Acknowledging, documenting, and preserving the intellectual legacies of eminent scholars whose personal collections enrich our University’s knowledge ecosystem.
The Distinguished Donors and Their Collections initiative of the Ahmedabad University Library is established to acknowledge, document, and preserve the intellectual legacies of eminent scholars, practitioners, and cultural thinkers whose personal collections—donated either by themselves or by their families—have been generously entrusted to the Library. This initiative seeks to enrich the University’s teaching, research, and knowledge ecosystem by integrating carefully curated personal libraries and archival materials that align with the University’s academic priorities and research objectives.
All personal collections are accepted in accordance with the Library’s donation policy. Please refer to the library guidelines for the process and acceptance of personal donations.
About the Donor: Sir Narayan Ganesh Chandavarkar (1855–1923) was an eminent nationalist leader, jurist, and social reformer who served as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1900, Judge of the Bombay High Court, and leader of the Prarthana Samaj. On October 10, 2024, his archival collection—previously preserved in 2017 by his late granddaughter-in-law Sumana Chandavarkar was donated to the Ahmedabad University Library by his great-granddaughter, Mrs. Nandita Nabar. Now systematically catalogued, this invaluable collection of diaries, journals, and extensive correspondence offers deep insights into early 20th-century socio-political history, documenting key milestones like his knighthood and tenure as Dewan of Indore, alongside critical debates on education, Hindu law, caste reform, and widow remarriage.
Personal & Narrative Records | Official & Professional Documents | Academic Records | Administrative Records
About the Donor: Mr Sanjay Lalbhai, the Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Governors of Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished and generous donor whose commitment to the institution is foundational. As the Chairman and Managing Director of Arvind Limited, he is a prominent leader in the textile industry and business. Beyond industry, Mr Lalbhai is a passionate educationist, serving as the President of the Ahmedabad Education Society and chairing several renowned educational institutions. His service has included membership on the Board of Governors of IIM Ahmedabad.
Subjects: Technology, Management & Engineering | Literature, Poetry & Essays | Social Sciences
About the Donor: Vivek Khadpekar was a noted urbanologist, architect, and editor with wide-ranging interests across the humanities and social sciences. An alumnus of CEPT University and University College London, he was a founding urbanologist at the Centre for Development Studies and Activities and later associated with the Centre for Environment Education. After retirement, he worked as an independent consulting editor, contributing to publications on architecture, urbanism, history, and cultural heritage. He also had a deep interest in Hindustani classical music, literature, and the arts.
Subjects: History, Biography & Geography | Arts, Architecture & Recreation | Literature, Poetry & Essays
About the Donor: Prafullbhai Anubhai is a highly distinguished educator, corporate advisor, and generous donor, whose enduring commitment has been instrumental in shaping premier institutions. As the Founder-Chairman of the Board of Management of Ahmedabad University, and with a decades-long association that includes serving as visiting faculty and on the Board of Governors at IIM Ahmedabad, his expertise is rooted in management and institution-building. Holding qualifications from the London School of Economics and Harvard Business School, his donation of resources enriches the very foundation of our library. This contribution, coming from a leader dedicated to educational excellence and institution building, directly supports our students and researchers in management, economics, and other fields.
Subjects: Literature, Poetry & Essays | Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | Technology, Management & Engineering
About the Donor: Professor Mona G. Mehta, the Associate Dean of Arts and an Associate Professor at the School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished scholar and generous donor to our library collection. As a political scientist, she is a prominent researcher in the fields of urban transformations, Indian democracy, and middle-class politics, with a particular focus on Gujarat. Beyond her administrative leadership, Professor Mehta is a passionate academician currently working on a book manuscript exploring post-liberalization urbanization and the informal economy. Her service to higher education has included previous faculty positions at the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, and Scripps College in the USA, alongside extensive contributions to leading international scholarly journals.
Subjects: Literature, Poetry & Essays | Religion & Mythology | Philosophy & Psychology
About the Donor: Professor Ram Kumar Varma (1935–2005) was an internationally acclaimed physicist and former Director of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad (1987–1995), where his foundational work in plasma physics paved the way for the creation of the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR). A Ph.D. graduate from the University of California at La Jolla under Marshall Rosenbluth, he left an indelible mark on theoretical physics through the formulation of the "Varma equations," "Varma mode," and his groundbreaking work on macro-quantum dynamics, including the postulation of Transition Amplitude Waves (TAW). An elected fellow of India’s premier science academies, Founder-President of the Plasma Society of India, and a former Co-Director at the ICTP in Italy, Professor Varma was celebrated not only as a scientist par excellence but also as a deeply compassionate individual and multi-faceted talent who excelled as a classical singer, painter, and Tabla exponent.
Subjects: Natural Sciences & Mathematics | Technology, Management & Engineering | Arts, Architecture & Recreation
About the Donor: The Gujarat Sahitya Academy, an autonomous body established by the Government of Gujarat to promote and preserve the rich heritage of Gujarati literature, is a distinguished and generous institutional donor to our library collection. As the premier state organization for language and arts, the Academy plays a foundational role in archiving regional history, supporting local writers, and publishing celebrated literary journals like Shabdashrushti. Beyond publication, the Academy is a passionate promoter of education and cultural preservation, running vital state-wide initiatives and documenting the life works of prominent thinkers. Its generous contribution of books significantly enriches our library's regional language, history, and cultural studies collections.
Subjects: History, Biography & Geography | Literature, Poetry & Essays | Religion & Mythology
About the Donor: Professor Keita Omi, an Assistant Professor in the Social Sciences division of the School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished scholar and generous donor to our library collection. As a political scientist, he is a prominent researcher specializing in the development of foreign policy, intelligence studies, and government leadership. Beyond his specialized research focus, Professor Omi is a dedicated academician with a diverse global training background, having earned his PhD in Political Science from the University of Utah, his Master's degree from San Francisco State University, and his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Reitaku University in Chiba, Japan. His service to global education and unique interdisciplinary background significantly enriches our library's political science, international relations, and security studies collections.
Subjects: Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | Literature, Poetry & Essays | History, Biography & Geography
About the Donor: Professor Manjil Saikia, an Assistant Professor in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences division of the School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished scholar and generous donor to our library collection. As a mathematician, he is a prominent researcher with high-level international experience, holding a PhD from the University of Vienna and having completed a postdoctoral position at Cardiff University. Beyond his academic research and commitment to undergraduate mentoring, Professor Saikia is a passionate advocate for science communication, serving as an elected member of the Indian National Young Academy of Science and as a co-founder and editor of the popular mathematics magazine, Gonit Sora.
Subjects: Literature, Poetry & Essays | Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | History, Biography & Geography
About the Donor: Professor Ramadhar Singh is a highly distinguished academician, researcher, and generous donor whose foundational contributions have profoundly enriched the study of psychology and management. Currently serving as a Distinguished University Professor at Ahmedabad University, he brings a lifetime of exemplary scholarship from premier institutions worldwide, including faculty positions at IIT Kanpur, IIM Ahmedabad, the National University of Singapore, and various prestigious visiting assignments. A Fellow of top global bodies like the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science, his research on social judgment, organizational behavior, and leadership is widely celebrated. His significant donation of books to our library directly scales the learning resources available to our students and faculty across disciplines.
Subjects: Philosophy & Psychology | Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | Technology, Management & Engineering
About the Donor: Professor Shuja Ahmed, an Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished scholar and generous donor to our library collection. As an engineer and researcher, he is a prominent specialist in advanced manufacturing processes, with a core research focus on friction-based manufacturing, processing, and additive manufacturing technologies. Beyond his specialized laboratory research, Professor Ahmed is a dedicated academician with an exceptional background in research and technical education, having completed a post-doctoral fellowship at IIT Ropar, earned his PhD from IIT Patna, and received his BTech with Distinction from Magadh University. His service to the engineering community includes actively publishing in high-impact journals and serving as a peer reviewer for prominent international publications in manufacturing engineering.
Subjects: Technology, Management & Engineering | Natural Sciences & Mathematics | Arts, Architecture & Recreation
About the Donor: Professor Devavrat N. Pathak (1920–2006) was an eminent academician, political scientist, and historian who served as the Director, Professor, and Head of the Department at Gujarat University's School of Social Sciences. A brilliant scholar, he graduated top of his class at Bombay University, earned an M.A. from the University of Chicago under a Watumull Foundation scholarship, and later taught at three American universities as a Fulbright Scholar. Deeply committed to civil liberties and Gandhian ideals, Professor Pathak spent over two decades teaching Peace Research to advanced students at Gujarat Vidyapith while publishing extensively on secularism, Indian nationalism, and the political legacies of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, and Jawaharlal Nehru.
Subjects: Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | History, Biography & Geography | Philosophy & Psychology
About the Donor: Professor Mita Suthar, an Associate Professor in the Economics and Public Policy area at Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished scholar and generous donor to our library collection. As an econometrician and macroeconomist, she is a prominent researcher specializing in macroeconomic volatility, monetary policy, and developmental issues related to cultural economics. Beyond her academic research, which includes a visiting fellowship at the University of Cambridge and authorship of the book Monetary Policy in Macroeconomic Management, Dr Suthar is a dedicated academician with a long-standing commitment to institutional growth, serving Ahmedabad University since its inception in 2009. Her service to the institution has included her vital roles on the University Board of Management, as Controller of Examinations, and as the recipient of the university's Excellence in Teaching Award.
Subjects: Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | Literature, Poetry & Essays | History, Biography & Geography
About the Donor: Professor Darshini Mahadevia, a faculty member at the School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished scholar and generous donor to our library collection. As an urban planner and researcher, she is a prominent expert specializing in urban data systems, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development processes examined through an equity lens. Beyond her specialized research on the socio-economic impacts of urbanization on vulnerable populations, Professor Mahadevia is a dedicated academician with a notable background in academic leadership, having previously served as the Dean of the Faculty of Planning and coordinator of the Centre for Urban Equity at CEPT University, Ahmedabad. Her service to the field of urban studies includes developing critical interdisciplinary coursework on urban finance, neighborhoods, and regional development, which significantly enriches our library's urban planning, sociology, and public policy collections.
Subjects: Literature, Poetry & Essays | Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | Technology, Management & Engineering
About the Donor: Shri Bhupendra M. Shah (B. M. Shah) is a Chartered Accountant and the former Chief Financial Officer and Registrar of Ahmedabad University. Invited to join the institution during its infancy in 2009, he played a vital role in shaping its foundational financial and administrative systems. Before his impactful transition to academia, he dedicated 34 years (1976–2010) to honing his expertise at Arvind Mills, building an extensive background in audit, finance, corporate governance, and taxation. Over his multi-decade career, he has specialized in managing risk, controlling costs, and deploying new technologies to drive digital transformations. Beyond the numbers, he is highly regarded for his capability in corporate social responsibility, successful change management, and his innate ability to motivate and manage people.
Subjects: Technology, Management & Engineering | Literature, Poetry & Essays | History, Biography & Geography
About the Donor: Professor Pankaj Chandra, the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Management of Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished and generous donor whose commitment to the institution is foundational. As a global scholar, he is a prominent leader in the fields of manufacturing management, supply chain coordination, and higher education policy. Beyond his institutional leadership, Professor Chandra is a passionate educationist who previously served as the Director of IIM Bangalore and has taught at renowned global institutions including The Wharton School, McGill University, and IIM Ahmedabad. His extensive service to national governance has included memberships on the Government of India’s Yashpal Committee for the Rejuvenation of Higher Education, the Planning Commission's Steering Committees, and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), alongside serving on the boards of several prominent firms and startups.
Subjects: History, Biography & Geography | Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | Literature, Poetry & Essays
About the Donor: Professor Joseph (Joey) Van Weelden, a former faculty member at the School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished scholar and generous donor whose contribution to our library collection is deeply valued. As a ethicist and philosopher, he is a prominent researcher specializing in the philosophy of well-being, the resonance constraint on welfare goods, and subjective and objective accounts of value. Beyond his specialized theoretical research, Dr Van Weelden is a dedicated academician with a stellar global training background, having served as an Assistant Professor at Ahmedabad University from 2019 to 2024, earned his PhD from McGill University, and studied at the University of Toronto and the University of Alberta. His generous contribution of foundational texts significantly enriches our library's ethics and philosophy collections, directly supporting the critical examination of core human values and the nature of a good life.
Subjects: Philosophy & Psychology | Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | Natural Sciences & Mathematics
About the Donor: Professor Douglas Haynes, a former faculty member at the School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished scholar and generous donor whose contribution to our library collection is deeply valued. As a historian, he is a prominent researcher specializing in the socio-economic histories of modern India, with specific interest in artisans, industrialization, advertising history, and consumer culture dynamics in Western India. Beyond his specialized archival tracking, Dr Haynes is a dedicated academician with an exceptional background in international higher education, having spent decades as a Professor of History at Dartmouth College (USA) before sharing his extensive expertise with Ahmedabad University from 2021 to 2024. His generous contribution of exceptional resource volumes significantly enriches our library's South Asian history, economic history, and cultural anthropology collections.
Subjects: History, Biography & Geography | Language & Linguistics | Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law)
About the Donor: Professor Patrick French, the inaugural Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Ahmedabad University, was a distinguished scholar, biographer, and generous donor whose legacy profoundly shapes our institution. As an internationally acclaimed writer and historian, he was a prominent figure in global literature, celebrated for his award-winning biographies and histories, including books on Francis Younghusband, V.S. Naipaul, and the partition of India. Beyond his masterful literary contributions, Professor French was a passionate educationist who spearheaded the conceptual framework of our unique, interdisciplinary foundation program. His deep service to historical inquiry and higher education, cut short by his untimely passing in 2023, is preserved through his magnificent collection, which directly enriches our library’s global history, literature, and About the Donor collections.
Subjects: Literature, Poetry & Essays | History, Biography & Geography | Arts, Architecture & Recreation
About the Donor: Professor Jeemol Unni, a faculty member in the Economics area at the Amrut Mody School of Management, Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished scholar and generous donor to our library collection. As an economist, she is a prominent researcher specializing in labor economics, informal employment, gender studies, and rural transformation across developing nations. Beyond her extensive research and leadership as the former Director of the Institute of Social Studies Trust in New Delhi, Professor Unni is a passionate academician who has served on several high-level national committees, including the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector. Her dedication to education is highlighted by her previous decades-long career as a Professor at the Gujarat Institute of Development Research, and her rich text donations significantly amplify our collections in development studies and applied economics.
Subjects: Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | History, Biography & Geography | Technology, Management & Engineering
About the Donor: Professor Raghavan Rangarajan, the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished theoretical physicist and generous donor to our library collection. As a cosmologist, he is a prominent researcher specializing in early universe physics, dark matter dynamics, and baryogenesis. Beyond his institutional and administrative leadership, Professor Rangarajan is a passionate educator who spent over twenty years as a faculty member at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad before joining Ahmedabad University. His dedicated service to the scientific community includes editing national physics publications and organizing extensive outreach initiatives, and his volume contributions greatly enrich our library’s mathematical physics, astronomy, and advanced thermodynamics collections.
Subjects: Arts, Architecture & Recreation | History, Biography & Geography | Natural Sciences & Mathematics
About the Donor: Professor Poonam Dugar, the Assistant Dean of the Undergraduate Programmes at the Amrut Mody School of Management, Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished scholar and generous donor to our library collection. As a chartered accountant and researcher, she is a prominent expert in the fields of financial and cost accounting, taxation, venture capital, and private equity markets in India. Beyond her specialized classroom teaching, Professor Dugar is a dedicated academician with a strong commitment to institutional leadership, having served as the Chair for the BCom (Hons) and BCom Professional (Hons) programmes for five years and coordinating international ACCA professional qualifications. Her service to the university and her deep domain knowledge in commerce significantly enrich our library's accounting, finance, and corporate management collections.
Subjects: Technology, Management & Engineering,Acca, Applied, Knowledge, Diploma, Business
About the Donor: Professor Bijal Mehta, a senior faculty member at Ahmedabad University, is a dedicated scholar and generous donor to our library collection. As a specialist in marketing, consumer behavior, and service management, she has contributed significantly to academic research and institutional development. Beyond her administrative commitments, Professor Mehta has a strong record of publications and corporate consulting, focusing on retail strategies, brand positioning, and consumer insights in developing markets. Her commitment to education includes previous roles at various leading institutes in Ahmedabad and Gujarat University. Her service to global education includes international academic visits to Cranfield University and Cambridge University, mentoring postgraduate and doctoral scholars, and contributing to the scholarly community as an editorial board member and peer reviewer for numerous national and international journals.
Subjects: Technology, Management & Engineering | Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law)
About the Donor: Professor Niraj Athavle, a senior faculty member at Ahmedabad University, is a distinguished financial expert and generous donor to our library collection. As a practitioner-scholar, he is a prominent specialist in financial derivatives, investment banking, international finance, and the structural dynamics of global capital markets. Beyond his deep institutional insights, Professor Athavle is a dedicated academician who brings over thirty years of high-level executive experience from the forefront of global financial markets, highlighted by his tenure at J.P. Morgan where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of J.P. Morgan SEA Ltd, Managing Director, and Head of Global Clients APAC. His profound service to the international financial sector and his unique leadership perspective significantly enrich our library's banking, corporate governance, and quantitative finance collections.
Subjects: Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Law) | Natural Sciences & Mathematics | Arts, Architecture & Recreation