The 23rd edition of Harvard’s India Conference, a premier student-led international forum examining India’s rise across business, policy, and culture, is set for February 14–15 at Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School. This year, Olympic champion P.V. Sindhu, parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor, and fashion designer Manish Malhotra will headline the event, joining more than 70 speakers over two days.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist and the first Indian to claim gold at the Badminton World Championships, will participate in a moderated discussion on the growth of India’s sports ecosystem. The panel will explore how elite athletic performance and strategic sports management contribute to national identity and shape India’s international sporting reputation. Sindhu will share the stage with Satyam Trivedi, CEO of GMR Sports, discussing how athletes and sports leaders collectively project India’s confidence and global ambition.
Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and chairman of India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, will deliver a keynote address. A former United Nations under-secretary-general and prolific writer, Tharoor will examine India’s democratic traditions, constitutional ideals, and its evolving role on the world stage. Organizers noted that Tharoor’s participation underscores the conference’s dedication to meaningful civic and intellectual discourse, highlighting how India’s identity is shaped and debated across institutions and citizens.
Adding a creative perspective, renowned designer Manish Malhotra will discuss the influence of fashion, film, and entrepreneurship on India’s global cultural footprint. The conference program also includes a fireside chat with actor Priyanka Chopra, a policy hackathon in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir government and GDi Partners focused on climate risk and sustainability, and a startup pitch contest with over $20,000 in prizes.
Now in its 23rd year, the Harvard India Conference remains one of the largest and most influential student-led events dedicated to India in the United States, continuing a tradition of showcasing leading voices in sport, politics, and culture while fostering dialogue on the nation’s evolving global identity.
