Some of India’s top industrialists have joined
hands to build a word-class university in Pune. The university, which wants to create leaders and
a new model of development for India, will have no management and engineering
courses but only social science streams. Nayanta
University, a university under the Maharashtra State Private University Act,
will commence classes in August 2025. The university is supported by prominent
industrialists such as Kris Gopalakrishnan, Nadir Godrej, Naushad Forbes, Meher
Pudumjee and Satish Reddy.
Kris Gopalakrishnan,
Co-founder of Infosys, shared his vision, stating, “The reason I’ve joined my
friends from the industry is rooted in our long-standing aspiration to
establish a world-class university in India. While we often looked to the government to make this happen, we
realised that it’s time for us to take the initiative. Having collaborated on
various industry causes, we now feel it’s the right moment to give back by
thoughtfully creating a university with a clear vision.” He added that the
university’s goal is to nurture leaders for India across every sector and
discipline — not just in liberal arts or sciences, but in diverse fields. “We
aim to cultivate well-rounded, grounded leaders with broad interests and
exposure. The complex challenges of
today’s world require interdisciplinary thinking, and we hope the academic
environment we create will encourage students to explore and innovate.”
Naushad Forbes of
Forbes Marshall shared the inspiration behind the university, saying, “The idea
emerged from conversations among many of us within the CII. We realised that
instead of pursuing fragmented efforts in education individually, we could come
together to create something larger, more impactful and truly special. This
collaborative spirit is one of the core strengths that sets the Nayanta project
apart”.
He adds that the core group has been meeting
regularly for the past six years, and through these discussions, a well-aligned
vision has taken shape. “In fact, the
conversations that sparked this idea began 10-12 years ago. Initially
conceptualised as a CII university project, it gradually evolved into the
decision to establish an independent entity. While many deeply committed CII
members continue to support us, and we have a formal MoU with CII, this project
now stands as a unique initiative,” says Forbes. Founders are starting with a strong focus on India, but their ambitions
are global. The university aims to attract international students and faculty,
creating a truly-diverse academic environment. “Our students will engage
with grand challenges, such as healthcare, where models from the US and UK may
not be directly applicable to the Indian context. Through this university, we
hope to foster solutions that are both innovative and locally relevant,”
explains Forbes.
Ranjan Banerjee, CEO
of the Nayanta Education Foundation, and a professor at the upcoming
university, shared his insights, stating, “...The vision of creating a
world-class university with a strong social purpose resonates with me
profoundly.”...While each founder
contributes to this initiative, there’s a unique principle at play — no single
founder is allowed to contribute more than others, ensuring a balanced and
equitable approach. This ethos is further reinforced through a distributed
governance structure, deliberately designed to promote collective leadership,
explains Banerjee...“Our aim is to equip students with critical thinking
tools and diverse perspectives. Understanding that real-world challenges, such
as economic and sociological issues, are complex, we’re committed to preparing students with the analytical lenses needed
to address and solve these problems effectively,” says Banerjee. Located on
a picturesque six-acre campus in Bavdhan, Pune, Nayanta offers a
fully-residential undergraduate programme that promises a transformative
educational experience. Admissions for
the inaugural programme will open in February 2025 and the first batch will
begin classes in August 2025.