Arhan Bagati accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Columbia in Public Policy

Srinagar, Apr 1: Adding another feather to his cap, founder of Kashmir’s Yumberzal Applied Research Institute (KYARI), Arhan Bagati has received acceptance letters from some of the world's most prestigious institutions Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia for a Masters in Public Policy.

A statement issued here said that Arhan, who hails from a respected Kashmiri Pandit lineage that migrated from Kashmir many years ago, had garnered attention for reconnecting with his heritage by moving back to his ancestral home in Srinagar.

As getting admission to Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia involves a rigorous selection process, the latest achievement of Arhan is a proud moment for J&K.

Arhan is now confident that this education would equip him with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate complex policy challenges and advocate for meaningful change, ultimately making a positive impact on the lives of the people in Kashmir.

“I grew up in Delhi, but my grandfather, a former army serviceman, hailed from Bulbul Lanker. I've been a traveller since my school days and pursued my studies in the US, where I also completed my thesis. Over the past couple of years, I have been residing in Kashmir. It was my desire to reconnect with my roots,” said Arhan.

“Through a Master's in Public Policy, I now look to take forward the work that I have been carrying out during the past 2.5 years. I hope my achievements send a powerful message that we, the youth of JK, are not mere participants but leaders in the global conversation on social and political change,” he said.

After his International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP), Arhan completed his Liberal Arts education with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics (specialisation in Comparative Politics) and in Asian Studies (with a concentration on India), from Pomona College, USA.

Arhan had become the world’s youngest and India’s first Deputy Chef de Mission of the Indian Paralympic Contingent at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games and also co-hosted the first-ever travelling ‘Kumaon Literary Festival’ in the Valley in 2022.

Arhan is also the Awareness and Impact Ambassador of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).

He was recently nominated as a Member of the Ceremonial Committee and Medal Ceremony Committee of the World Shooting Para Sports (WSPS) World Cup in New Delhi.