Making an impact for students from India at U-M

Your significant gift has played a crucial role in helping the University of Michigan establish the Indian Alumni Fellowship Fund. Could you share your perspective on the importance of providing financial support to deserving students pursuing higher education at one of the United States’ leading institutions? How do you believe these funds contribute to the broader landscape of international education and cultural exchange?

Gupta: I believe financial support plays a crucial role in ensuring that deserving students are able to pursue higher education in the U.S. Getting an education in the U.S. can be very beneficial for students from India, but many would not be able to afford it without a scholarship. I also received a scholarship from the University of Michigan, which made it possible for me to complete the LLM program. There is a big Indian diaspora in the U.S., and I believe many Indians initially went to the U.S. on similar scholarships. This diaspora has contributed immensely to the expansion of geopolitical relations between India and the U.S.

Tannan: The cost of education in the U.S. has been increasing every year in terms of dollars and, even more significantly, in terms of Indian rupees, due to the steady depreciation of the rupee. This makes it very challenging for students in India to pay for an education in the U.S. Many institutions do not provide significant financial aid for students from India. This leaves a significant vacuum, wherein well-deserving students who crave such an education, and who would be an asset to the academic institutions, are unable to take this opportunity.

As there was no fund to help students from India at U-M, this was a serious concern. The Undergraduate Indian Alumni Scholarship Fund and the Indian Alumni Fellowship Fund are excellent initiatives to help fill this vacuum and give these deserving students an opportunity to learn at premier institutes, such as U-M. These students will then contribute—through their cultural experiences, knowledge, and work—to the university in the future.

Your commitment to supporting students demonstrates a profound belief in the power of education to transform lives. What factors influenced your decision to invest in the future of these talented students, and how do you hope your philanthropy will inspire other donors to join this meaningful cause in the future?

Gupta: I received a scholarship from U-M, which had a significant impact on the course of my career and life. After earning my LLM, I received a job offer at one of the top law firms in New York, and I have since pursued a career in corporate law at top U.S. firms. I have always been keen to give back and found this opportunity to take the first small step of establishing a scholarship fund with an aim to ultimately create an endowment fund. I hope the scholarship helps attract more deserving students from India to pursue higher education at U-M, and I also hope that other alumni join this meaningful cause and donate as much as they can to this great cause.

As a U-M alumnus, your personal connection to the institution adds a unique dimension to your support. How did your experiences as a student influence your decision to contribute to these funds? How does it feel to be a trailblazer in creating opportunities for future generations?

Tannan: My years at Michigan, both during my BBA and MBA, were transformative for me. They were some of the best years for my learning and also a time when I formed some of my best friendships. The U-M campus is a wonderful place and, according to me, one of the best college campuses in the U.S. The people are welcoming and inclusive, and there are multiple countries and cultures represented. The faculty are great. This provides an excellent environment to learn academically and grow personally. I hope many students will partake in this wonderful experience. I would encourage Indian alumni to contribute to this cause through these first-ever India-focused funds and make a difference in the lives of students by helping deserving candidates attend the University of Michigan.