Mindtree co-founder Subroto Bagchi donates Rs 55 crore to Ahmedabad University

Subroto Bagchi

The Ahmedabad University on July 16 announced that it has named its public health education division - the Bagchi School of Public Health - to honour renowned philanthropists Susmita and Subroto Bagchi.

Established in 2023, the Bagchi School of Public Health aims to revolutionise public health education and research in India, the university said.

Mindtree co-founder Subroto Bagchi donated Rs 55 crore to the university, which the varsity said, “will fuel the development of world-class physical, digital, and intellectual infrastructure”. “This investment empowers the school to become a global leader in public health education and research,” the Ahmadabad University added.

The Bagchi School leverages Ahmedabad University's unique interdisciplinary environment and integrates research, education, and action. It will break new ground by prioritising rigorous structured Master's and PhD programmes in specific core public health disciplines, the varsity said in a press release.

Speaking about the establishment of the school, Bagchi said, “COVID-19 opened our eyes to the huge gap in the sphere of public health education and research in India. We reached out to Ahmedabad University, as we had had several previous interactions with them that deeply impressed us with regard to their vision, ability to foster and execute innovations, and their holistic approach to education and research.”

The school's flagship programme, a PhD in Epidemiology, will teach students the necessary advanced analytical as well as soft skills required to tackle complex public health challenges, both ongoing and unforeseen. Initial focus areas will include environmental health, analytical methods for health including biostatistics and data Science. This focus on specialisation and advanced analytical methods will address a critical gap in India's public health education landscape, the varsity stated.

Research conducted at the school will focus on discovering sustainable solutions to improve lifestyle, clinical practice, policy, and the environment. The school's action arm will translate research findings into innovative, evidence-based initiatives and policies. The Bagchi School also fosters collaboration through the Sahyog Centre for Promoting Health, established in partnership with the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA).

The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmedabad University, Professor Pankaj Chandra, said, “It is a matter of pride for us that Ms Susmita Bagchi and Mr Subroto Bagchi chose our institution to implement their vision of creating knowledge and helping the underserved. Their support will help build global leaders in public health out of India. As a university promoting interdisciplinary research and education, this is a unique setting for public health faculty, practitioners, and students to significantly define our nation’s health agenda.”

According to the Dean of the Bagchi School of Public Health, Professor Kaumudi Joshipura, “the school will focus on delivering high-quality rigorous education programmes, while simultaneously identifying and promoting no-cost, low-cost, and cost-saving interventions to help improve health, especially for the underprivileged segments of society.”

Susmita Bagchi felt Joshipura is the ideal person for this role and said, “With great leadership in place, we feel confident that the institution will create a legacy for at least the next 100 years, and we want to up our engagement.”