Arihanta Institute Launches $1M Endowed Professorship in Vegan and Animal Advocacy
Arihanta Institute has launched its first endowed professorship since its founding in 2022. The $1 million fund will support a new role in vegan and animal advocacy studies. Named the Tīrthāṅkara Śreyāṃsanātha Endowment for Professorship in Vegan and Animal Advocacy Studies, it marks a major step in the institute’s mission to promote compassionate scholarship. The endowment was funded by Indian American philanthropists Drs. Jasvant and Meera Modi, alongside Dr. Namrata Patel. Dr. Jasvant Modi, known for his global contributions to Jain studies, has donated over $30 million to charitable causes in the U.S. and India. He emphasised that the initiative seeks to encourage empathy towards all living beings.
The professorship will operate under Arihanta Institute’s Vegan Studies Initiative, reinforcing its focus on veganism, ecology, and engaged Jain scholarship. The institute already offers online courses and public programmes in these areas. Prem Jain, chair of the fundraising committee, noted that the new role will expand educational efforts centred on animal welfare, environmental care, and social responsibility. Dr. Modi has long supported Jain studies through endowed chairs, fellowships, and research programmes at universities worldwide. This latest endowment continues that tradition, embedding vegan and animal advocacy into academic teaching and research.
The new professorship will enable Arihanta Institute to deepen its work in compassion-focused education. Teaching and scholarship in vegan and animal advocacy will now receive dedicated funding. The initiative reflects the institute’s broader commitment to fostering ethical engagement with animals and the environment.
