In 2018-19 he was President of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), a prestigious body that brings under its aegis all Indian universities—conventional, open, deemed, state, central, private—and institutes of national importance. In addition to Indian universities, the AIU includes 13 universities and institutions from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Thailand, UAE and U.K., nations that are associate members of the AIU.

Inspiration comes in many forms. Outside the sphere of education and business—topics on which we’re carrying several items—philanthropy does inspire. American historian Mary Ritter Beard said that “the results of philanthropy are always beyond calculation.” Indeed they are. Washington D.C.-based Indian American Sonny Kakkar bought an old FedEx truck, painted it orange, and now operates it as a ‘Seva Truck’, sending out free meals to local communities, including schools and work organizations, in need. Kakkar’s philosophy is simple—he hopes that there won’t be a need for such a truck going forward since he believes that society would learn to reach out on its own to one another, especially to those marginalized. If that happens, hunger would meet its end. His initiative over the last three years has expanded to feed over 20,000 people, an increase of 30 per cent since he ventured out.

Hope you have a good time navigating through our magazine. Have a great New Year ahead.

(sayantanc@gmail.com)