March 10–12, 2026
Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Prayagraj, India

This landmark conference will celebrate and critically examine the role of women leaders in shaping social, political, and economic transformation across South Asia. Drawing on examples from grassroots activism to high-level policymaking, the event will highlight the diverse contributions of women who are redefining leadership in the region.

Keynote speakers will include Hon. Anoma Perera, a parliamentarian and champion of gender-responsive governance from Sri Lanka, and Dr. Rukhsana Ahmed, an influential social entrepreneur working to empower rural women through sustainable enterprises. Their addresses will set the stage for cross-sectoral discussions on leadership models that are inclusive, resilient, and transformative.

Conference sessions will cover topics such as women in political leadership, faith-based advocacy for gender equality, strategies for overcoming institutional barriers, and the role of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Special attention will be given to the intersection of gender, caste, ethnicity, and economic status in shaping women’s leadership experiences.

Workshops will offer practical training in leadership development, media engagement, fundraising for women-led initiatives, and policy advocacy skills. A mentorship program connecting emerging women leaders with experienced professionals will be launched during the event.

The closing plenary will produce a “South Asia Women’s Leadership Charter,” a collaborative framework for strengthening women’s voices in decision-making at all levels.

Registration will open on November 15, 2025, and close on February 20, 2026. As places are limited, prompt registration is advised.

January 20–22, 2026
Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Prayagraj, India

This new-year conference will bring together religious leaders, peace activists, conflict resolution practitioners, and scholars to address the urgent need for interfaith engagement in an increasingly polarized global landscape. With sectarian tensions, political fragmentation, and social mistrust rising in many parts of South Asia, interreligious collaboration is both a moral imperative and a practical necessity for sustainable peace.

Keynote speakers will include Dr. Sanjay Malhotra, a leading expert in faith-based diplomacy, and Dr. Leila Karim, whose research focuses on grassroots peacebuilding and women’s roles in interreligious reconciliation. Their perspectives will frame discussions on how diverse faith traditions can unite around shared values of justice, compassion, and human dignity.

The conference will feature plenary sessions on topics such as the theology of peace across major South Asian religions, successful models of community-level conflict mediation, and the role of religious institutions in countering hate speech and extremism.

Workshops will provide hands-on training in dialogue facilitation, trust-building exercises, and collaborative project design between faith-based and secular actors. A special youth forum will give emerging leaders the tools to launch interfaith initiatives in their local contexts.

On the final day, delegates will issue a “Prayagraj Peace Commitment,” a shared pledge to advance mutual understanding and cooperation across religious and cultural divides.

Registration will open on September 15, 2025, and close on January 5, 2026. Early registration is highly recommended to secure participation in workshops with limited capacity.

September 23–25, 2025
Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Prayagraj, India

This bi-monthly conference will convene climate scientists, development practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders to address one of the most urgent challenges facing South Asia: building resilience against climate change while empowering vulnerable communities. As floods, droughts, and extreme weather events become increasingly frequent, innovative strategies for adaptation are essential.

Keynote speakers will include Dr. Arif Rahman, a leading climate adaptation strategist from Bangladesh, and Dr. Anjali Prakash, an expert in sustainable rural development and community-based disaster risk reduction. Their addresses will set the tone for in-depth conversations on balancing environmental sustainability with socio-economic development.

The program will feature thematic sessions on climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy transitions, inclusive urban planning, and indigenous knowledge in ecological stewardship. Special focus will be given to the intersection of environmental justice and social equity, ensuring that adaptation measures do not exacerbate existing inequalities.

Interactive workshops will guide participants through practical exercises in community-based risk assessment, policy advocacy for green infrastructure, and securing climate finance for grassroots initiatives. Delegates will also have opportunities to network with regional and international experts to forge collaborative projects.

By the close of the event, participants will draft a regional action framework aimed at fostering resilience, equity, and sustainability across diverse South Asian contexts.

Registration will open on May 15, 2025, and close on September 5, 2025. Due to high anticipated interest, early registration is advised.

July 15–17, 2025
Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Prayagraj, India

This upcoming international symposium will bring together theologians, social scientists, activists, and policymakers to examine the evolving relationship between faith traditions and social justice movements in South Asia. In a time of rapid political, economic, and cultural change, faith-based communities are playing a pivotal role in advocating for equality, human dignity, and the protection of marginalized groups.

Keynote addresses will be delivered by Professor Meera Kulkarni, a leading voice in interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding, and Archbishop Isaac S. Sato, whose work integrates Christian theology with grassroots advocacy for migrant and refugee rights. Their perspectives will frame the broader discussions, exploring both the theological imperatives and the practical challenges of faith-driven social action.

The symposium will feature panel discussions on diverse themes, including the role of religious institutions in policy reform, the ethical responses of faith communities to climate displacement, and the mobilization of interfaith coalitions in the face of extremist ideologies. Case studies from across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh will highlight effective strategies already in practice.

Workshops will offer hands-on engagement with advocacy tools, community organizing strategies, and policy drafting processes that enable faith-based actors to have measurable impact in legislative and social domains. The event will culminate in the drafting of a joint declaration outlining shared commitments to justice, compassion, and non-violence.

Registration will open on March 15, 2025, and close on July 1, 2025. Space is limited, and early registration is strongly recommended.

South Asia and Global Trade: A Decade After Realignment

June 15-17, 2025

Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Prayagraj, India

In June 2025, the Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies will convene an international conference to explore South Asia and global trade a decade since realignment. The international economic operating environment has begun to adjust to domestic realities while positioning South Asia more and more as a global economic operating exchange.

This interdisciplinary conference welcomes scholars, policymakers, and experts from within the region to evaluate the current response and future incurrence relevant to trade liberalization; regressive and progressive multilateral overrides, sectoral or otherwise; bilateral agreements; and regional integration entering new efforts like BIMSTEC and SAARC.

Digitized trade expansions, remapped supply chain networks, and further trade/diplomatic integration in South-South exchanges are possibilities and on the agenda. Keynote speaker Dr. Helena von Strauss is expected to engage participants with insightful discourse stemming from her recent publication on major global players—namely, the EU—expanding their digital trade efforts. In addition, Dr. Ibrahim Farooq will present his in-the-works analysis comparing expected changes to recent changes in economic relationships observed recently within South Asia, East Asia, and the Middle East.

Proposed panels include:

• Inter-state supply chains increasingly connected transnationally.

• New technologies supporting opportunities for trade facilitation.

• Trade policy for inclusive growth opportunities transnationally, both in and outside of South Asia.

• The geopolitical economy of trade—from regionalism to strategic autonomy based on trade.

Prior submission preferred but not required; attendance welcomed to engage and theorize how South Asia will be part of the conversation and how South Asia will be viewed in realigning international socio-economic and geo-political equity over the next decade.

To Register By: June 1, 2025. Space is limited; register early.

Regional Security and Peacebuilding: Lessons from South Asia’s Conflicts

Dates: May 5-7, 2025
Location: Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Prayagraj

The Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies announces an international interdisciplinary academic conference, Regional Security and Peacebuilding: Lessons from South Asia’s Conflicts, to be held from May 5-7, 2025. This is an important investigation into security and peacebuilding efforts in South Asia and beyond and provides opportunities for scholars, diplomats, policy analysts, and peace practitioners to contribute.

Conflicts characterize the South Asia region—Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Myanmar—all in need of peace. This proposed conference attempts to analyze the precarious position of these areas through case studies presented via archival/field research and theoretical engagement. As such, we will pay attention to the nature of international mediation, regional agencies and efforts, intranational forces, and peace efforts to determine what has worked and failed thus far in the peace process. At the same time, we seek to question complicating factors that work against successful peace efforts—state fragility, increasing sectarianism and geopolitical tensions, and expanding webs of transnational terrorism.

Dr. Rajiv K. Menon’s keynote address seeks to answer whether regional agencies can engage in active conflict prevention once the wheels are set in motion through proactive cooperatives as seen with SAARC and BIMSTEC. Dr. Andrew Hyunwoo Kim’s featured presentation attempts to explore whether metaverse realities via digital governance may render effective security sector reform in impermanent and vulnerable states.

Workshops will train students and professionals in conflict resolution via simulation over three days, culminating in a morning roundtable on day three to attempt solutions toward normative frameworks and policy recommendations for sustainable peace in this volatile region.

Registration: Open until April 30, 2025; limited space makes early registration encouraged.

The Future of Digital Education in South Asia: Innovations and Challenges

April 10-12, 2025
Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Prayagraj, India

Join scholars, technologists, educators, and policymakers at this international conference to evaluate the future of digital education in South Asia. As internet access and mobile availability rapidly increase across the region, South Asia will serve as a testing ground and early adopter for digitally mediated learning channels.

Keynote speakers include Dr. Sunita Rao, an advocate for the exploration of digital pedagogy, and Dr. Isaac S. Sato, focusing his research on bridging systemic gaps in digital access across rural and underprivileged areas. Each keynote will set the stage for broader discussions throughout the conference, focused on equitable access to educational equity in a digital world.

Concurrent sessions include the presentation and discussion of recent findings regarding emergent technologies and tools already integrated into traditional classroom settings, mLearning ecosystems operating efficiently in the field with students and teachers alike, and predictive analytics focused on and assessed through AI technologies that foster responsive and personalized learning experiences for all. Panels will discuss the need for enhanced policy and efforts to regulate digital opportunities comparable to what’s available today in analog environments and various infrastructure challenges that could inhibit large-scale implementation; adjustments in pedagogy that will need to be adopted to support such widespread infiltration will also be discussed.

By the final day of the conference, a collaborative consensus will form on a beneficial policy brief and pathways to success for implementation and scaling efforts for sustainable digital education across South Asia.

Registration will open December 1, 2024, and remain open until April 1, 2025. Limited spaces are available—register early!

Transforming South Asia’s Healthcare Systems: Challenges and Solutions

Dates: March 12-14, 2025 Location: Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies

Come collaborate with your peers, scholars, and development professionals at a seminar that evaluates the challenges facing diverse healthcare systems throughout the South Asian region. This seminar will include a collaborative multidisciplinary assessment of systemic change in health delivery for sustainable, equitable access for everyone.

The Keynote Address will be presented by Dr. Ravi Iyer, Professor of Social Policy and Public Health, who will speak on the increasing demand for public health systems in post-global pandemic worlds and climate change-driven health emergencies. There will also be several panels—one dedicated to responsible technological advancement in the post-COVID world—that include messaging on the incorporation of telehealth resources, increased availability of mental health professionals and treatments, and the shifting face of health-related employment in disadvantaged rural and peri-urban communities.

Cross-disciplinary researchers will present findings and field case studies conducted throughout India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, with opportunities for hands-on workshops and facilitated group discussions from which policy recommendations may emerge blending hypothesized research realities and practical application.

All panels and workshops will be recorded for registered attendees to access at their convenience after the seminar has ended. The Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies would like to foster an inclusive, sustainable approach through findings, which is why this seminar is transformative.

International Conference on Innovative Climate Adaptation: Connecting Science to Policy

February 20-22, 2025
Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Prayagraj, India

With climate disruptions plaguing South Asia and rapidly accelerating in recent years, this international conference will convene leading scientists, policymakers, and development practitioners within the region for a conference that promises to address an ongoing disconnect between climate science and policy.

For three full days, experts and scholars will present on empirical studies of climate adaptation that align with current regional needs. From innovative climate-resilient agriculture and integrated water resource management for sustainable development and planning of infrastructure to compounded geographically discussed solutions to policy-based action, this conference will bring together like-minded professionals to one venue with one goal in mind: assisting vulnerable communities in adapting to the increasingly unpredictable realities of climate change.

Confirmed keynote speakers include Dr. Anjali R. Kapoor, Professor of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development here in the United States, who will present on the best practices surrounding community-driven adaptation efforts, while Dr. Lars Müller, an international expert on adaptive climate processes, will allow attendees insight into how scientifically driven assessments of climate change repercussions can be not only avoided but also the realization behind effective climate adaptation in a nation’s existence.

Additional opportunities include interdisciplinary panels focused on the urban heat island effect for burgeoning megacities and anticipatory flooding efforts for low-lying coastal communities, as well as policy alignment for adaptation efforts for regional endeavors synonymous with the SDGs. The final day will include a policy roundtable where recommendations relevant to the context will be curated for future regional climate action plans.

The conference will generate a platform for teams between research and the implementing community to create interdisciplinary networks for engaging climate adaptation activities beyond the scope of the conference.

Registration is open until February 10, 2025. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.

November 11–13, 2025
Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Prayagraj, India

This international conference will gather scholars, legal experts, humanitarian workers, and policy advocates to examine the complex realities of migration in South Asia. With millions on the move due to conflict, economic necessity, climate change, and political instability, the region is witnessing unprecedented shifts in demographics, identity, and governance.

Keynote addresses will be delivered by Dr. Farah Hussain, a renowned human rights lawyer specializing in refugee protection, and Archbishop Isaac S. Sato, whose advocacy has focused on ensuring dignity and justice for migrant laborers and displaced communities. Their insights will provide a framework for discussions on balancing national security, humanitarian obligations, and the preservation of cultural diversity.

Sessions will explore themes such as cross-border migration policies, the role of international law in protecting stateless individuals, migrant labor rights in the global economy, and the impact of migration on faith communities and social cohesion. Field-based case studies from India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Myanmar will provide on-the-ground perspectives.

Workshops will train participants in advocacy strategies, legal aid provision, and community integration programs that support migrants’ wellbeing while strengthening host societies. A special roundtable will address the rise of xenophobia and propose interfaith and intercultural approaches to counter it.

The conference will conclude with the adoption of a multi-stakeholder action statement outlining coordinated efforts for humane, rights-based migration governance across South Asia.

Registration will open on July 15, 2025, and close on October 25, 2025. Early booking is encouraged due to limited seating.