The formal inauguration of Canada-India Center of Excellence in Science, Technology and Policy, Carleton University, Ottawa will coincide with India's Independence Day, August 15.
The center has received donations from Indo-Canadians in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.
Barj Dhahan of the Sandhurst Group, Vancouver, and his wife Rita have donated $ 115,000 for the center. Donations have also been made by members of their extended family. Harjinder Dhahan, Ajit and Manjit Thandi, Gurtek and Kuljinder Shoker, Sarup and Inderjit Mann, and others have together donated $ 642,000.
"We were amongst the pioneers of the education partnership between Canada and India," Barj said. "As a family we have always been very passionate about education and learning and providing opportunities to people to come together for a good cause and good works. We thought it would be a wonderful thing to establish Canada-India Center in the capital. Many members of the faculty at Carleton are former diplomats, civil servants and politicians who have perspectives on policies that affect not only Canadians, but Canada's relationship with countries like India. We thought what a unique way to be involved with Carleton and really focus attention on Canada-India relations."
"It is dedicated to improving trade, science, education, etc. between the two countries," he said. "We are working to raise some more money from Vancouver."
The Indian Government is also actively involved in this project. This is the first time that New Delhi has made a major financial commitment, $ 200,000 annually for the next 10 years, for such a center.
Toronto residents Sudhir Handa and his wife Ruth have donated over $ 500,000 for the center. "In the past the problem has been that Canadian universities would take the money from the communities, but run their programs without any participation of the donors," Handa said, adding that won't happen in case of this center at Carleton.
He said the center would have a 12-member board of directors of which "seven will be from the donors' group and the Indian high commission in Ottawa will also be on the board."
"We all know India has lot of problems, but India also has lot of good things," he added. "We wanted to make sure that there's control of the donors in running the center and that our money doesn't go haywire."
Carleton University President Roseann O'Reilly Runte said she was happy that the official opening of the center would be August 15, but added, "We will not be moving in yet for a while."
"We are very grateful to Dhahan for his personal generosity and for his leadership in the community. His support of our national center is key in linking research and economic development to the benefit of both Canada and India," she said, adding that the university was still raising funds for the center.
Carleton has been actively working towards engaging Indian universities. Runte has gone to India five times to sign memoranda of understanding with Indian institutions for exchange programs, joint degree courses, etc.
