The inspiration for the idea of a Hindu University in America emerged from Swami Tilak, in the early to mid-1980s. Swami Tilak did not live long enough to see his dream come true, and passed away at a relatively young age, in a car accident in Spain in the year 1984.
"Multitude of serious and sincere seekers of truth are knocking at our doors. We cannot disappoint them keeping our doors closed. We will have to open our doors and accord a hearty welcome"
Five years after the passing away of Swami Tilak, a group of four decide to make a beginning to start the University, by registering an entity in the City of Orlando, Florida in the year 1989 as a 501c3 Non-Profit corporation. They were:
Hindu University of America
Another four years go by before they secure the authorization from the State of Florida to begin operations as a legitimate University. In 1993, Hindu University of America receives its authorization to function as a Religious Institution, that is exempted from Governmental oversight, through a letter of exemption issued annually by the Commission for Independent Education (CIE), Florida Department of Education.
Dr. Deen Dayal Khandelwal becomes the first President of the University while Shri Abhinav Dwivedi functions as its Secretary and Treasurer and takes a leadership role. In the initial days, the University functions primarily by organizing events and seminars, and there are no formal classes being offered for quite a while.
Emergence of Campus
In 2001 that the University acquires a 9-acre, campus in Orlando, Florida, thanks to the generosity of Shri Braham Ratan Agarwal, who becomes the university’s principal benefactor for the foreseeable future. In 2002, Edith and Robert Grimm donate an additional 2.5 acres of land. The University begins to offer regular classes and launches several programs of study.
Kuldip C. Gupta, a distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado, decides to leave his academic career and joins Hindu University of America as its new President in the year 2003. He quickly became the backbone of the University and provides stability and direction to the fledgling institution in its formative years. The University begins to see steady growth in Faculty and Student population, during his time.
Unexpectedly, Professor Kuldip C. Gupta, also passes away in 2007, from a heart attack while traveling in Bombay, India at the young age of 66.
Several efforts are made to identify the right leadership for the University. For several reasons, the right configuration of leadership, financial resources, and strategy do not emerge for a long time. Swami Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam and the Convener of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha expresses a keen desire to rejuvenate the institution.
In 2018, that a coherent strategy for the rejuvenation and revitalization of the Hindu University of America begins to take a new shape.
Rejuvenation Strategy Meeting
This effort is spearheaded by Dharma Civilization Foundation, a Los Angeles based Non-Profit Foundation, that has been keenly interested in the promotion of the Study of Hinduism in formal University settings.
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