Michael Vinay Bhatia, 31, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008 in Khost, Afghanistan where he was serving as a social scientist in consultation with the US Defense Department.

Michael was born in Upland, CA on August 23, 1976 to Manik D. and Linda L. (Dolback) Bhatia of Medway, MA. He graduated from Medway High School in 1995 and attended Brown University, where he graduated Magna cum Laude and Honors with a B.A. in International Relations in 1999.


Michael was the recipient of many awards and grants, including a Scoville Peace and Disarmament Fellowship and a Marshall Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. At Oxford, Michael earned his M.Sc. in International Relations Research in 2002, and was working on his doctoral dissertation “The Mujahideen: A Study of Combatant Motives in Afghanistan, 1978 – 2004.” Recently, he was a Visiting Fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University and a lecturer at Carleton University in Ottawa.


Michael dedicated his life to humanitarian work and conflict resolution in war-torn countries. His research and humanitarian work brought him to the Sahrawi refugee camps in Western Algeria, East Timor, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. He was a published author and contributor to a number of international relations publications.


In addition to his parents, he is survived by, his sister Tricia Lynn Bhatia of Medway and many aunts, uncles and cousins.


In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s memory may be made to the Michael V. Bhatia Memorial Fund c/o Rockland Trust Company, 288 Union St., Rockland, MA 02370.