DALLAS (TIP): Dallas based Indian American entrepreneurs Satish and Yasmin Gupta have made a $ 12 million donation to University of Dallas. The gift, the single largest in the 57 year old history of the University, will fund construction of a building that will house the Satish and Yasmin Gupta College of Business. The announcement of donation was made October 24, by the University of Dallas President Thomas W. Keefe in the presence of the donors, their relations and friends, faculty and students. Both, Satish and his wife Yasmin, are graduates of University’s MBA Program. Speaking on the occasion, Satish Gupta said, “The University of Dallas inspired not only our careers, but our lives, and we hope this new college of business will inspire business students who come to the University of Dallas from all over the world.” He said,” It is very important that we give back to the community. This creates balance in life.”

Yasmin Gupta, who shares with her husband a similar vision said, “Our dream is for the College of Business to become global meeting ground for diversity and understanding among all cultures. We hope it empowers students to become leaders who go forth into the world and build stronger communities”. In conversation with The Indian Panorama, Yasmin Gupta recalled that some three years ago when Satish was invited as a keynote speaker for a Commencement they found that the BusinessSchool had not changed much in 30 years. It was then that Satish and she decided to do their bit for the School of Business from where they had graduated. University of Dallas President Thomas W. Keefe, in appreciation of the generous donors said, “The Guptas set a tremendous example for our business students both in the drive and ingenuity they personify as entrepreneurs, and in their commitment to philanthropy and social responsibility.” President Keefe said University of Dallas believed in giving quality and personalized education. We have personalized relationship with our students. We treat them as individuals. The gift from Satish and Yasmin will help the University in further achieving the aim of providing quality and personalized education.

Robert F. Scherer, Dean & Professor of Management, in his comment to The Indian Panorama said the donation from Guptas will help the College of Business in many ways. The building that will come up with the donation will not only provide a marked visibility, as it will be located on the highest point in Dallas County, it will allow for practice based and problem based approach to be followed. It will allow the students and faculty to interact in a better environment. The building will facilitate holding of meetings, seminars and contribute to better interaction among students, faculty, businesses and community. He described Guptas as role models who will be inspiring a whole lot of people. The gathering at the announcement was very appreciative of the Guptas for making a generous contribution. The Indian Panorama spoke with some of them after the brief ceremonial announcement of the gift by President Keefe and Satish and Yasmin Gupta and found they had great admiration for the two for repaying the institution where they had studied some 30 years ago. Some said it will inspire others to come forward and pay back to the community. The gathering lustily cheered Guptas when President Keefe announced the donation. Remarks by Satish and Yasmin also received the gathering’s applause. The new building, SB Hall, will be a 50,000-square foot, three storey structure atop the highest point in the UD campus from where Downtown will be clearly visible. According to information provided by Chat Ganesh, Vice President Business Development, SB International, Inc. and a close associate of Satish Gupta, the building is expected to be completed by the end of July 2015 and should be ready for the Fall 2015 Semester opening. Satish and Yasmin Gupta are philanthropists and civic leaders besides being business executives.

The two serve Dallas/Fort Worth through various organizations related to cultural organization and outreach, including the Gupta Agarwal Charitable Foundation of which Satish Gupta is the Founder. They also support the Primary Care Clinic of North Texas and Greater Dallas Arya Samaj Cancer Clinic, a system of non-profit healthcare facilities providing medical care to local uninsured adults. Perhaps the most popular Indian American cultural event in Dallas is the Diwali Mela organized by Dallas Fort Worth Indian Cultural Society founded by Satish Gupta. Every year, in October/November, this popular event to celebrate “spirit of India” as Satish prefers to call the event, attracts 40,000 to 50,000 people who get glimpses of the rich Indian culture at play. Satish says he has combined Dussehra and Diwali and therefore, there is a Ram Lila and Ravan Dahan, signifying victory of good over evil, followed by fireworks to celebrate the victory. The mela provides a variety of entertainment for all age groups. There is a special kids corner. There are elephant and camel rides. There are the more modern laser shows. Community performances and Bollywood entertainment are integral parts of the mela And, of course, a variety of food in a specially carved out Food Court. The Diwali Mela 2013, the 8th in a row, is being held on November 2 at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas where Bollywood artists Monali Thakur and Arijit Singh will enthrall the audiences.