Houston, Texas, USA: The Jain Vishwa Bharati (JVB) Centre in Houston recently celebrated a historic occasion as Rice University inaugurated the Tirthankar Shantinath Endowed Professorship in Jain Studies, marking a new milestone in the advancement of interfaith and cultural education in Texas.
The ceremony, hosted by JVB Houston, brought together leading university officials, philanthropists, and distinguished guests, including D.C. Manjunath, the Consul General of India in Houston, who served as the chief guest. Commending the initiative, Consul General Manjunath remarked, “Just a few months ago, this professorship was an idea under discussion. It’s remarkable to see it come to fruition so quickly.”
Swatantra Jain, co-founder and chairperson of JVB Houston, expressed pride in the achievement, calling it “a profound testament to our collective heritage and vision.”
Dr Anne Chao, co-founder of the Houston Asian-American Archive and one of the key supporters of the project, explained that the Jain Studies chair aligns perfectly with Rice University’s mission of promoting intercultural understanding. “When we founded the archive at Rice, our aim was to create a leading research centre exploring the histories, cultures, and religions of Asia. This new program will significantly expand that goal,” she noted.
Dr Kathleen Canning, Dean of the School of Humanities at Rice, emphasised the academic importance of the new professorship, saying it will “greatly broaden the university’s scholarly engagement with world religions.”
Dr Gregory Clines from Trinity University highlighted the broader significance of such initiatives, stating, “There’s never been a more important time to understand other faiths. Efforts like this position Texas as a hub for Jain Studies in the United States.”
Spiritual leaders also reflected on the event’s deeper meaning. Samani Aarjav Pragya of JVB Houston described it as “not merely an academic achievement but a moral and spiritual advancement—a meeting point of intellect and intuition.”
Sheroo Mukhtiar, CEO of Interfaith Ministries of Houston, spoke about the relevance of Jain teachings, saying, “These are not just spiritual doctrines—they are values that call us to live with service, humility, and compassion.”
Prominent philanthropist Jugal Malani praised the collective efforts behind the initiative, describing the endowed chair as “the beginning of a meaningful journey that honours tradition, enlightens the present, and inspires the generations to come.”
This development follows a similar milestone achieved earlier in July 2025, when an endowed chair in Jain Studies was established at the University of Texas at Austin, signalling growing academic recognition of Jain philosophy in the U.S.
With continued collaboration between Rice University and the Houston Jain community, the Tirthankar Shantinath Endowed Professorship is expected to enhance interfaith dialogue, promote scholarly research, and strengthen cultural understanding across academic disciplines.
