Guru Krupa Foundation Invests in the Future of Sanskrit and South Asian Studies

The Guru Krupa Foundation, led by founder and President Mukund Padmanabhan, PhD, has made a new gift establishing an endowment to support the Guru Krupa Foundation Lecture Series in South Asian Studies at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. The series will be housed in the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and will support lectures, workshops, visiting scholars and short‑term instructional opportunities that advance the study and public understanding of Sanskrit, South Asian languages and South Asian cultural and literary traditions.

The gift reflects a deeply held commitment to one of the foundation’s core pillars: preserving ancient and traditional knowledge, explained Padmanabhan. “Hindu culture is one of the world’s oldest, and its scriptures contain profound ideas encoded in Sanskrit,” he said. “Over the centuries, much of that knowledge has been lost. Supporting scholars who study these texts and the language in which they were written helps ensure that what remains is preserved, understood and shared.”

“An endowed lecture series in South Asian Studies, with a particular emphasis on Sanskrit and South Asian culture and literature, will play a vital role in advancing the study of these rich literary and philosophical traditions while supporting both the Mattoo Center for India Studies and the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies,” said Sthaneshwar Timalsina, interim director of the Mattoo Center for India Studies and Nirmal K. and Augustina Mattoo Chair of Classical Indic Humanities in the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies. “This initiative will raise the visibility of our work and deepen engagement with distinguished scholars in the field. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Guru Krupa Foundation and to Dr. Mukund Padmanabhan for their generous support.”

The endowed lecture series, which will be amplified by the New York state match and the Simons Infinity Investment, will provide resources for speakers, event support and promotion, creating a platform for global scholarly exchange. Padmanabhan hopes the series will spark new insights into ancient Indian science, philosophy and cultural traditions. “My hope is that this series fosters collaboration among researchers from around the world,” he said. “If we can rediscover even a fraction of what has been forgotten, it could enrich our understanding of humanity, much like practices such as yoga, rooted in ancient texts, have done.”

“This endowed lecture series strengthens Stony Brook’s role as a center for global scholarship,” said David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of history. “Dr. Padmanabhan’s generosity will expand opportunities for our students and faculty while deepening understanding of South Asian traditions that have shaped human thought for millennia.”

Eriko Sato, chair of the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies, noted how closely the gift aligns with the department’s mission. “Sanskrit and South Asian cultural studies are essential to understanding the foundations of world civilization,” she said. “This gift allows us to bring leading scholars to campus, enrich our curriculum and inspire the next generation of researchers.”

Padmanabhan’s support for Stony Brook is longstanding. Through the Guru Krupa Foundation, he has contributed nearly $1 million to the university, creating the Guru Krupa Foundation Endowed Scholarship for medical students in the Renaissance School of Medicine, and advancing the Kavita and Lalit Bahl Endowed Cancer Center Directorship and funding other initiatives at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. “We believe education is one of the most powerful tools to improve lives,” he said. “Whether it’s training future doctors or supporting scholars of ancient knowledge, investing in students has a profound and lasting impact.”

For Padmanabhan, expanding the foundation’s support at Stony Brook was a natural next step. “Stony Brook has the breadth of programs – from medicine to the humanities – that align with our educational and cultural priorities,” he said. “We’re proud to help strengthen a university that is already doing so much to advance knowledge.”

Funding for the Guru Krupa Foundation Lecture Series in South Asian Studies is amplified by both the New York State endowment match program and the Simons Infinity Investment Match Challenge, which will triple the impact this endowment gift will have on Stony Brook. For more information, visit stonybrook.edu/endowments. If you have interest in or questions about endowments, contact Danielle Holton, associate vice president, medicine advancement at (631) 444-8305 or danielle.holton@stonybrookmedicine.edu. 

– Christine McGrath