US university gets million dollar donation for Indic studies

New York, Aug 28 (UNI) University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has announced that the Three Rs Foundation has pledged 1 million dollars to support the university's center for Indic Studies. The donation will help the center's mission of connecting the university and its region to India's growing economy and its many cultures.

"Our university, our students, and our region are enriched by experiencing diverse cultures,'' Chancellor Jean F MacCormack said in an announcement."The history, art, music and religion of India hold important lessons for all of us as we strive to be better citizens of our own community and the world. On behalf of UMass Dartmouth, I thank the Three Rs Foundation for its exemplary generosity." On the occasion students from India, who are studying at the university, made several presentations on their country and the center. There was a guest lecture by Dr Subramanian Swamy, who is a visiting professor at Harvard University.

Pandit Ramadheen Ramsamooj, director of Three Rs Foundation, welcomed the development.

"We are excited to be part of this educational initiative that will allow UMass Dartmouth students to learn about India at a time when the information super highway and global economy are creating important East-West connections,'' he said. "Among our highest priorities is to develop innovative teaching strategies, rooted in Indian culture." The Three Rs Foundation is the lead sponsor of the Super Accelerated Learning Theory (SALT), a school model that emphasises education.

"An endowment of this size to bridge ancient civilization of India to the most modern civilization of United States through education is a powerful statement to society,'' said Dr Bal Ram Singh, director of the Center of Indic Studies. "I am thrilled at this opportunity and am looking forward to facilitating the engagement of my colleagues in this educational mission." Official figures indicated that India ranks fourth in Massachusetts as a nation of origin of foreign-born residents in 2006 with 40,000 residents of Massachusetts. In 2000, India ranked ninth. India is the top country of origin for International students on the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus. There are currently about 150 students from India on the campus.

The Center for Indic Studies was established in 2001 to disseminate understanding of issues relating to the arts, philosophy, culture, societal values and customs of India.

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is in North Dartmouth.

Established in 1895 and located on its current site since 1964, the university offers more than 60 undergraduate, Master's and Doctoral Degree programs to 9,000 students. Its 21 million dollars annual research enterprise is widely recognised for its contributions to marine science, engineering, public policy, education, business and management, nursing and social science.

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