[ad_1]
Houston in 1996, in Texas, in the United States, by Mehta brothers – Nisha, Rahul, Jainesh, and Dharmesh – in honor of his parents Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta, Mehta Family Foundation (MFF) is a top philanthropic force today, which is going to strengthen India’s knowledge through education.
With conviction that scientific and technical excellence is important for national progress, MFF partners today to install with top IITs Interdisciplinary school Focus on data science, biocheness, AI, health tech and sustainability.
Currently more than 1,400 students enrolled in IITs Madras, Collaborative model Goes beyond traditional funding. Under the leadership of CEO Rahul Mehta, it shapes the programs, recruits faculty, and aligns with long -term national goals.
Rahul Mehta talked to announce two new schools in IIT Indore on 22 July in India Livamint The visit to the Mehta Family Foundation, the status of academic philanthropy in India and the road ahead. Excerpt from interview:
Q: Can you tell us about your background and how did the Mehta Family Foundation start?
A: I left India when I was 17 years old. I did not come from a rich or highly educated family – my parents had no formal education. But I worked hard, started many companies, and after selling my first one, I had more money as I thought I would need. I decided to start the foundation. I always believe that i’m just one Steward of this money-My goal was to give it meaningfully.
‘Philanthropist travel focuses on education’
Initially, I donated to small non -profit organizations, here $ 500, even $ 1,000, even Indian charitiesBut over time, I realized that I needed to decide to donate where I felt the deepest effect. Then my philanthropist travel became more focused on education and institution-building.
Question: What was the first major project you fund in India?
A: It started around 2005-06. On a trip to Aurobindo ashramI stayed in IIT Madras and the then director Dr. Talked with Kasturrangan. We discussed his vision, and due to which the school of biochenes was built and Bio engineering– The first school I funded.
Later, in 2010, they returned seeking support to expand the lab space, animal hub and Research infrastructureWhich became our second project in IIT Madras. So we have supported two major projects there.
Question: How did you choose the areas of focus- Bio, AI, stability?
A: I saw trends in American Academia. In the early 2000s, half of the engineering faculty in the US was focusing on healthcare and bio. But the Indian complexes had not yet considered biochenesses – they still offered traditional topics such as mechanical or chemical engineering.
Similarly, I saw that Indian institutions AI and data were slow to adopt data science. In 2018-19, I hosted a meeting with several IIT directors in Delhi, in which no one was interested in pitching data science and AI schools. then came Puffy And suddenly everyone saw its relevance. The same is now happening with stability.
I was insisting on formal education at this place for the last three years. We clearly need a new generation of talent Trained in stability.
Question: You are talking about 12,000 deep-tech graduate targets. What does it mean?
A: In eight schools we have funded so far, each school usually includes BTech, MTECH and PHD programs. There is a specific school:
● 40-60 btech seats per year → 160-240 BTech Students in Stable State
● 50-75 master students
● 100-150 PhD students
Each school supports around 300–400 students. With eight schools, it is more than 3,000 students in stable-state enrollment-equal to the size of a new IIT. If you project it in 10 years, it connects more than 10,000–12,000 graduates, which is important for India’s intellectual and innovation capacity.
Question: Are these schools integrated in the current IIT or independent?
A: They are integrated within the current IIT, but are independently funded and branded – like Mehta Family School of Data Science and AISo far, we have supported biochenes, AI and sustainability schools. Each has the faculty, courses and their own set of students.
Question: What is your long -term vision for foundation in India?
A: To help India create an important mass of intellectual talent in future-critical fields. For example, a school in stability is not enough. We probably need three or four. Public health is another area that I want to enter. Idea Long-term capacity creation is to see-only short-term program.
Question: There are specific challenges in establishing these departments in India?
A: Many. The philanthropic ecosystem is not mature like the West. In India, people still ask: “Why do you want to give us money?” The university often does not know how to write proposals.
’18 months or more time takes’
Even when they agree, internal processes such as the approval of the Senate, faculty alignment, course design – it takes 18 months or more time. Conversely, if I offer money Harvard, I get a proposal in 24 hours, and they fly to meet me.
Question: So is it a 10+ year commitment to the construction of each department?
A: Absolutely. Planning, course design, faculty recruitment, first to graduate the batch-this is a decade long journey easily. But it requires strategic philanthropy: meditation, patience and long -term commitment.
Question: How do you assess the effect of your work – what do you live?
A: Student. When I visit the premises, I meet them in classrooms and ask about their lives. Most come from small cities that I never heard about. Many people are first in their family going to college. getting a job post graduation Changes his life – and his family.
This is what keeps me walking. A student’s change is enough to justify all efforts. But here, we are talking about thousands.
Question: Do you worry about the brain drain – will these students live in India?
A: I do not decide this. They should do what is best for them. But global Forces are shifting – many will live in India as opportunities are increasing here. The goal is to empower them wherever they are.
Question: Where does India stand in innovation economy today?
A: We are just starting. Our innovation capacity has to be scored extensively. Take healthcare-MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, America is more cancer researchers than all over India. In battery tech, China and America are far ahead. We should build deep talent pools in these areas to compete. You cannot make new without talent.
You cannot make new without talent.
Question: And where do you see philanthropy from here in India?
A: It’s getting better. Compared to 2006, people now welcome more, appreciate more. But strategic philanthropy is still rare. Many want quick victory – like the construction of educational institutions, the real impact, takes 15–20 years. You have to choose a mission and stick to it. This is what we are doing.
[ad_2]
