BITS Pilani Alumna Usha Kumar Donates $1 Million to Endowment Fund for Scholarships

BITS Pilani has received contributions from alumni Usha Kumar (1967) and Alok Kothari (1988) to its Endowment Fund. These funds will support scholarships for girls and PhD fellowships.

BITS Pilani Alumna Usha Kumar Donates to Endowment Fund

Birla Institute of Technology And Science (BITS) Pilani has announced that it has received significant contributions totaling $2 million from its alumni. This support comes from Usha Kumar, an alumna from the batch of 1967, and Alok Kothari, an alumnus from the class of 1988. Their collective contributions are directed towards the institute's ambitious $100 Million Endowment Fund, which aims to enhance the educational experience and opportunities for students. These contributions are specifically earmarked for vital initiatives, including scholarships for girls, PhD fellowships, and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Sustainability.

Usha Kumar, based in the UK, has made history as the first female donor from BITS Pilani to contribute $1 million. Her generous donation will fund scholarships for girls and PhD fellowships, advancing educational opportunities for women. Alok Kothari, a Founding Executive of the unicorn company Netskope Inc., has also contributed $1 million, which will be used to establish the Centre of Excellence in Sustainability. These significant contributions highlight the increasing involvement of BITS Pilani's global alumni network, which has seen over $20 million in pledges and substantial fund transfers in recent years.

Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani said, “The alumni are solidly behind institute’s vision to be a research powerhouse and making BITS education accessible for all economically weaker students, especially girl students. We are taking all steps necessary for ensuring more female representation in Engineering programs, keeping our ‘merit only’ ethos intact. I am deeply grateful to both Ms. Usha Kumar & Dr. D. Srinivas, and Mr. Alok Kothari for wholeheartedly espousing and contributing to BITS Pilani’s $100 Million Endowment Fund”.

Usha Kumar and her husband Dr. D. Srinivas said, “we hope our contribution will enable meritorious and needy children, especially girls to study at BITS Pilani and the institute will keep excelling in providing outstanding education to our youth”.

Alok Kothari, Founding Executive of Netskope Inc, said, "Investing in a center of excellence for sustainability is not just about fostering innovative solutions; it’s about cultivating leaders who are committed to protecting our planet for future generations. This initiative embodies the values of education, stewardship, and responsibility - hallmarks of BITS's legacy. I imagine the CoE to foster the culture of sustainability that inspires others to reimagine our relationship with the environment and create a brighter, more sustainable future for all."

Prof. Arya Kumar, Dean Alumni Relations, said “The connect that BITS alumni have with each other and the institution is quite strong. More and more alumni are now interested in ‘paying it forward’, inspiring their fellow BITSians to help propel the growth of the institute. Whenever alumni contribute, we feel a lot of pride and accept their gift with all humility and a renewed sense of purpose to give momentum to strategic thrust areas for growth.”

BITS Pilani’s Endowment Fund

BITS Pilani’s $100 Million Endowment fund aims to improve access to education, its research programs, and infrastructure, and solidify its entrepreneurship support in the next 5 years. The endowment fund is slated to be launched at its convocation at Pilani on November 10th, alongside its Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

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