Mahesh Samdani Donates $1 Million To Alma Mater BITS Pilani

Photo: Bits

India-West Staff Reporter

NEW YORK, NY – Mahesh Samdani has turned a deeply personal memory into a lasting academic legacy at his alma mater. The New York based JPMorgan Chase managing director has pledged a $1 million scholarship endowment to BITS Pilani, creating a fund that will support meritorious and financially deserving female students for generations to come.

The contribution, made along with his wife Purva Ladha, establishes the Kaushaliya Devi Samdani Scholarship Endowment in memory of Samdani’s mother.

Instituted as a merit cum need initiative, the scholarships are designed to ensure that talented young women are not held back from higher education at BITS Pilani because of financial constraints. The endowment will begin supporting students from the academic year 2026 27 under the institute’s existing scholarship framework, with awards made annually through a transparent selection process.

At its core, the initiative is aimed at expanding access and opportunity for women from diverse backgrounds. According to the institute, the scholarships will be granted to female students who demonstrate strong academic performance along with significant financial need, reinforcing BITS Pilani’s commitment to inclusivity and excellence in education.

Samdani’s association with BITS Pilani extends far beyond this donation. Since graduating from the 1986 batch, he has remained actively engaged with the institute, contributing to student placements, supporting the Practice School program, and participating in management education initiatives through regular interactions and talks. The scholarship endowment builds on that long standing relationship, transforming it into a structured support system for future students.

Welcoming the contribution, BITS Pilani Vice Chancellor Prof V Ramgopal Rao highlighted the broader impact of the gesture. “By setting up this scholarship, Mahesh Samdani is creating a legacy that will open doors for countless deserving students to access world class education at BITS Pilani,” he said, adding that the endowment reflects the enduring bond between alumni and the institution.

For Samdani, the motivation is rooted in a belief in the transformative power of education. “Educating one student uplifts an entire family. Through these scholarships, we hope to remove financial barriers and help shape opportunities for young women,” he said.