Vasu Chanchlani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 10 July 1952 Bhopal, India |
| Died | 7 September 2014(2014-09-07) (aged 62) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Education | MBA, M. Tech, B. Tech |
| Alma mater | Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur,Rotman School of Management,University of Toronto, Canada |
| Known for | Entrepreneurship,philanthropy,transnationalism |
Vasu Chanchlani (born July 1, 1952 – September 7, 2014[1]) was anIndian-Canadian serialentrepreneur,philanthropist and trans-nations builder. He is co-founder of the Sigma Group of Companies and a founding member of theCanada India Foundation. He is also an investor in dozens of companies globally consisting of start-ups and turn-arounds.[2] He is best known for his efforts towards improving Canada-India relations through his philanthropic activities and engagement with Indian Diaspora to serve bilateral interests of both Canada and India.[3][4] Most recently, Vasu was awarded the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants award by theCanadian Immigrant magazine (aToronto Star Publication).[5] On January 9, 2014, his excellency shriPranab Mukherjee, President of theRepublic of India, conferred thePravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), the highest honour bestowed on non-resident Indians, by theGovernment of India.[6]
Chanchlani was born inBhopal (M.P), India, to an upper-middle-class family. After completing high school in Bhopal, he went on to receive degrees from theIndian Institute of Technology Kanpur (Masters in Industrial and Management Engineering),[7] and an MBA from theRotman School of Management,University of Toronto, Canada. He began his career withTata Consultancy Services in India, and moved to Canada in 1979. He began working withNortel, eventually becoming the Senior Manager of Information Services before starting his own business.[8]
Vasu Chanchlani established his private Canadian charitable foundation, the Chanchlani Foundation in early 2000s.[9] Chanchlani's philanthropic efforts are guided by the motto to "inspire people and reward global excellence". He has made serious financial contributions for supporting path-breaking health and public policy research as well as nurturing entrepreneurship and leveraging New Canadians’ success and influence for deeper and gainful engagement betweenCanada andIndia.[10]
Chanchlani has made an endowment of one million dollars to create theCIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award, an award that recognizes innovation and global leadership in the Indian diaspora. Past recipients of this honour includeRatan Tata[11] andSam Pitroda. Chanchlani also works with the foundation to enhance its engagement with Indian leaders such as former PresidentA.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Minister of Human Resource DevelopmentKapil Sibal, economic policy-makerMontek Singh Ahluwalia, and formerUnder-Secretary-General of the United Nations Dr.Shashi Tharoor.[12][13]
Chanchlanis have made a gift of $2 million to create the Centre for South Asian Civilization[14] at the University of Toronto, Mississauga to broaden the study of traditional subjects to enhance the understanding and include active engagement of South Asian communities.[15]
Vasu is a seed contributor to the ‘India Initiative’, a joint undertaking between TheUniversity of Waterloo and theCanada India Foundation for the advancement of Canada's research capacity in studying the politics, economy and social conditions of contemporaryIndia, and the bilateral relationship between the countries. The initiative's planned $10 million endowment will fund endowed CIF Chairs for Waterloo faculty members, Visiting Chairs for India scholars, CIF Fellows, graduate student fellowships, and engagement with researchers and faculty at theCentre for International Governance Innovation and theBalsillie School of International Affairs.[16] The initiative was made possible in collaboration with CIF's National Convenor Aditya Jha, Waterloo's DeanKen Coates and others.
Vasu and his wife Dr. Jaya Chanchlani have set up a $10 million fund (through $1 million seed) to set up the Chanchlani Research Centre atMcMaster University. This centre will encourage scientists to find environmental and genetic causes of cardio vascular diseases widely prevalent within South Asians and those of South Asian origin in Canada.[17] He has also endowed $250,000 atMcMaster to give every yearChanchlani Global Health Research Award along with $25,000 for the best global research for heart and diabetes among South Asians.[18]
In September 2010, Chanchlani along with fellow businessmen Ajit Someshwar and Bhupinder Khalsa donated a maple-leaf-shaped monument to theCanadian Armed Forces for their exemplary service as global peace-keepers.[19] The unveiling ceremony was attended by a large number of Canadian Armed Forces personnel in their ceremonial attire, as well as top leaders including defence ministerPeter Mackay, opposition leaderMichael Ignatieff, and finance ministerJim Flaherty.[20][21]
Chanchlani has set up theCNIB Chanchlani Global Vision Research Award to recognize the best researcher in the field of vision care and vision enablement, worldwide. The $100,000 endowment and award was announced at a special reception in Toronto on April 3, 2011.[22]
Vasu has sponsored a student home (throughAIM For Seva) inHoshangabad,India for poor students from surrounding 25 villages to stay there. According to the website, 149 children have benefited from this hostel.[23]
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