The University of Central Florida Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Global Perspectives Thursday, Sep 2nd 2010

The India Program

"Broadening awareness and understanding about India"

The India Program, supported by The Anil and Chitra Deshpande India Program Endowed Fund, is housed in the Department of Political Science of the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida. Established in 2007, it sponsors or co-sponsors public discussions involving prominent speakers, panels and other meetings; encourages scholarship and research; provides fellowships; and works with partners worldwide to broaden awareness and understanding about India. The program examines India in terms of politics, technology, communication, culture and religion, particularly as those issues relate to the country's rise in the 21st century. It also aims to promote understanding and expand relations between India and the United States. The idea for such a program at UCF was first advanced in 2002. Two years later, UCF led a Fulbright-Hays-funded project in India. Formal discussions for a program were launched in 2005, following the visit to the university by a high-level delegation of business and government leaders from India.

Anil Deshpande, president of Deshpande, Inc., is a businessman in the United States and India. He and his wife Chitra have supported UCF programs dealing with India and other international initiatives during the past several years.

The India Program Co-Directors

Roger Handberg
Department of Political Science
handberg@mail.ucf.edu
PH 302, 407-823-2608

John C. Bersia
Global Perspectives Office
jbersia@mail.ucf.edu
PH 202, 407-823-0688

The India Program Advisory Board

The India Program Events

2009-2010 - Selected Visitors, Speakers and Events Related to India
  • Asra Nomani, journalist and author of Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam (The Paradox of Women in Islam). A program conducted in cooperation with the Global Perspectives Office and other partners. September 24, 2009
  • President Abdul Kalam, former President of India (Technology for Global Transformation). A program conducted in cooperation with the Global Perspectives Office and other partners. October 22, 2009
  • Amitabh Pal, Co-Editor, The Progressive Media Project. (News Media in Transition: Trends and Future Prospects). A program conducted in cooperation with the Global Perspectives Office and other partners. January 21, 2010.
  • "India in Central Florida: Science & Technology Connections for Cultural Advancement from the Ancient to Modern World," Orlando Science Center. Date: January 28, 2010
  • Raj Patel, visiting scholar, Center for African Studies, University of California at Berkeley, and author of Stuffed and Starved: Markets, Power and the Hidden Battle for the World Food System (Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System). A program conducted in cooperation with the Global Perspectives Office and other partners. March 4, 2010
  • "Central Florida Global Economic Forum 2010: Inside the Chinese and Indian Markets," UCF. A regional forum sponsored by UCF Global Perspectives Office, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and the Global Connections Foundation, in partnership with UCF College of Business Administration, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, C.T. Hsu and Associates, OCI Associates Inc., The India Program at UCF, The Anil and Chitra Deshpande Foundation, LarsonAllen LLP, Junior Achievement of Central Florida, Inc., UCF Political Science Department and UCF LIFE, April 6, 2010.
  • Anupam Srivastava, Director of the Asia Program, Center for International Trade and Security, University of Georgia. A program conducted in cooperation with the Global Perspectives Office and other partners. April 6, 2010.
2008-2009 - Selected Visitors, Speakers and Events Related to India
  • Mira Kamdar, author of Planet India: The Turbulent Rise of the Largest Democracy and the Future of Our World (Risk and Reward in India's Booming Economy; multiple presentations at UCF and in the community).September 23, 2008
  • "America's Next President and the World," UCF. An international global issues conference in cooperation with the National Conference of Editorial Writers, The Anil and Chitra Deshpande Foundation, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, C.T. Hsu and Associates, LarsonAllen L.L.P., UCF Student Government Association, UCF College of Business Administration, UCF Diplomacy Program, UCF Middle Eastern Studies Program, The India Program at UCF, UCF Kurdish Political Studies Initiative, UCF Terrorism Studies Program, UCF Political Science Department, UCF International Services Center, UCF LIFE, Global Connections Foundation and other partners. November 6, 2008.
  • Chitra Divakaruni, acclaimed author of The Mistress of Spices and The Palace of Illusions. March 19, 2009.
  • South Asian Studies Association annual conference, UCF. An international, interdisciplinary academic conference in cooperation with the South Asian Studies Association and other partners. April 3- 5, 2009.
  • Ambassador Arun K. Singh, Deputy Chief of Mission and Acting Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Keynote Address to be given at the South Asian Studies Association Conference, April 4, 2009.
  • "Central Florida Global Forum 2009: Innovative Business Strategies for Turbulent Times," UCF. A regional forum sponsored by UCF Global Perspectives Office, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and the Global Connections Foundation, in partnership with UCF College of Business Administration, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, C.T. Hsu and Associates, OCI Associates Inc., The Anil and Chitra Deshpande Foundation, LarsonAllen LLP, Junior Achievement of Central Florida, Inc., UCF Political Science Department and UCF LIFE. April 9, 2009.
2007-2008 - Selected Visitors, Speakers and Events Related to India
  • "The India Cultural Series," a lecture program for UCF LIFE. October 2007.
  • "Emerging Powers: China and India," an international global issues conference, sponsored by the UCF Global Perspectives Office, the National Conference of Editorial Writers, C.T. Hsu & Associates, P.A., Engineering & Environmental Design, Inc., OCI Associates, Inc., the UCF College of Business Administration, the UCF Student Government Association, the UCF Diplomacy Program, the UCF Political Science Department, the UCF International Services Center, UCF LIFE, the Global Connections Foundation and other partners. November 5, 2007.
  • Shubhro Sen, Entrepreneur, Founder and Executive Director, Global Outsourcing Leadership Institute. November 5-6, 2007.
  • "The China and India Series," a lecture program for UCF LIFE. February 2008.
  • Tony D'Souza, author of The Konkans and Whiteman. February 6, 2008.
  • "Vedic Heritage for the Global Welfare of the Next Generation," the World Association for Vedic Studies Seventh International Conference, sponsored by the World Association for Vedic Studies, UCF Global Perspectives Office, The India Program at UCF and the Global Connections Foundation. June 27 - 29, 2008.
University of Central Florida,Global Perspectives Office, Howard Phillips Hall 202, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, P.O. Box 160003, Orlando, FL 32816-0003, U.S.A. - (407) 823-0688