The Rajiv Gandhi Professorial Chair of South Asian Economics

A new professorial chair to honour former Indian Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, was established at The Australian National University on 22 October 1998. Known as the Rajiv Gandhi Chair of South Asian Economics, the chair is in the Australia South Asia Research Centre, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies

The chair was established in perpetuity to consolidate the long term future of the centre's research work on the economic development of this region. In his announcement of the chair, University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deane Terrell said that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in New Delhi had agreed to a request from the ANU to name the chair in honour of the late Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India (1984-1989). The chair recognised Mr Gandhi's leadership of India, his contribution to the initiative of India's economic reforms, and his fostering of closer understanding and relations between India and Australia during his term as Prime Minister.

Professor Terrell said the Chair's Endowment Fund had been built up from a number of sources with generous contributions from the Australian corporate sector including National Mutual Holdings, ANZ Banking Group and P&O Australia.

"When appointed, the Rajiv Gandhi Professor of South Asian Economics will be responsible for strengthening and deepening the Australia-India relationship, the bilateral relationships between Australia and the other South Asian countries, and broader economic relationships in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions," Professor Terrell said. "The professor will also act as a catalyst for interactive discussion between academic, business, political and bureaucratic communities in Australia, India and the other countries in South Asia. It will assist in the spread of awareness and knowledge of India and South Asia amongst the wider Australian community."

The Chair provides leadership within and beyond ANU by:

• enhancing and consolidating the University's emerging position as a leading world institution in economic research on the Indian and other South Asian economies,
• giving further effect to the University's vision of the significance of South Asia, and especially of India, in global and Asian regional affairs,
• undertaking collaborative activities with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and its Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies through a Reciprocal Activities Program; joint research studies focussing particularly on bilateral and regional economic cooperation; information and networking for supporters of the Rajiv Gandhi Chair with government, officials and business in Australia and India; and periodic conferences and seminars,
• deepening links between the University and other leading research and related institutions within India and South Asia,
• cooperating where feasible in promoting Indian and South Asian studies in general throughout the University.