Indian-American Nirmal K Mattoo, a leading nephrologist, has donated USD 1.25 million to Stony Brook University here to boost its India studies programme.
The donation of USD 1.25 million from Mattoo, Chairman of the University's Center for India Studies Executive Committee, together with a USD 1.25 million permanent endowment from members of the Indian American community, is raising the profile of the Center for India Studies.
The Universities' College of Arts and Sciences is soon to become one of the most preeminent resource centers in the nation for the study of Indian culture and civilisation.
Coupled with matching funds of USD 2.5 million from the Simons Foundation Challenge Grant, the gift has a total impact of USD 5 million.
Mattoo's gift will be used to establish the Nirmal and Augustina Mattoo Chair in Classical Indic Humanities.
The Chair will encompass a broad range of areas, including art, esthetics, ethics, linguistics, literature, literary theory, philosophy, religion, spirituality, psychology, sociopolitical theory, and allied disciplines, to which India has made seminal and influential contributions.
In recognition of Mattoo's leadership role in developing India Studies at Stony Brook, the Center for India Studies will be renamed the Bishem Barnath Mattoo and Sheela Mattoo Center for India Studies, in memory of his parents.
"These generous gifts from Mattoo and the Indian American community are building a solid foundation for growth of India Studies at Stony Brook," said Stony Brook University President Samuel L Stanley Jr.
"They will help Stony Brook attract outstanding scholars and talented students who recognise the significant role that India has played from ancient times in developing knowledge systems in a wide range of disciplines and its contemporary role as a major player in an increasingly interdependent global economy and world."
Nancy Squires, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University, expressed gratitude to all who have supported the Center over the years, and especially to Mattoo.
"This gift empowers the Bishembarnath Mattoo and Sheela Mattoo Center for India Studies to move into a new era of recognition and of service to the University, our students, and to the Indian community," said Squires.
The India Studies programme started on Stony Brook University campus in 1995 with just two courses taught by Professors S N Sridhar and Kamal K Sridhar.
With support from the Indian community and the backing of then President Shirley Strum Kenny, the Center for India Studies was founded in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1997.
