BITS Pilani Alumnus Mahesh Samdani and Wife Purva Ladha Establish $1 Million Scholarship Endowment for Female Students
Jan 06: The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, an Institution of Eminence, proudly announces a significant philanthropic commitment of USD 1 million from its distinguished alumnus Mahesh Samdani (1986 batch) and his wife, Purva Ladha. This generous endowment will establish the Smt. Kaushaliya Devi Samdani Scholarship Endowment, dedicated to supporting meritorious and financially deserving female students. Mahesh Samdani currently holds the position of Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase in New York.
Instituted specifically for female students, these merit-cum-need scholarships honor the loving memory of Mahesh’s mother, Smt. Kaushaliya Devi Samdani. The endowment aims to empower talented female students from diverse backgrounds, enabling them to access a world-class education at BITS Pilani without financial impediment. Mahesh Samdani has a long-standing history of supporting his alma mater, actively contributing to student placements, the Practice School program, and promoting management education through insightful talks.
Welcoming this significant contribution, Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani, stated, “Mahesh Samdani’s thoughtful gesture exemplifies the deep and enduring bond our alumni share with their alma mater. By establishing this Endowment, he is creating a legacy that will transform the lives of countless students by providing them access to a world-class BITS education. We are profoundly grateful for his generosity and trust in BITS Pilani’s mission.”
Mahesh Samdani commented, “We firmly believe that educating one student uplifts an entire family. We hope these scholarships will create a lasting impact, supporting not just individual aspirations but also strengthening families and shaping opportunities by removing financial constraints.”
Through this endowment, Mahesh Samdani honors his mother’s values of education, perseverance, and opportunity, while simultaneously reinforcing BITS Pilani’s long-standing commitment to meritocracy and inclusive excellence. The scholarships will be awarded annually to female students demonstrating exceptional academic merit and significant financial need. Administered under BITS Pilani’s established scholarship framework with transparent selection criteria, the scholarships will be available starting the upcoming Academic Year 2026-27.
Complimenting Mr. Mahesh Samdani for his exemplary generosity, Prof. Arya Kumar, Dean of Alumni Relations, added, “Such scholarships are instrumental in empowering young women and catalyzing transformational change in society. By increasing women’s participation in higher education, we are directly contributing to the promotion of gender equality in leadership roles across various sectors.”
This endowment further strengthens BITS Pilani’s broader USD 100 million Endowment Fund, established to support its ambitious transformation into a globally ranked institution. The overarching fund aims to bolster faculty excellence, enhance research capacity, expand student scholarships, and foster global engagement, with robust support from its worldwide alumni community.