On September 19, 2011, the University of Florida launched the first academic program on Gujarat Studies. Focusing on the larger Gujarat Region Culture (GuRCul) as well as global Gujarati culture, it will be the first systematic academic program encouraging the study, dissemination, and public understanding of the many facets of the land and the people, including religion, history, archeology, poetry, language and literature, dances, folk theatre, etc.

Dr. Paul D'Anieri, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, officially inaugurated this program; Dr. Dinesh O. Shah, First Charles Stokes Professor of Chemical Engineering, presided over the event; and Dr. Neelima Shukla-Bhatt, Asst. Professor, Wellesley College, gave the inaugural talk on Gujarat's adi kavi, Narsi Mehta, and how his song, Vaishnava Janato, has become a universal anthem. The talk was followed by a panel of speakers including Dr. Dinesh Shah, Dr .Whitney Sanford, Dr. Nicole Karapanagiotis, and Caleb Simmons who addressed the significance of Gujarat in the study of Global Indian Culture. The program was started by Dr .Vasudha Narayanan, Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Religion, and Director, Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions (CHiTra) at the University of Florida.

In his comments, Dean Paul D'Anieri spoke about the importance of the state of Gujarat in the international arena as well as how this could be a way in which the public could understand India.

Dr. Vasudha Narayanan listed the many reasons why Gujarat should be studied in a university setting and said that this rich culture and the its contributions were under represented in academia. With one foot in the Indus Valley Civilization, Gujarat had its other foot in the twenty-first century and is one of the most modern, industrialized states in India.

Gujarat is also the gateway of India, she said; The world came to Gujarat; the many ports of Gujarat, including Bharuch, Khambat, and Surat, connected India with the rest of the world from Europe to Africa to Indonesia. And Gujaratis have gone to different parts of the world. Today, millions of Gujaratis live all over the world. They have made extensive contributions to countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Many people in USA, Britain, and Canada, know India through Gujarati friends, doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

The program is just in the beginning stages. Dr. Shah ended the meeting with challenge and said he would contribute $100,000 of his hard earned money towards this program if the Gujarati community and friends could contribute $200,000 towards the endowment at the University of Florida. Dr. Narayanan announced that a donor who wished to remain anonymous had already pledged $50,000 towards this cause. Dr. Shah urged people of Gujarat to be part of this historic moment and contribute whatever they could for this important program.

For further information about the Gujarat Region Culture Program at the University of Florida, please contact:
Dr. Vasudha Narayanan 352.392.1625 or Dr. Dinesh O. Shah.

Contributions can be made payable to:
"UF Foundation"
UF CLAS Development, Re: Gujarati Studies
PO Box  117300
Gainesville, FL 32611.

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
2014 Turlington Hall | P.O. Box  117300 | Gainesville, FL 32611

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