The South Asia Initiative at UCSD is an interdisciplinary research and teaching cluster that incorporates courses from various departments that center around the cultural, economic, and political processes occurring in and out of South Asia. By approaching this region—which includes the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—from diverse perspectives, the South Asia Initiative allows students and researchers to stay abreast of current events happening in the region and integrate a regional specialization into their program of study. We support research, bring speakers, and sponsor courses toward an undergraduate minor in South Asian Studies.

Our 2024-2025 Steering Committee members are: Saiba Varma (Anthropology), Shermin de Silva (EBE), Rishika Mehrishi (Theatre & Dance), Silpa Mukherjee (Film), Teevrat Garg (GPS), Gaurav Khanna (GPS), Gareth Nellis (Political Science), and Aftab Jassal (Anthropology).

We have two upcoming events! On Nov 15th, Professor Kartik Nair will tell us about 1980s horror cinema in India, and on Nov 21st, Dr. Leela Prasad will explore the resonance of Gandhi in incarceration. Check out the flyers below:

Image of Hindu Gods used above from Liu Institute.