A generous gift of $5 million was made to the India studies centre at Stony Brook University’ a New York University on the occasion of India’s 66th Independence Day. It is one of the largest donations ever made to a public university for India Studies in the U.S.
Aimed at making the India Study Center one of the pre-eminent resource centers for the study of Indian culture and civilization in the U.S., a donation of $1.25 million was made by Nirmal K. Mattoo, a leading nephrologist and chairman of the Centre for India Studies executive committee. Along with him members of the Indian American community and Simons Foundation Challenge Grant made a permanent endowment of $1.25 million and $2.5 million respectively. Mattoo's gift will be used to establish the Nirmal and Augustina Mattoo Chair in Classical Indic Humanities.
"These generous gifts from Dr. Mattoo and the Indian American community are building a solid foundation for growth of India Studies at Stony Brook," says Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., MD."They will help Stony Brook attract outstanding scholars and talented students who recognize 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," he adds.
The Centre for India Studies which was started in 1995 with just two courses today teaches more than 30 courses to over 1500 students. In recognition of Mattoo’s leadership role in developing India Studies the center will be renamed as Bishembamath Matto and Sheela Matto Centre for India Studies in memory of his parents.
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