MIT-India Congratulates Summer 2021 Interns

MIT-India’s Summer 2021 Interns

As summer comes to an end, we want to celebrate MIT-India’s summer interns for this year. While the year has been full of challenges, these five have persevered, and we wish them the best!

This year’s interns were Rounaq Basu (Urban Science and Planning, ‘22), Akshit Singla Systems Design and Management, ‘22), Sahil Dharam Mohan (Architecture, ‘23), Mona Vijay Kumar (Architecture Studies and Urbanism, ‘22), and Esha Ranade (Computer Science & Engineering, ‘24). Amongst the graduate students, the projects included independent research alongside internships and here’s an overview of the work with which they engaged:  Rounaq Basu, a doctoral candidate, conducted research centered around understanding the process through which Indian households decide to purchase, sell, and trade private vehicles; Akshit Singla interned with the Myna Mahila Foundation to transform their digital presence; Sahil Dharam Mohan conducted independent research focused on the intersection between religion and architecture in public spaces; and Mona Vijaykumar conducted independent research focused on the Agariyan community and Little Rann of Kutch region, developing different models of shelter for the under-represented and seasonal salt miners. 

And finally, Esha Ranade, an undergraduate student, interned with Bloom Nepal (a school network set up by a MIT Alum) to help provide more accessibility to K-12 education to the people there.

All interns expressed satisfaction with their research, internships, and experiences with MIT India. “MIT-India is a unique opportunity to explore India’s professional environment as well as culture and hospitality.” said Akshit on his experience, a sentiment echoed by his fellow intern cohorts. Esha encouraged others to apply, saying MIT India was “a truly enriching experience to explore a different culture and work on a project that directly affects the lives of others - definitely go for it!”

We once again want to extend our congratulations to all five of our interns, for persevering through a strange and complex year and having a positive experience doing it. We wish them luck in all of their future endeavors and look forward to in-person activities in India in 2022!