Affiliates
Harvard Deepam
Deepam is Harvard University’s premier Indian classical dance troupe. Established in 2010, Harvard Deepam seeks to inspire enthusiasm for this vibrant, energetic and graceful tradition on campus. Through intricate dance movements (nrita) and beautiful facial expressions (abhinaya), the dancers convey the dynamic nature that characterizes this ancient art form.
Deepam dancers enjoy sharing their rich culture with the larger community. Through intercollegiate competitions and cultural shows such as Kalpanam and Ghungroo, Deepam maintains its presence on campus and throughout the Boston area.
Harvard Deepam welcomes dancers of different backgrounds, levels of experience and styles of Indian classical dance. We encourage you to contact Janani Raveendran or Anisha Kumar to join Harvard Deepam or for more information.
Deepam in the News:
"The highlights of the night were the opening dance and the final Senior Dance, which both featured an astounding 112 dancers. Called the Apurva Laya, the first dance was the classical selection for this year’s Ghungroo. It featured intricate footwork , as well as an intense and professional emphasis on meticulous facial expressions and the precise placement of feet and hands which characterize Indian classical dance. Choreographed by Anisha Kumar ’12 and Janani Raveendran ’12, both of whom also appeared in the piece, the dance featured eight experienced dancers who were consistently in sync and able to synthesize all the various components of the Bharathanatyam technique, which is inspired by ancient temple sculptures and includes specific, elaborate neck and eye movements with challenging balances." -Harvard Art Review, "Ghungroo: A Grand Display of Cultural Pride," 4/10/10
Shades of Brown
Shades is a weekend-long conference that brings together local high school students of South Asian origin and Harvard SAA members to focus on exploring and discussing the challenges and issues faced by South Asian youth in America. The weekend is packed with speakers, SAA member-led workshops, and social events to forge ties between South Asian youth and positive role models. Shades uniquely draws upon the diverse interests and talents of the South Asian community at Harvard while simultaneously creating an impact on teens struggling with their identity.
SAA members can propose to teach workshops on the topic of their choice; some ideas include, "South Asians in Mainstream Leadership Positions," "Bhangra: A Journey to Preserving Your Culture in America," ""Lost in the Crowd: Being A Minority in College," "Shaadi.com: A Panel on Arranged Marriage," "Saris or Suits: Being a South Asian Woman in Business," etc. The workshops can be structured in any way to fit the subject (creative ideas like teaching a dance or cooking class are welcome!).
Opportunities for involvement include heading up a committee, teaching a 1-hour workshop, agreeing to host a student, or even providing ideas on how to make Shades an incredible and rewarding conference for both SAA members and the teens. Shades gives SAA members the opportunity to contribute at any level of time commitment. Contact Fahmi (fjahufar@fas) and Arhana (achattop@fas) with any questions.
To join the Shades of Brown mailing list, go to: http://lists.hcs.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/shades
South Asia Journal
The South Asian Journal (SAJ) is a Harvard College student publication published bi-annually by the Harvard South Asian Association. Through a variety of articles and opinion editorials, SAJ addresses South Asian cultural, political, and literary interests and concerns.
If you are interested in joining the staff or publishing your work in the South Asian Journal, please contact editor-in-chiefs, Nishchal (nbasnyat@fas.harvard.edu), Shreya (maheshw@fas.harvard.edu) and Manisha (mpandita@fas.harvard.edu)
To join the SAJ mailing list, go to: http://lists.hcs.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/saa-saj
South Asian Studies Initiative
The South Asian Studies Initiative (SASI) aims to bring more faculty and classes focusing on South Asia to Harvard. SASI maintains a dialogue between the South Asian Association, the University Administration, South Asia Initiative (SAI) and the department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies, among others. With curriculum review underway, SASI will play a prominent role in expanding South Asian courses and academic opportunities. For more information on joining SASI, please contact Nicolas (njroth@fas.harvard.edu)
To join the SASI mailing list, go to: http://lists.hcs.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/saa-sasi
South Asian Women's Collective
The South Asian Women's Collective (SAWC) is a dynamic, student-run organization inspired by issues affecting South Asian women as well as create a safe social network for our members. Active in both social and political contexts, SAWC cultivates a social network to provide support and informal mentorships spanning the personal, academic and professional arenas. The organization also arranges for intercommunity dialogue, offering a safe space to discuss all of our different aspirations and perspectives. Furthermore, SAWC coordinates opportunities to promote awareness of the problems faced by the South Asian female community at home and abroad.
Throught both fun social events, service trips and academic discussions, SAWC spans across the college to create a strong groups of individuals interested in creating a greater awareness of the South Asian female community. If you have any questions or are interested in joining SAWC, please contact Co-Chairs, Valerie (vchadha@fas.harvard.edu) and Pri (pmitra@fas.harvard.edu)
To join the SAWC mailing list, go to: http://lists.hcs.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/saa-sawc
