“U of T Mississauga has evolved into one of the top centres of South Asian studies in North America.”

Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn.

Jainism is one of the world’s oldest religions, emerging in India around 600 BCE through the moral and spiritual teachings of Mahavira Jain. Jainism’s core values of non-violence, truthfulness, non-possessiveness and self-discipline have shaped many other South Asian religious and philosophical traditions. And these values are still embraced today by some five million Jains around the globe – including many in the vibrant South Asian community of Peel Region, on the doorstep of the University of Toronto Mississauga.

It was this community connection that inspired Gyan and Kanchan Jain and their family to fund a chair in Jain studies at UTM – the first endowed chair in the humanities at U of T’s campus in the western GTA. The family’s generous gift of $2.5 million will be matched by the university for a total of $5 million.

“Bringing Jain Studies to the University of Toronto Mississauga is an opportunity to cultivate a deeper understanding of Jain principles such as ahimsa, an idea that can bring peace and happiness to every living being and promote non-violence in our actions,” explains Gyan Jain, whose children and several grandchildren have all studied at U of T.

The Jain studies endowment will help to significantly expand UTM’s Centre for South Asian Critical Humanities, which fosters multidisciplinary research. The gift will also fund events bringing together faculty, students, alumni and the broader community. “My family and I are so pleased to see that U of T Mississauga has evolved into one of the top centres of South Asian studies in North America,” says Hans Jain, Gyan and Kanchan’s son. “To be able to contribute to its growth is truly an honour and privilege for all of us.”

In addition to funding teaching and research, the family’s gift will also support a wide range of collaborative efforts in surrounding communities, including engagement with Canada’s first Jain temple, in nearby Brampton. “Jainism continues to have a vital influence in South Asia and around the world, including in Canada,” says UTM Vice-President and Principal Alexandra Gillespie. “We have a great opportunity to promote new research and teaching about this ancient belief system and to partner with Jain communities, locally and globally, to share this knowledge.”

The Gyan and Kanchan Jain Chair in Jain Studies and other endowed academic appointments at the University of Toronto are among the most significant in Canada. They enable the university to engage respected educators and scholars from around the world, who in turn attract top talent – including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and early/mid-career faculty – as U of T continues to enhance its degree and research programs. Disbursements in support of chairs and professorships accounted for about 29% of the total endowment funds held by the university as of April 30, 2023.*