Rajiv Gandhi Chair
The Rajiv Gandhi Professorial Chair of South Asian Economics
A new professorial chair to honour former Indian Prime Minister, Mr
Rajiv Gandhi, was established at The Australian National University on
22 October 1998. Known as the Rajiv Gandhi Chair of South Asian
Economics, the chair is in the Australia South Asia Research
Centre, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
The chair was established in perpetuity to consolidate the
long term future of the centre's research work on the economic
development of this region. In his announcement of the chair, ANU's
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deane Terrell said that the Rajiv Gandhi
Foundation in New Delhi had agreed to a request from the ANU to name the
chair in honour of the late Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India
(1984-1989). The chair recognised Mr Gandhi's leadership of India, his
contribution to the initiative of India's economic reforms, and his
fostering of closer understanding and relations between India and
Australia during his term as Prime Minister.
Professor Terrell said the Chair's Endowment Fund had been built up
from a number of sources with generous contributions from the
Australian corporate sector including National Mutual Holdings, ANZ
Banking Group and P&O Australia.
"When appointed, the Rajiv Gandhi Professor of South Asian
Economics will be responsible for strengthening and deepening the
Australia-India relationship, the bilateral relationships between
Australia and the other South Asian countries, and broader economic
relationships in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions,"
Professor Terrell said. "The professor will also act as a catalyst
for interactive discussion between academic, business, political and
bureaucratic communities in Australia, India and the other countries in
South Asia. It will assist in the spread of awareness and knowledge of
India and South Asia amongst the wider Australian community."
The Chair provides leadership within and beyond ANU by:
- enhancing and consolidating the ANU's emerging position as a
leading world institution in economic research on the Indian and
other South Asian economies,
- giving further effect to the University's vision of the
significance of South Asia, and especially of India, in global and
Asian regional affairs,
- undertaking collaborative activities with the Rajiv Gandhi
Foundation and its Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies
through a Reciprocal Activities Program; joint
research studies focussing particularly on bilateral and regional
economic cooperation; information and networking for supporters of
the Rajiv Gandhi Chair with government, officials and business in
Australia and India; and periodic conferences and seminars,
- deepening links between the University and other leading research
and related institutions within India and South Asia,
- cooperating where feasible in promoting Indian and South Asian
studies in general throughout the University.
