The Asia Research Institute (ARI) at the National university of Singapore (NUS) on Tuesday announced the establishment of the Nalanda Endowed Professorship in India–China Studies.
“The professorship seeks to promote research and education on India-China relations—specifically, the political, economic, historical and cultural interactions between India and China—with the overarching goal to shape policy and deepen societal understanding in the interdisciplinary field,” the ARI said in a statement. (NUS)
Established in 2001, the ARI is a university-level institute bringing together scholars with a focus on historical and contemporary research on Asia, facilitating cutting-edge scholarship in the social sciences and humanities, as well as interdisciplinary research.
“This is an exciting and timely development,” Prof, Jack Meng-Tat Chia, chair of the NUS Buddhist Studies Group told BDG. “The establishment of the Nalanda Professorship in India–China Studies will not only strengthen research and teaching on India–China relations at NUS, but also significantly advance the field of Buddhist studies, given Buddhism’s historical role as a vital conduit of intellectual and cultural exchange between the two civilizations. The professorship embodies the enduring spirit of Nalanda in fostering cross-cultural understanding, sustained scholarly engagement, and the pursuit of knowledge across disciplinary and geographical boundaries.”
The new chair has been made possible by an endowment of S$3 million (US$2.2 million) from the Nalanda Library Fund Ltd (NLFL), which was originally founded to collect donations for the Nalanda University Library in India, providing facilities for study, research, and teaching.
NLFL trustee and former Singapore government minister George Yeo formally presented the endowment to the ARI on 8 April, noting that the funding was made possible with “support among Singaporeans, especially members of the Buddhist community.” Yeo also shared that the trustees had expressed a wish that one of the key tasks of the new professorship would be to publish an encyclopedia on India-China interactions over the centuries, adding: “For India-China Studies, Buddhism is an obvious area deserving of a few volumes.”
Yeo presented the gift to ARI director Prof. Tim Bunnell in a ceremony witnessed by NUS president Prof. Tan Eng Chye.
“This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to illuminating the deep history and contemporary significance of India-China relations and advancing this field of research,” Prof Tan observed. “By promoting study of the many ways in which India and China have influenced each other over long centuries, this Nalanda Endowed Professorship will contribute to advancing understanding between the two countries in ways that serve as ballast for regional stability and prosperity today and into the future.” (NUS)
The ARI said the scholar appointed to the chair for a fixed term would spearhead original research on India-China relations, lead initiatives to digitize and archive original materials related to historical research on India-China ties and their regional influence, mentor graduate students, and contribute to broader discourse in the field by engaging with academics, policymakers, and the public.
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The Asia Research Institute (NUS)
NUS Asia Research Institute receives S$3 million gift to establish the Nalanda Endowed Professorship in India-China Studies (NUS News)
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