Daniels' trip takes Purdue-India relationship to new level
November 6, 2015
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On Oct. 30, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi hosted a panel discussion, "Reimagining the Future." Participants, from left, included Suresh Garimella, Anupam Jalote, Mitch Daniels, Alok B. Shriram, Richard Rahul Verma and Rubina Mittal. (Photo contributed) |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A Purdue University delegation's trip, led by President Mitch Daniels, to Mumbai and New Delhi on Oct. 28-31 promises to take the university's relationship with India to a new level.
“This was an important trip to make in view of the wonderfully successful alumni and the strong demand we see from highly qualified students in both locations," Daniels said. "It was especially meaningful to receive such a warm welcome from hundreds of Boilermaker alumni who now have careers in industry, government and academia and are eager to strengthen the ties between Purdue and their home country."
Accompanying Daniels were Suresh Garimella, Purdue executive vice president for research and partnerships and Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering; Mary Dennis, vice president for international alumni programs at the Purdue Alumni Association; and Cheryl Altinkemer, associate vice president of advancement for the Purdue Research Foundation.
While in India, Daniels announced a new Purdue-India Executive Council, which will serve as a high-level advisory board to the university on its strategic engagement with the country. The seven inaugural council members are all Purdue alumni: Bharat Ratna C N R Rao, chemist and head of Prime Minister Modi's Scientific Advisory Council and professor and founding director of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR); Habil Khorakiwala, founder, chairman and Group CEO of Wockhardt Limited; Venu Srinivasan, chairman of Sundaram-Clayton Group; G V Prasad, CEO of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories; G V Sanjay Reddy, vice chairman of GVK Industries; Madhavi Desai, founder and CEO of Madhavi Desai Consulting; and Bhargav Kotadia, executive director of Shahajand Group and liaison to the Purdue Alumni India Network.
On Oct. 30 at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi, Daniels participated in a panel discussion, "Reimagining the Future," at the invitation of PHD Chamber President Alok B. Shriram. Garimella moderated the discussion and Richard Verma, U.S. ambassador to India, participated in the panel and made closing remarks. Anupam Jalote, CEO of GreenOil Energy Sciences, who received his master's in business administration from Purdue (2002), and Rubina Mittal, co-chair of the education committee of the PHD Chamber, were also panelists. More than 350 alumni, industry leaders, academic leaders and students attended the event.
At an alumni reception and dinner on Oct. 30 in New Delhi, President Daniels presented Rudra "Rudy" Shriram, who received his bachelor's degree in management in 2013, the Purdue Alumni Association's 2015 Distinguished Young Alumni Award. This was the first time the award has been presented to an international alumnus living outside the United States.
Daniels and Garimella attended an event with more than 150 alumni on Oct. 28 in Mumbai, at which Daniels moderated an alumni panel discussion. Panelists included Executive Council members Khorakiwala and Reddy, and Ritu Nanda, partner in the Alok Nanda Co., who received a master's degree in agriculture (1985) from Purdue.
Daniels also announced the next speaker in the C N R Rao India-Purdue Collaborative Lecture Series that was launched last year. The 2016 C N R Rao distinguished speaker will be Rex Reklaitis, Purdue’s Burton and Kathryn Gedge Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering.
"The discussions and interactions we had during this trip were incredibly beneficial to us as we examine ways to enhance our partnerships in India," Garimella said. "It also was a reminder of how many successful alumni we have in India and the important presence and recognition we already have there."
News Service contact: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu
Sources: Mitch Daniels, president@purdue.edu
Suresh Garimella, sureshg@purdue.edu
