BITS Pilani Receives $1 Million Endowment for Women Students’ Scholarships

In a landmark move to support meritorious and financially deserving female students, BITS Pilani has received a $1 million scholarship endowment from alumnus Mahesh Samdani (1986 batch) and his wife, Purva Ladha. The endowment, named the Smt. Kaushaliya Devi Samdani Scholarship Endowment, will provide merit-cum-need scholarships to talented women, enabling them to pursue higher education at one of India’s premier institutes without financial constraints.

The Scholarship Endowment

The scholarship fund has been established in memory of Kaushaliya Devi Samdani, mother of Mahesh Samdani. As a merit-cum-need scholarship, it is designed to support female students who demonstrate both strong academic performance and significant financial need.

According to the institute, the scholarships will be administered under BITS Pilani’s existing scholarship framework, ensuring transparent selection criteria. The first round of scholarships will be available to students beginning in the 2026–27 academic year, guaranteeing that the fund immediately impacts deserving candidates.

Alumni Contribution and Legacy

Mahesh Samdani currently serves as Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase, New York, and has maintained a long-standing association with BITS Pilani. Over the years, he has actively contributed to:

• Student placements by providing guidance and opportunities.
• Practice School programs, which integrate students into real-world industry experience.
• Management education initiatives, including talks and mentorship sessions.

The scholarship endowment reflects a continuation of his commitment to the institute, creating a legacy that will support generations of women students.

Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani, welcomed the initiative, stating:

“By setting up this scholarship, Mahesh Samdani is creating a legacy that will open doors for countless deserving students to access world-class education at BITS Pilani.”

Vision Behind the Endowment

Speaking about the scholarship, Mahesh Samdani said that education has a multiplier effect:

“Educating one student uplifts an entire family. Through these scholarships, we hope to remove financial barriers and help shape opportunities for young women.”

The endowment reflects a vision of empowering women through education, ensuring that talented students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds can pursue academic excellence without being held back by financial limitations.

Prof. Arya Kumar, Dean of Alumni Relations at BITS Pilani, noted the wider impact of such initiatives:

“Empowering young women through education contributes directly to gender equality and leadership across sectors.”

By promoting access to higher education for women, the scholarship contributes not only to individual growth but also to broader societal development, encouraging gender parity in academic and professional spaces.

Integration into BITS Pilani’s Broader Goals

The Samdani endowment adds to BITS Pilani’s $100 million Endowment Fund, which is aimed at enhancing the institute’s global standing and academic excellence. The fund supports multiple areas, including:

• Faculty excellence, by enabling top-tier research and teaching initiatives.
• Research expansion, fostering innovation and collaboration in science, technology, and management.
• Student scholarships, particularly for meritorious and underprivileged students.
• Global engagement, encouraging international collaborations and opportunities for BITS students and faculty.

The scholarship endowment aligns with BITS Pilani’s long-term goal of becoming a globally ranked institution while also emphasizing equitable access to education.

Impact on Women’s Education

Scholarships like the Smt. Kaushaliya Devi Samdani Endowment play a critical role in increasing female participation in higher education. Financial support enables talented women to focus on academics, research, and extracurricular growth without the stress of economic constraints.

Moreover, by investing in women’s education, the initiative contributes to:

• Gender equality, by bridging gaps in access to quality education.
• Leadership development, equipping young women with the skills to excel in professional and academic spheres.
• Societal upliftment, as educated women often become catalysts for change within their families and communities.

Such scholarships create long-lasting ripple effects, extending benefits beyond the individual recipients to families, communities, and society at large.

The Role of Alumni in Institutional Growth

The endowment also highlights the power of alumni contributions in shaping institutional growth. Alumni like Mahesh Samdani exemplify how personal success can be leveraged to give back to alma maters and create opportunities for future generations.

His contribution is part of a broader trend where alumni philanthropy strengthens scholarship programs, research funding, and infrastructure development, reinforcing BITS Pilani’s commitment to holistic excellence.

Looking Ahead

The Smt. Kaushaliya Devi Samdani Scholarship Endowment is expected to transform the educational journey of numerous women students, removing barriers to access and encouraging them to pursue ambitious academic and career goals.

With the scholarship in place, BITS Pilani continues to demonstrate its dedication to inclusive education, gender empowerment, and global academic standards. Students benefiting from the fund will have the opportunity to:

• Participate fully in academic programs, research, and innovation.
• Engage in extracurricular and leadership activities without financial worry.
• Become future leaders and role models, continuing the cycle of giving back to society.

The initiative underscores the idea that supporting education for women has both individual and societal benefits, reinforcing BITS Pilani’s position as a forward-looking, inclusive, and globally engaged institution.

Conclusion

The $1 million endowment by Mahesh Samdani and Purva Ladha marks a significant milestone for BITS Pilani. Through the Smt. Kaushaliya Devi Samdani Scholarship Endowment, meritorious and financially deserving female students will gain access to world-class education, while the institute strengthens its commitment to gender equality, empowerment, and academic excellence.