India Chair dinner photo gallery
Chair of the India Chair Campaign, Ranjit Sen, and Inge Sen gather with guests.
Ambassador Rao shares a moment with Gov. Bob McDonnell before the formal program.
Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao (center) with VCU President Michael Rao and his wife Monica.
Wilder School Director Niraj Verma addresses an audience of more than 300 at the inaugural India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society Dinner.
Ambassador Rao with Gov. Bob McDonnell before the formal program.
Guests mingle at the pre-dinner reception.
Mr. Rambabu and Dr. Vijaya Lakshmi Chirumamilla, India Chair donors, along with guests at the India Chair Dinner.
Sitarist Chirag Katti regales guests during dinner.
Chitra Jain and Satya Rangarajan, India Chair donors.
Drs. Shantaram and Sunita Talegaonkar, India Chair donors.
Thanks to the sponsors of the India Chair Inaugural Dinner.
India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society Campaign
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University has launched a $1 million campaign to support a new India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society, the first of its kind in the United States.
We ask you to join us in partnership by pledging your financial support for the India Chair 
. Give online: you can make a gift right now by visiting www.support.vcu.edu/give/wilder.
The India Chair will bring luminaries and authorities on Indian culture, history, politics, economics, business, religion and art to the Greater Richmond Community and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Holders of the Chair will visit VCU for stays of a few months to up to a year. By doing so, it will provide a forum for discussion and partnership that might not otherwise be possible.
On April 2, 2012, an inaugural fundraising dinner for the India Chair was held at the Richmond Hilton Hotel and Spa/Short Pump. Before a crowd of more than 300 people and 24 individual and corporate sponsors, keynote speakers Indian Ambassador to the United States Nirupama Rao and Governor Robert McDonnell joined Virginia Commonwealth University President Michael Rao and Wilder School Director Niraj Verma to launch the India Chair campaign. The overwhelming support and enthusiastic response made for a momentous evening, and the Wilder School is on its way to developing the $1 million in financial resources required to endow the chair.
As the first year in a multi-year campaign to reach the $1 million goal to endow the India Chair, a second effort to showcase and promote the chair is being planned for later in 2012 and will be announced soon. There are various possibilities of partnering with us, including spreading commitments over multiple years. All pledges will be considered toward event sponsorship for the forthcoming event.
To find out more, visit our India Chair sponsorship page or contact Jen Thompson, Director of External Relations at 804-828-2339 or jlthompson2@vcu.edu.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Read more about the India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society
