WASHINGTON, USA, Dec 1m 2015 (Indo-Asian News): An Indian-American couple has gifted $4.4 million to the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) of Berkeley to establish and endow the first Center for Dharma Studies in the US. Ajay and Mira Shingal chose the GTU for their historic gift because “this is a school that incorporates both deep scholarship and interest in the practice of religion.” “We understand the need for accredited scholars that can speak about Hinduism with authority in this country,” said the San Jose residents. Both have studied the sacred texts of Hinduism all of their lives and wish for others to be able to explore in depth the treasures of its sacred texts and philosophical principles.They believe the gift of education is one of the greatest gifts one generation can create for future generations, according to a media release.The Center will focus on leading edge, multidisciplinary, graduate research and teaching in Hindu Studies and Dharma Studies. The GTU currently offers a graduate certificate in Hindu Studies, MA and PhD degree concentrations in Hindu Studies, and courses in Jain Studies.
The Mira and Ajay Shingal DCF Centre for Dharma Studies will support and strengthen these programs, and is designed to include in the future other religions or systems of thought and practice that self-identify as dharma traditions.The Center will also host international conferences, produce resources for the benefit of the general public, and foster research on the resources of religion in engagement with major global challenges faced by humanity.
GTU offers the largest doctoral program in interreligious studies in the US. The new Center for Dharma Studies is the latest addition to a complex of more than twenty member schools and academic centers at the GTU that together focus on the major religious and wisdom traditions of the world.
See also: http://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/million-endowed-for-new-hindu-studies-program-in-berkeley-california/article_b8ce2150-9edb-11e5-8324-b30df7bd9a79.html