Graduate Profile: Khushi Choudhary, MTS '25

Memorable Moment 

It was in the fall semester of my first year. In Professor Charles Hallisey's course, "The Museum as a Buddhist Institution," we discussed the "Tree and Serpent" special exhibition at the Met and the Rubin Museum of Art in much detail. I wondered why we weren't visiting New York to see the exhibits in person. So, one day in class, I asked if there was any way we could go to NYC. A couple of weeks later, Professor Hallisey returned, saying he had brought it up to Robert Ho, the philanthropist, at dinner the other night that students in his course wanted to travel to New York, and Mr. Ho immediately turned to his assistant and said "let's make it happen." Long story short, we all visited New York City, and it all seemed to happen so easily. I realized then that these were the perks of studying here at Harvard and that it never hurts to ask for what you want... you never know! 

Favorite Class or Professor 

One of my favorite classes I took during my time at HDS was actually a class through NELC called "Shi'i Islam in Safavid Iran: Religion, Culture, Change." Taught by postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Shahrad Shahvand (an HDS alum), the small seminar comprised only five students, including myself. A class as small as this is exceedingly rare at Harvard; it was the most enjoyable classroom dynamic I have ever experienced. We all took turns presenting the readings each week, and it was intensive but rewarding. Professor Shahvand has since become a dear mentor and friend, and I am so grateful for our connection. 

What I Hope to Be Remembered By 

I hope to be remembered as a formidable advocate of interdisciplinary scholarship. I studied both art history and religious studies in college and found their confluence in the subfield of "material religion" most compelling. Thus, I worked very hard to advance in both disciplines as a graduate student. This meant taking several classes in the history of art and architecture, and I am grateful for the flexibility offered through the MTS program that allowed me to do so. My hope for HDS is that more and more faculty and students will embrace non-textual sources in the study of religion and that they will foster a greater degree of collaboration with departments like HAA in FAS.