Latest news with #LodhaFoundation
Hindustan Times
08-08-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
The arithmetic of philanthropy: Lodha Foundation to set up India's 1st privately funded maths institute in Mumbai
MUMBAI: Next weekend, some of the top mathematicians from around the world, including a Fields Medal winner or two, will converge in Mumbai to inaugurate the country's first privately-funded institute dedicated to mathematical sciences in recent years. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Chennai Mathematical Institute which had started as private institutions are now part of government-run educational and research institutions. The arithmetic of philanthropy: Lodha Foundation to set up India's 1st privately funded maths institute in Mumbai The August 17 inaugural symposium marks the start of the Lodha Mathematical Institute of Sciences (LMIS), the brainchild of Abhishek Lodha, chief executive officer, Lodha Group. Describing mathematics as the universal language of progress, the Lodha Foundation spearheading the initiative said: 'From error-correcting codes in satellite communications to computational geometry in robotic vacuum cleaners; from encrypted electronic transactions to topological analysis in big data, what started as mathematical innovations has now become a part of daily life. Mathematics is the stem cell of innovation—adaptable, foundational and far-reaching.' Renowned mathematician Vijaya Kumar Murty, former director of The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences, Toronto, and known for his significant contributions to number theory and arithmetic geometry, will head the institute. A 12-member scientific advisory panel comprising leading mathematicians from both India and overseas will steer LMIS in the direction of emerging as a leader in both fundamental and applied mathematical research. Among them is Manjul Bhargava, mathematics professor at Princeton University who won the Fields Medal in 2014 for his groundbreaking work on arithmetic statistics. Among the advisors to the institute are another Fields Medal winner Ngo Bao Chau, who teaches at the University of Chicago, Sourav Chatterjee and Yakov Eliashberg from Stanford and Kavita Ramanan from Brown. To begin, LMIS, based out of the Lodhas' residential and commercials complex at New Cuffe Parade, Wadala, will organise six-month-long thematic programmes. Bhargava will lead the first thematic programme on arithmetic statistics that is scheduled to start later this month. LMIS also plans to organise an annual Indian Congress of Mathematicians and hold lecture series on various topics in pure and applied mathematics. It's not yet clear how many applicants the institute will be taking initially or how it will proceed to grow. 'Abhishek is excellent at mathematics and he even finds the time to teach the subject to his three children after he is back from work. When he told us (Abhishek's father is Maharashtra skill development minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha) that he wanted to start a maths institute in the city, we gave him our full support. It was his plan that some of the world's best mathematicians should collaborate with LMIS to undertake research,' said Manju Lodha, chairperson, Lodha Foundation and Abhishek's mother. It was on Diwali last year that the Lodha Group announced that it would transfer a significant part of its shareholding in Macrotech Developers Ltd, the listed company, to the Lodha Philanthropy Foundation (LPF). With an initial corpus of ₹20,000 crore (US$2.5 billion), setting up a mathematics institute was listed among the foundation's four initiatives. 'Abhishek decided that he would contribute this massive amount from his shares to the Foundation,' Manju Lodha told HT. 'Only five to seven families in India have so far done so. Traditionally, intelligent children from India head overseas to study and work. Through LMIS, Abhishek wants Indians to return and work for India.' Professor Shrikrishna Dani, eminent mathematician from TIFR, who is also an invitee to the symposium, said, 'Developments in mathematical sciences have been at the foundation of the dramatic societal progress in recent centuries, and continue to be ever more relevant in our times. Massive investment of effort and funds focussed on research in mathematical sciences is called for to stay abreast. It is important to transcend the conventional framework in terms of programmes and institution-building to achieve this. The founding of the Lodha Mathematical Sciences Institute is a welcome development in this context. One hopes that this will prove to be a harbinger for further endeavours to promote mathematical sciences in various ways.' Scientific advisory panel Vikraman Balaji, Chennai Mathematical Institute, Manjul Bhargava, Princeton University Sourav Chatterjee, Stanford University Yakov Eliashberg, Stanford University François Labourie, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis Alexander Lubotzky, Weizmann Institute of Science Mahan Mj, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Siddhartha Mishra, ETH Zurich Ngô Bảo Châu, University of Chicago Parimala Raman, Emory University Kavita Ramanan, Brown University Ravi Vakil, President, American Mathematical Society, Stanford University
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
SCREEN launches SCREEN Academy: Will identify, nurture Indian Cinema's most exciting voices of the future
The Indian Express Group and SCREEN announced Wednesday the launch of SCREEN Academy, a pioneering not-for-profit initiative that will nurture and showcase exciting new voices in Indian cinema. With an exciting and fast-growing list of diverse members including Cannes and Oscar winners, Guneet Monga, Payal Kapadia and Resul Pookutty, and veteran screenwriter Anjum Rajabali, the Academy, working with India's top film institutes, will identify and empower the next generation of filmmakers through education, representation, and recognition. Established with the generous support of Founding Patron Abhishek Lodha of the Lodha Foundation, SCREEN Academy will annually provide postgraduate fellowships to students nominated by their film schools, who demonstrate exceptional storytelling potential but lack the financial resources to pursue formal film education. For details of the application process visit Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis said the timing and the location couldn't be more relevant. 'The film industry has an inseparable association with Mumbai. I am thrilled to learn of the inception of the not-for-profit SCREEN Academy by The Indian Express Group. I am certain that the Indian film industry will benefit immensely from the new filmmaking talent the academy aims to cultivate.' Said Anant Goenka, Executive Director of The Indian Express Group, who steered the idea of the Academy: 'SCREEN Academy represents a bold step toward institutionalising excellence in the entertainment and culture space. We will create an ecosystem that not only celebrates excellence but actively nurtures diverse and promising talent with both financial aid and access.' For Abhishek Lodha, the Academy's work is key to India's soft power and growth as a global leader in the creative arts. 'The Lodha Foundation is committed to supporting India's progress to becoming a developed nation by 2047. Films and creative arts are a key strength of our nation and the SCREEN Academy will play an important role in furthering India's progress to a global leader in this field. The Lodha Foundation is pleased to partner with the SCREEN Academy in this ambitious initiative.' Academic Excellence and Industry Integration The SCREEN Academy Fellowships 2025 will cover full financial support for postgraduate studies at premier institutions, Film and Television Institute of India (Pune), Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (Kolkata), and Whistling Woods International (Mumbai). The Academy plans to expand its footprint across the country and add more film schools going forward. Beyond funding, SCREEN Academy fellows will benefit from an unprecedented industry mentorship programme featuring India's top studios and most respected film professionals as Academy members. These industry leaders will provide masterclasses, internships, and ongoing professional guidance. Said Dhiraj Singh, Director, Film and Television Institute of India: 'SCREEN is a very respected name in film journalism. FTII is very happy that a meaningful collaboration is taking shape. I am sure students and the industry will benefit greatly with this scholarship program.' Samiran Dutta, Director in charge of the Satyajit Ray institute, said the fellowships will plug a vital gap. 'We have talent from diverse and unknown parts of India, not only from urban metros, producing great ideas and fabulous stories. Understandably, some of our students find it difficult to negotiate the expenditure of film education. The SCREEN Academy fellowship will help in their quest to make great cinema' 'At Whistling Woods International, we believe that access to quality education can transform lives. This scholarship, in collaboration with the SCREEN Academy, ensures that financial constraints do not come in the way of creativity and ambition. It's a partnership rooted in shared values — excellence, inclusivity, and a deep commitment to nurturing the storytellers of tomorrow,'said Meghna Ghai Puri, President Whistling Woods International. Selecting the fellows will be a panel headed by Anjum Rajabali, the veteran screenwriter and film academician. 'This hugely generous initiative offers much-needed support to young people to avail of formal education in the craft, for which the film, TV, and the OTT sector will be grateful for having access to this talent pool. These scholarships will help in driving up the quality of writing and filmmaking here.' SCREEN Academy Members reflect a diverse list with representation across the industry. Guneet Monga – Oscar-winning Producer Payal Kapadia – Cannes Grand Prix winner and Golden Globe nominee Resul Pookutty – Oscar-winning Sound Designer Ronnie Screwvala – Founder of RSVP Films and Upgrad Subhash Ghai – Director/Producer and Founder Whistling Woods International Full list of SCREEN Academy members will be released on Recognition of Excellence In addition to its educational mission, SCREEN Academy will oversee the prestigious SCREEN Awards, recognising artistic brilliance, cultural excellence, and technical innovation across Indian entertainment. Academy members will serve as the voting body, ensuring industry credibility and expertise guide the recognition process. To ensure excellence, SCREEN Academy has established a Resident Critics Panel which includes Dr Priya Jaikumar, Professor of Cinematic Arts in the Division of Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and scholar-in-residence, SCREEN Academy, Priyanka Sinha Jha (Curator of SCREEN Awards); Shubra Gupta (The Indian Express Film Critic); Nikhil Taneja (Co-Founder of We are Yuvaa); and Anjum Rajabali (screenwriter and Head of Screenwriting at WWI and FTII). 'The Academy will grow to define rigorous criteria, categories, and evaluation standards to ensure fairness and credibility in honouring outstanding contributions to cinema, music, theatre, regional cinema and other allied art forms,' said Priyanka Sinha Jha. About SCREEN For over 80 years, SCREEN, India's first film newspaper established in 1951 and home to the popular SCREEN Awards, has been the most credible news source on Indian cinema and the entertainment industry. Ramnath Goenka, the legendary champion of journalism, acknowledged the soft power of films and the film industry—the art and science of it—half a century before the trade was recognised as an industry. Re-acquired from Disney in 2024 and in a brand new digital-first avatar today, SCREEN is one of India's largest entertainment news destinations, reaching 40 million users monthly across four languages: Hindi, English, Marathi, and Tamil. In the last six months, SCREEN has launched several video programmes and live events including 'Expresso', 'SCREEN Live', 'Dear Me', 'Your Weekend Watchlist', and 'The Suvir Saran Show'.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Lodha Foundation announces support to families of security personnel killed in Operation Sindoor
India launched Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack killings. MUMBAI: The Lodha Foundation on Saturday announced support to the next of kin of armed forces personnel martyred in the Operation Sindoor . The non-profit organisation will fund the education of the children of the martyrs, give preferential employment in the Lodha Group and also take care of health insurance for the families for two decades, according to a statement. It can be noted that at least two army personnel have been killed since the beginning of the operation earlier this week, which had been launched after terrorists killed 26 people at Pahalgam last month. India launched the operation to avenge the killings, and action taken included destroying terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In response, Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling and drone attacks on the western border, leaving at least two armymen dead. Operation Sindoor Amid flare-up hours after thaw, officials say things will settle down with time Ceasefire on, but pressure stays: Key decisions by India against Pak that still stand 'Will work with India & Pakistan to seek solution on Kashmir': Trump India and Pakistan have agreed on a ceasefire earlier in the day. The Lodha Foundation statement said it will fund the education of the martyrs' children till graduation, including costs of fees, books, and hostel expenses. It will also offer advanced educational programmes and mentorship to these children. For the spouses of the martyrs, the foundation will provide skilling and entrepreneurship support, and help them get employed in the Lodha Group. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
