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Guru Krupa Foundation endows South Asian Studies series at Stony Brook
New lecture series will support Sanskrit scholarship, visiting researchers and public programs on South Asian cultural traditions.
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Malvika Choudhary - Sat, 23, May 2026
- 18:06 EDT
- 20
Guru Krupa Foundation / guru-krupa.org
A new endowment at State University of New York at Stony Brook will support lectures, workshops and visiting scholars focused on Sanskrit and South Asian cultural traditions.
The Guru Krupa Foundation, led by founder and president Mukund Padmanabhan, has established the endowment within the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.
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The Guru Krupa Foundation Lecture Series in South Asian Studies will support lectures, workshops, visiting scholars and short-term instructional opportunities aimed at advancing the study and public understanding of Sanskrit, South Asian languages and related literary and cultural traditions.
The foundation said the gift reflects its commitment to preserving ancient and traditional knowledge.
“Hindu culture is one of the world’s oldest, and its scriptures contain profound ideas encoded in Sanskrit,” Padmanabhan 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.”
The endowed lecture series will be supported further through the New York state endowment match program and the Simons Infinity Investment Match Challenge, which are expected to expand resources for speakers, events and academic programming.
“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.”
Padmanabhan said he hopes the initiative will encourage international collaboration in the study of 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.”
Eriko Sato, chair of the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies, said the gift aligns closely with the department’s academic mission.
“Sanskrit and South Asian cultural studies are essential to understanding the foundations of world civilization,” Sato said. “This gift allows us to bring leading scholars to campus, enrich our curriculum and inspire the next generation of researchers.”
Padmanabhan and the Guru Krupa Foundation have previously contributed nearly $1 million to Stony Brook, supporting scholarships for medical students at the Renaissance School of Medicine, cancer research initiatives and programs at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.
“We believe education is one of the most powerful tools to improve lives,” Padmanabhan said. “Whether it’s training future doctors or supporting scholars of ancient knowledge, investing in students has a profound and lasting impact.”
The Guru Krupa Foundation, a New York-based philanthropic organization founded by Mukund Padmanabhan, has funded educational, cultural and social welfare initiatives in both India and the United States since 2007.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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