$2 million commitment will help establish endowed chair in Jainism, South Asian religions

Lucy Berbeo | October 24, 2025

Jainism is one of the world’s oldest living religions. Its principles and practices have left an outsized imprint on broader society, influencing the work of Mahatma Gandhi and, through him, Martin Luther King Jr. Deeply rooted in the principle of ahimsa, or nonviolence, Jainism stresses the values of self-control, compassion and respect for all living things. 

Thanks to a major philanthropic commitment, UCLA faculty and students will have the opportunity to further explore this ancient faith and its evolving, enduring legacy.

A $1.5 million pledge to UCLA from Jasvant and Meera Modi will support the establishment of the Bhagawan Abhinandan Endowed Chair for Jain Studies and Religions of South Asia, the first endowed professorship in this area of religious studies for the campus. With another $500,000 commitment from additional members of the Jain community, the chair will support the research, teaching and public service of a distinguished faculty member affiliated with the interdepartmental degree program in the study of religion, housed in the UCLA Division of Humanities.

“The opportunity to expand research and scholarship in this vital yet underrepresented field is particularly meaningful as UCLA seeks to shape a more connected and pluralistic community on campus and beyond,” said Alexandra Minna Stern, dean of humanities. “We are immensely grateful to Jasvant and Meera Modi and the Jain community for their generous support, which will allow our scholars to uncover key insights into the human condition and empower our students as global citizens and future leaders.”

Until a chair holder is formally appointed, the endowment will support a lecturer with expertise in Jain studies and religions of South Asia, as well as programming and curricular needs. The position builds upon related initiatives at UCLA, including a three-year lectureship established in 2020 with support from the Modis and other donors.

Carol Bakhos, Robert E. Archer Professor of the Study of Religion, has served since 2012 as UCLA Study of Religion’s program chair and as director of the UCLA Center for the Study of Religion. Founded three decades ago, the center oversees the program’s major and minor and sponsors seminars, lectures and other programming focused on the role of religious ideas, practices and institutions within human societies.

“It is a milestone for the program to house this chair, serving to put the religious dimensions of Jainism and other South Asian traditions in greater focus,” Bakhos said. “There is no denying the importance of understanding the history of religious traditions and how they are shaped by social and cultural exigencies, often in reaction to other religious traditions — but at the same time, we want to understand them as lived religions.”

Jasvant and Meera Modi have partnered for years with other members of the Jain community to make philanthropic contributions in support of Jain studies initiatives at various academic institutions. Jasvant Modi, who serves as a board member of the Jain Center of Southern California in Los Angeles, sees universal benefits in these efforts.

“In our increasingly polarized society, we need peaceful dialogue across all races, religions, genders and nationalities. The principles of Jainism offer a unique lens through which to view such pressing challenges and opportunities,” Modi said. “By raising awareness of these and related traditions in an academic setting, we can help the next generation to shape a better world. At UCLA, a university at the pinnacle of academic achievement, establishing this chair will enhance such work in a significant way.”