensic genetics and the genetic basis of Ayurveda prakritis.
 
CAMBRIDGE EVENTS
Monday, March 26, 12-1 PM, Harvard Law School, WCC 2036 Milstein East B
As part of a panel book talk, Mark Tushnet , Sugata Bose and Mitra Sharafi will explore the themes and history of India's Supreme Court. Discussion topics include roles of India's polity in the development of the court, monumental cases and its lasting impact.
Tuesday, March 27, 4-5:30 PM, CGIS South
Join Hasna Moudud as she recounts her journey through Mongolia, Bangladesh, and India, to find a connection between the Silk Road and Buddhism. She will also explain the importance of the several learning centers on the Silk Road.
Wednesday, March 28, 6-7:30 PM, CGIS South

As part of SAI's Urbanization series, Sanjoy Chakravorty will examine the current state of Delhi's growth and city structure. The presentation will also explore questions such as: How well does existing “urban theory” prepare us for Delhi? To what extent does Delhi prepare us for a new “urban theory”? How much of it is global, how much Indian, and how much just Delhi itself?
Thursday, March 29, 4-5:30 PM, CGIS South

Raile Rocky Ziipao posits that road building has always been an act of power, which has at different times been leveraged to smooth relationships, secure borders, (dis)connect people, enable trade, create spaces of contestation, or dilute boundaries between varied ethnic groups.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
March 23-April 1, Sanders Theater
Saturday, March 24, Harvard Kennedy School
SAI OPPORTUNITIES
The SAI Delhi office is looking for a Communications Consultant to develop a website that highlights projects funded under the Tata Trusts grant. Responsibilities include electronic, print, and outreach efforts related to the project.
 The Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute, Harvard University (SAI) offers two grants to support the work of Harvard University Faculty on fields related to South Asia. The Application Deadline for the 2018-2019 academic year grants is March 23, 2018, to be used after July 1, 2018.
 In preparation for its 2019 conference, the South Asian Literary Association is now accepting papers that discuss South Asian culture as a global phenomenon. The two-day event will examine South Asian Literature in the world. The deadline is July 31, 2018.
FLASHBACK FRIDAY
On March 8th, SAI's New Delhi office held a seminar discussing research on the 1947 Partition of British India. The panel included Uma Chakravarti and Urvashi Butalia , who discussed their personal experiences and the stories they gathered from survivors of the Partition. Over the course of her research, Butalia realized that this event created massive political, social, and gender barriers for the population, and how important it is to record oral histories.