FIU establishes historic professorship of Jain Studies

FIU has established the Bhagwan Mahavir Professorship of Jain Studies, the first professorship of its kind in the western world.

The Jain Education and Research Foundation donated $600,000 to establish the endowed professorship in the Department ofReligious Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. Nathan Katz, FIU professor who specializes in the religions of India, was named the first Bhagwan Mahavir Professor at a ceremony April 16.

The endowment is part of a larger initiative by the Jain community to establish an academic education center for Jain studies and research at FIU. The proposed Bhagwan Mahavir Interdisciplinary Center for Religious Pluralism would offer courses in Jainism, provide research opportunities and collaborate with universities throughout the world.

Jainism is an ancient religion of India grounded in the philosophy of equality and equanimity. It prescribes a path of non-harm, religious pluralism, non-greed and respect for all life. Today, Jainism is a small but influential religious minority with approximately 11 million followers in India, and growing immigrant communities in North America, Europe, the Far East, Australia, East Africa and elsewhere.  For the past five years, FIU has exchanged students and lecturers with the Jain Vishwa Bharati University in India.