$1 million for Vedic education program at U of Massachusetts
PRESS RELEASE
August 17, 2008
$1 Million Endowment at UMass Dartmouth to Leverage Super Accelerated
Learning Techniques from Vedic Traditions for 21st Century Education
On Friday, August 15, as Indian students and community celebrated
India’s independence day UMass Dartmouth announced that the Three Rs
Foundation has pledged $1 million to support the university's Center
for Indic Studies to initiate an innovative educational pedagogy
rooted in India’s Vedic traditions. The donation will support the
Center's mission to connect the university, region and Commonwealth to
India's growing economy and world influence.
The announcement made with a celebration of India Independence Day
and featured presentations by students from India, and a guest speech
from Dr. Subramanian Swamy, visiting Harvard Professor and President
of Janata Party in India. "Our university, our students, and our
region are enriched by experiencing diverse cultures,'' Chancellor
MacCormack said. "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." Pandit
Ramadheen Ramsamooj, Director of Three Rs Foundation, said, "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. 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 emphasizes whole brain education.
Preceding the announcement, the Board of Governors of the Center for
Indic Studies unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding
with Three Rs Foundation.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Center, Mr. Rajiv
Malhotra, said that the accelerated learning movements across USA
regard Georgi Lozanov, a Bulgarian educator and neuroscientist, as
their founding father. What is seldom considered is that Lozanov had
studied traditional Vedic learning systems in India in the 1960s under
UNESCO programs, to figure out how Vedic pandits were able to memorize
and impeccably recite tens of thousands of verses. Malhotra said,
“Today, the Three R's Foundation is reviving that learning system
from its source, and creating a program which could be a breakthrough
even beyond Lozanov's. This deserves all our encouragement and support.”
Mr. Braham Agarwal from Orlando, Fl, the General Secretary of Indic
Governing Board agreed saying, “this is a good beginning for the
Center.” The Center for Indic Studies is planning several major
academic and scholarly initiatives in the coming years. In its Board
of Governors meeting, Dr. William Hogan suggested including graduate
education as part of the Three Rs Foundation’s agenda in Indic
Studies. He agreed with the Board Chairman’s suggestion to
distinguish Indic Studies from South Asian Studies, the latter being
adopted by many US universities for general area study that handicaps
them from getting into deeper understanding of Indic traditions and
values.
"An endowment of this size to bridge ancient civilization of India to
the most modern civilization of United States through education is a
most powerful statement to society,'' said Dr. Bal Ram Singh, director
of the Center of Indic Studies. "I am thrilled at this opportunity and
look forward to facilitating the engagement of my colleagues in this
educational mission."
With more than one billion people, India represents over 15 percent
of the world's population. Only China has a larger population. India's
median age is 25, one of the youngest among large economies. India and
the United States are the two largest democracies in the world. With
an average GDP growth of 7 percent over the last decade, India is one
of the fastest growing economies in the world. It is leveraging its
large number of well-educated and English-speaking people to become a
major exporter of software services and software workers. According
the U.S. Census Bureau India also now ranks 4th in Massachusetts as a
nation of origin of foreign born residents in 2006 with 40,000
residents of Massachusetts. In 2000, India ranked 9th, and in 1990 did
not rank in the top 10. India is the top country of origin for
international students on the UMass Dartmouth campus. This fall there
will be approximately 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. For more information, visit
http://www.umassd.edu/indic
UMass Dartmouth is located in North Dartmouth on the South Coast of
Massachusetts. 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 per year research enterprise is widely recognized for its
contributions to marine science, engineering, biotechnology, public
policy, education, business and management, nursing and social
science. The campus is also highly respected for its community
engagements, including a downtown arts campus in nearby New Bedford,
advanced technology center in Fall River and student community service
initiatives. For more information, visit www.umassd.edu
Indian students join the Endowment agreement signing ceremony.
Sitting on the chair (left to right) are Chancellor Jean MacCormack,
Pandit Ramsamooj, and Dr. Subramanian Swamy. Standing just behind them
are Dr. William Hogan, Dean of Arts and Sciences, Rajiv Malhotra,
President of Infinity Foundation and Chairman, Indic Center Board of
Governors, Bal Ram Singh, and Braham Agarwal, General Secretary,
Board of Governors.
Media coverage:
http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleS.php?id=082108063408
http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=5106
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080816/
NEWS/808160345
http://www.heraldnews.com/education/x1822517277/Indic-studies-program-
receives-1M-gift
UMass Dartmouth website:
http://www.umassd.edu/communications/articles/printversion.cfm?
a_key=2182
