This Week's Top Stories
April 26, 2019


Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were affected by the recent tragedy in Sri Lanka.
The Mittal Institute's Nepal Studies Program helps faculty, scholars, and practitioners engage with one another on the issues that matter most to Nepal. Leading up to the Nepal Conference on May 2–3, we spoke with Professor Michael Witzel to learn about the program's exploration of Hindu ritual in Nepal.
Starting in July, Professor Asim Ijaz Khwaja will serve as the faculty director of the Center for International Development (CID) at Harvard Kennedy School. With his expertise in political economy, education, and economic development, he'll help CID continue its mission to advance the understanding of global development and poverty challenges.
Upcoming Events
SCIENCE CENTER
Thursday–Friday, May 2–3
Ritual has played a major role in Hindu societies from the Vedas to modern times, and it has been particularly prominent in Nepalese society. Professor  Michael Witzel  will lead a conference to explore some of the rituals, past and present, that are typical for Nepal. 
FONG AUDITORIUM, BOYLSTON HALL
Friday, May 3, 5:00 PM
In this demonstration, Pakistani musical sensation Ali Sethi and Harvard Professor Ali Asani will take you into the lyrical world of ghazals. The ghazal originated in Arabia in the 7th century and developed into a significant literary genre in Persian, Urdu, and other South Asian languages.
MIT LUCIAN PYE CONFERENCE ROOM
Friday, May 3, 2:00 PM
Ahsan Butt is an Associate Professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. His book, Secession and Security: Explaining State Strategy Against Separatists , argues that states, not separatists, determine the outcome of a secessionist struggle.
SANDERS THEATRE, MEMORIAL HALL
Sunday, May 5, 7:00 PM
In a musical performance put together by the Harvard College Pakistani Students Association, Ali Sethi , Ali Asani , and Noah Georgeson will bring alive the poetic consciousness of several legendary South Asian mystic poets. Tickets are currently on sale.
Latest Announcements
Professor Tarun Khanna , Director of the Mittal Institute, was interviewed by the Times of India to discuss the importance in India of scientific literacy and innovation in education to help catch up to the world technology frontier — while investing in philosophy, ethics, and legal reasoning as science raises questions about the nature of humanity.
Deadline to Apply: Monday, April 29, 2019
Harvard faculty who receive a Mittal Institute faculty grant can use it to unite scholars from different fields and regions whose research relates to South Asia, or they can build on pre-existing research or projects. Monday is the last day to apply!
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