GIVING BACK

Mani Bhaumik has established an annual International Award at the Institute of Neuroscience of the University of California for demonstrating the best evidence for conscious mind on healing. Most recently he is planning to institute a chair for studies towards the goal of deciphering the origin and the nature of existence of consciousness for improving the quality of our lives.

In June 2016 he made the largest ever donation of USD 11 million to UCLA’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. UCLA has honored him by establishing in perpetuitythe Mani L. Bhaumik Institute for Theoretical Physics, a center of excellence where physicists from all over the world will meet to create an atmosphere of excitement and enthusiasm for advancing the latest frontier of physics. Since 1999, Dr Bhaumik has been funding the education of brilliant but impoverished students from rural Bengal to study medicine, engineering and science. He has funded the fully air-conditioned auditorium at his alma mater Scottish Church College and started a library in his village. An educational foundation set up by him has recently acquired 15 acres of land in the heart of Kolkata to set up a world class IT-oriented research university. He has been providing funds to award merit scholarships every year at the three high schools he attended in India apart from donating generously to the building funds of Krishnaganj High School, Matangini Hazra Girls High School and Kanktya Community Center in West Bengal. He has been bestowed the Padma Shri by the Government of India as well as the Prabashi Bharatya Samman.

The great Greek philosopher Plato would be proud of where Mani Bhaumik is here today. The name, fame and glory that have become the renowned polymath’s constant companions are a result of hard work. He could not have got all this in one lifetime just by accident.