Dr. Jerry Campbell, President of Claremont Lincoln University (CLU), and Dr. Deepak Shimkhada, President of Indic Foundation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the Cooper Board Room of Claremont Lincoln University. Present were students, high ranking administrative staff of CLU, members of the executive committee of the Indic Foundation, eminent scholars and community leaders.
The signing ceremony was the culmination of long-term discussions between the Indic Foundation andClaremontLincolnUniversity. The Indic Foundation joins the Nalanda Confluence Institute (NCI), which signed an agreement with Claremont Lincoln on August 24, and leaders of both organizations have pledged to support the mission of theschoolofHindustudies at CLU. Future plans call for offering the following degrees and concentrations:
- MA in Hindu Studies
- MA in Hindu Clinical Pastoral Chaplaincy
- MA in Hindu Theology/Philosophy
- Concentrations in Hindu Contemplative, Yogic, and Consciousness Studies, Applied Dharma, and other initiatives in partnership with Hindu spiritual institutions and community organizations.
“At the heart of Claremont Lincoln’s mission lies the ideal of building bridges of understanding with the goal of improving and repairing our shared society, environment, and world,” said Provost Dr. Philip Clayton. “We appreciate the trusted relationship that has grown up with the Indic Foundation, and we are excited that our long process of planning is now coming to fruition. The new partnership with the Indic Foundation reaffirms Claremont Lincoln’s place as one of the most dynamic and collaborative centers for religious education in the country.”
“The Indic Foundation is equally excited about the agreement,” said Dr. Deepak Shimkhada, President of the Indic Foundation. “Endowed Hindu professorships atClaremontLincolnUniversitywill integrate the dharma-based traditions with Claremont Lincoln’s groundbreaking new model for religious and ethical higher education for the benefit of the world.”
The program started with Vedic prayers chanted by Dr. Shukavak Dasa, the head priest of theLakshmi-NarayanTempleinRiverside. Dr. Campbell outlined CLU’s vision and the need for understanding world religions in today’s troubled world.
Indic Foundation Board Members Sushma Lal and Bina Bhatia were introduced to Dr. Gerald Larson, holder of the Swami Vivekananda Chair in Hindu Studies at theUniversityofCaliforniainIrvine, briefly spoke about the right step taken by the Indic Foundation to establish aschoolofHindustudies under the auspices of CLU. Anandrao Lingayat, poet, journalist and scholar of Kabir, spoke also.
Present were Rev. Jan Chase, Minister of Unity of Pomona Church, Prof. Daniel Michon of Claremont McKenna College, and a few members of the Jaina community of Southern California.
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