CUNY Honors KIIT-KISS Founder Dr. Samanta with Research Institute Naming

Speedy Summary

• The City University of New York (CUNY) inaugurated the Achyuta Samanta India Initiative CUNY Crest Institute (ASIICCI), named after renowned Indian educationist and social reformer Dr. Achyuta Samanta.
• Dr. Samanta was also awarded CUNY’s highest honor, the Presidential Medal, during the ceremony in New York.
• ASIICCI will focus on research related to Indian culture, heritage, and tribal communities, specifically highlighting Odisha’s contributions.
• This is the first U.S.-based research institute named after an Indian citizen, reflecting global recognition of Dr. Samanta’s impact in education and social progress.
• The initiative was inspired by Dr. Milton Santiago after his visit to KIIT and KISS in Bhubaneswar-a testament to their pioneering models for grassroots educational transformation.
• KIIT is a world-class university with over 30,000 students; KISS houses the largest residential institution globally for tribal children offering free care and education.
• ASIICCI aims to promote deeper academic engagement with India’s indigenous knowledge systems while fostering collaboration between America and India on inclusive development themes.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The naming of a U.S.-based institute after an Indian social reformer signifies substantial achievements for both Dr. Achyuta Samanta personally and India’s growing stature in international educational innovation circles. By spotlighting Odisha-the region at the core of his work-this development broadens understanding of lesser-represented aspects of indian culture on a global stage while aligning with academic inquiries into grassroots models combating poverty through holistic support systems.

Dr. Samanta receiving CUNY’s Presidential Medal further amplifies this narrative by underscoring individual contributions that transcend borders-highlighting india as more than just an economic participant but culturally significant within spheres like transformative education practices for societal upliftment.for India’s image abroad, such initiatives embed narratives beyond government-to-government relationships-placing greater emphasis on shared values like inclusive growth driven by independent thinkers rather than material power alone-a boon toward soft diplomacy efforts focused around worldwide human aspirations toward equity through knowledge-sharing formats such as ASIICCI programs yet to fully unfold.

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