The India Program
"Broaden awareness and understanding about India"

The India Program, supported by The Anil and Chitra Deshpande India Program Endowed Fund, is housed in the Department of Political Science of the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida. Established in 2007, it sponsors or co-sponsors public discussions involving prominent speakers, panels and other meetings; encourages scholarship and research; and works with partners worldwide to broaden awareness and understanding about India. The program examines India in terms of politics, technology, communication, culture and religion, particularly as those issues relate to the country's rise in the 21st century. It also aims to promote understanding and expand relations between India and the United States.

Anil Deshpande, president of Deshpande, Inc., is a businessman in the United States and India. He and his wife Chitra have supported UCF programs dealing with India and other international initiatives during the past several years.

The India Program Interim Co-Directors

Roger Handberg
Department of Political Science
handberg@mail.ucf.edu
PH 302, 407-823-2608

John C. Bersia
Global Perspectives Office
jbersia@mail.ucf.edu
PH 202, 407-823-0688

The India Program Advisory Board

• John C. Bersia, Special Assistant to the President for Global Perspectives, UCF (interim co-director)
• Narsingh Deo, Professor and Charles N. Millican Endowed Chair, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, UCF
• Anil Deshpande, President, Deshpande, Inc.
• Roger Handberg, Chairman, Department of Political Science, UCF (interim co-director)
• Jack McGuire, Associate Dean, College of Sciences, UCF
• Sibille Pritchard, President, Global Connections Foundation
• Shubhro Sen, Entrepreneur; Founder and Executive Director, Global Outsourcing Leadership Institute
• Pallavoor (Vaidy) Vaidyanatham, Assistant Vice President for Research, UCF; Associate Director, Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Florida.

2007-2008 - Selected Visitors, Speakers and Events Related to India

• "The India Cultural Series," a lecture program for UCF LIFE. October 2007.
• "Emerging Powers: China and India," an international global issues conference, sponsored by the UCF Global Perspectives Office, the National Conference of Editorial Writers, C.T. Hsu & Associates, P.A., Engineering & Environmental Design, Inc., OCI Associates, Inc., the UCF College of Business Administration, the UCF Student Government Association, the UCF Diplomacy Program, the UCF Political Science Department, the UCF International Services Center, UCF LIFE, the Global Connections Foundation and other partners. November 5, 2007.
• Shubhro Sen, Entrepreneur, Founder and Executive Director, Global Outsourcing Leadership Institute. November 5-6, 2007.
• "The China and India Series," a lecture program for UCF LIFE. February 2008.
• Tony D'Souza, author of The Konkans and Whiteman. February 6, 2008.
• "Vedic Heritage for the Global Welfare of the Next Generation," the World Association for Vedic Studies Seventh International Conference, sponsored by the World Association for Vedic Studies, UCF Global Perspectives Office, The India Program at UCF and the Global Connections Foundation. June 27 - 29, 2008.

Summer Rayne Oakes
September 9, 2008, 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mira Kamdar
September 23, 2008 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"The Africa Series"
September 23 & 30, and October 7 & 14, 2008, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.