NEW YORK (Diya TV) — O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has launched the Motwani Jadeja Institute for American Studies (MJIAS) in a landmark event held July 19 in New York City. The new institute will serve as a dynamic hub for research, public policy, education, and cultural exchange between India and the United States.

The Motwani Jadeja Foundation, led by Silicon Valley philanthropist Asha Jadeja Motwani, provided a $5 million endowment to establish the institute. It stands as one of the largest philanthropic contributions to JGU and a significant investment in American Studies in India. The institute honors the late Professor Rajeev Motwani, a renowned Indian American computer scientist and Stanford professor known for mentoring the founders of Google.

Professor C. Raj Kumar, founding vice chancellor of JGU, welcomed the guests and described the launch as more than just the opening of a new academic unit. He called MJIAS “a powerful symbol of academic diplomacy” and emphasized that it would foster critical thinking, innovation, and leadership grounded in democratic values.

“This Institute is a tribute to the pioneering brilliance of Professor Rajeev Motwani and the extraordinary generosity and vision of Asha Jadeja,” Kumar said. “MJIAS will be a bridge—between India and the United States, between technology and humanities, and between policy and innovation.”

Delivering the foundational address, Asha Jadeja Motwani highlighted her vision for MJIAS. She said the world stands at an “inflection point” and stressed the need for ethical, empathetic, and globally aware leadership.

“We are building a platform that fosters dialogue, disrupts outdated systems, and inspires fearless experimentation,” Motwani said. She announced several upcoming initiatives, including India-U.S. student fellowships, start-up accelerators, and visiting professorships to promote cross-border learning.

Professor Mohan Kumar, former Indian ambassador to France and MJIAS’s founding director-general, laid out the institute’s long-term strategy. He said the institute would focus on pressing global issues such as geopolitics, digital governance, trade, technology, and defense.

“Our goal is to strengthen the India-U.S. strategic partnership and ring-fence it from geopolitical uncertainty,” Kumar said.

Top U.S. legal scholars Professor Jayanth Krishnan of Indiana University and Professor Sital Kalantry of Seattle University praised MJIAS for its interdisciplinary approach. They emphasized its role in supporting liberal values, democratic norms, and global citizenship.

Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York, lauded the institute as a timely and vital addition to the India-U.S. relationship. He said institutions like MJIAS reflect the spirit of “knowledge diplomacy.”

“This Institute will deepen our strategic partnership through research, policy dialogue, and people-to-people connections,” Pradhan said.

The launch event featured the release of the JGU Sustainable Development Report 2025, authored by Professor Padmanabha Ramanujam, Dean of Academic Governance. The report maps JGU’s alignment with all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Justice Michael Wilson, former Supreme Court judge in Hawaii and a distinguished professor at JGU, praised the report as a model of institutional sustainability for global academia.

The evening concluded with a Distinguished Public Lecture. Justice U.U. Lalit, former Chief Justice of India, spoke about the role of education in preserving constitutional democracy. He said universities must teach students not just knowledge but also conscience and courage.

Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Tamil Nadu’s IT Minister, followed with a keynote on data governance, AI ethics, and digital innovation. He called for stronger partnerships between universities and governments to promote inclusive technology and evidence-based policymaking.

Professor R. Sudarshan, Dean of JGU’s School of Government & Public Policy, moderated the lecture and highlighted the unique blend of law, policy, and technology reflected in MJIAS’s mission.

In his closing remarks, Professor Akhil Bhardwaj, Vice Dean of International Affairs, called the launch “a milestone moment” and urged academic institutions worldwide to take bold and globally connected steps.

With MJIAS, JGU aims to strengthen U.S.-India ties through academic leadership, cultural collaboration, and cutting-edge research. The institute promises to become a vital platform for shaping the next generation of changemakers across borders.