In a move aimed at strengthening academic collaboration between India and the United States, the City University of New York (CUNY) has unveiled a specialized research initiative dedicated to Indian educational and social development. The new platform, named the Achyuta Samanta India Initiative of the CUNY CREST Institute (ASIICCI), was inaugurated this week during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in New York. The event was graced by Dr. Achyuta Samanta himself, alongside Dr. Milton Santiago, President of Bronx Community College.
The ASIICCI is designed to focus on interdisciplinary research tackling India’s pressing educational and social issues. While the scope is national, special attention will be given to Odisha, the eastern Indian state where Dr. Samanta hails from and where much of his pioneering work has been implemented. Notably, this platform represents one of the rare occasions when a public university in the U.S. has named a research initiative after a living Indian personality.
Dr. Samanta is a renowned academic and social reformer who has significantly reshaped the education landscape in India, particularly for marginalized communities. He is the founder of both the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), two institutions widely recognized for their unique combination of academic rigor and social impact.
KIIT has emerged as a comprehensive university offering education in multiple professional disciplines to more than 40,000 students. In parallel, KISS provides free-of-cost education, lodging, food, and healthcare to another 40,000 tribal children—many of whom are first-generation learners. This holistic model of development, where academic empowerment is seamlessly combined with community welfare, has drawn acclaim from both national and international observers.
CUNY officials emphasized that this model holds immense promise for addressing educational and social equity challenges globally. They see Dr. Samanta’s approach as one that successfully merges educational excellence with grassroots empowerment. By creating ASIICCI, CUNY hopes to give researchers and scholars a dedicated platform to explore and expand on this model, fostering innovative solutions to real-world problems.
“The initiative will provide a collaborative space where academics can engage in interdisciplinary research grounded in Dr. Samanta’s development framework,” said a CUNY representative. “It’s a rare honor to name such a platform after a living Indian educator, which speaks volumes about the global relevance of his work.”
CUNY is among the largest public university systems in the United States, with a student body of more than 300,000 individuals hailing from 122 different nationalities. This rich diversity provides a fertile ground for cross-cultural learning and global academic exchange. The launch of ASIICCI is expected to not only boost research efforts but also foster deeper educational ties between India and the U.S.
Dr. Samanta’s contributions to education and social upliftment have earned him international recognition. He has been awarded 67 honorary doctorates from universities across the globe, a distinction that places him among the most decorated Indian academicians and social workers still active today. This latest acknowledgment from CUNY further cements his standing as a global thought leader in inclusive education.
“Education is the most powerful tool for social transformation,” Dr. Samanta remarked during the ceremony. “This initiative symbolizes how nations can come together to share knowledge, promote equity, and create sustainable models for inclusive development.”
His vision of using education as a means to achieve broader social goals has influenced a growing global conversation about the role of academic institutions in addressing inequality. Through institutions like KIIT and KISS, Dr. Samanta has demonstrated that access to quality education can catalyze wide-ranging improvements in community health, economic opportunity, and gender equality.
Academic communities have praised the ASIICCI as a meaningful and timely tribute to a figure who continues to shape lives through education. “It’s not often that such honors are bestowed upon individuals while they are still actively contributing to the field,” said Dr. Milton Santiago. “This is not just a recognition; it’s an investment in a philosophy that believes education must serve the most underserved.”
The platform also seeks to facilitate student and faculty exchanges between India and the United States, enriching both sides through mutual learning and cultural exchange. Such programs are expected to enhance students’ global competencies and expose them to diverse methods of teaching, learning, and community engagement.
“This initiative will allow researchers from both countries to draw inspiration from each other and co-develop solutions that are both innovative and culturally rooted,” said another CUNY official.
Furthermore, by concentrating part of its research on Odisha, the ASIICCI aims to shed light on regional challenges often overlooked in broader academic discussions. Issues such as tribal education, healthcare access, and rural empowerment will be at the forefront of the platform’s agenda. The goal is to inform policy and practice not just in India, but globally.
Dr. Samanta’s model is especially pertinent at a time when educational institutions worldwide are grappling with how to better serve marginalized populations. His work underscores the importance of treating education not just as a means of intellectual development but as a comprehensive tool for societal transformation.
The ASIICCI will be hosted under the umbrella of the CUNY CREST Institute, known for its focus on climate resilience and environmental systems. The incorporation of the India Initiative under this multidisciplinary research center signifies a commitment to addressing complex global issues through collaborative and holistic strategies.
In the coming months, the platform will begin accepting research proposals, hosting workshops, and organizing seminars aimed at drawing international scholars into the conversation. It also plans to publish findings that can be used to guide public policy and institutional reforms in both countries.
Dr. Samanta expressed hope that the platform will not only further his mission but also inspire future generations of educators and social entrepreneurs. “I believe this initiative will become a beacon of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity,” he said. “Together, we can build bridges of knowledge that span continents.”
In sum, the launch of the Achyuta Samanta India Initiative at CUNY signifies a meaningful step forward in global academic cooperation, rooted in the values of inclusion, empowerment, and shared learning. By spotlighting the work of one of India’s most influential educators, the initiative aims to create lasting impact both in India and across the globe.