Indian American philanthropists fund Arihanta Institute professorship advancing Jain values, vegan studies, animal advocacy, compassion-focused education and scholarship globally.
Arihanta Institute has announced a $1 million endowment to establish a professorship in vegan and animal advocacy studies, expanding an academic initiative rooted in Jain principles of nonviolence and compassion.
The endowment, known as the Tīrthaṅkara Śreyāṃśanātha Endowment for Professorship in Vegan and Animal Advocacy Studies, was funded by Indian American philanthropists Drs. Jasvant and Meera Modi along with Dr. Namrata Patel, according to the California-based nonprofit educational institution.
The professorship will support teaching and scholarship through Arihanta Institute’s Vegan Studies Initiative. This online academic program connects Jain philosophy with contemporary discussions around ethics, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare. The institute said the role marks its first endowed professorship since its founding in 2022.
“The initiative empowers individuals to practice empathy in everyday life toward all living beings,” Dr. Jasvant Modi said in a statement, adding that the family wanted to support both vegan education and the broader advancement of Jain studies.
The development reflects growing efforts among Jain and Indian American philanthropic communities to bring South Asian religious and ethical traditions into mainstream academic and public discourse in the United States.
Founded in California as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Arihanta Institute offers online courses and public programs focused on engaged Jain studies, veganism, ecology and compassion-centered scholarship. Its Vegan Studies Initiative includes courses on animal ethics, climate change, biodiversity and food systems, while also hosting conferences and speaker series involving scholars and activists from multiple disciplines.
Born in Godhra, Gujarat, Dr. Modi was raised in a large Jain family rooted in education, discipline, and religious values. His journey was chronicled in an American Bazaar documentary released earlier this year.
His father worked as a schoolteacher and later became a school inspector, while his mother managed the household and cared for six children.
Deeply influenced by Jain principles of compassion and nonviolence, Dr. Modi has dedicated much of his wealth to philanthropy, believing that his success was possible only because others helped him along the way. Over the years, he and his wife have contributed more than $30 million to charitable causes across the United States and India.
Alongside his wife, Dr. Meera Modi, he built a successful medical career in Los Angeles, later expanding into healthcare management, real estate, and long-term care facilities. Those close to him say his success came from his determination to create opportunities for himself when doors were not easily opened to immigrants.
A major focus of his philanthropy has been promoting Jain studies globally through endowed academic chairs, professorships, fellowships, and research programs at dozens of universities in the U.S., Europe, and India. He has also supported community and religious institutions, including the expansion of Jain temples in Southern California.
In India, the Modis have funded student hostels, girls’ schools, rest houses for Jain monks, and educational infrastructure projects in Gujarat. Dr. Modi has said his goal is not only to preserve Jain values for future generations but also to support education, healthcare, and opportunities for people who may not otherwise have access to them.
Prem Jain, chair of the institute’s fundraising committee, said the new endowment would strengthen educational programs that encourage lifestyles rooted in compassion toward animals, the environment, and society.
Dr. Parveen Jain, founder and chief executive of Arihanta Institute, said the organization aims to make engaged Jain studies accessible through research and education that connect ancient teachings with present-day global challenges.