Anand G. Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, became the first Indian to receive the prestigious Harvard Medal for his dedication, generosity and service to the University. Harvard President Drew Faust, the Lincoln Professor of History, presented Mr. Mahindra with the medal at the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association during Harvard”s 363rd Commencement Afternoon Program on May 29.
Mr. Mahindra is an alumnus of the University, graduating with Honours (Magna Cum Laude) from Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1977. In 1981, he secured an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts.
“To be honoured by one’s alma mater is a matter of great personal pride. Harvard has given me much more than just an education; it has expanded my world view and brought in a cross-cultural focus to my personal and professional life. This was also the impetus for establishing the Mahindra Humanities Centre at Harvard in 2010,” he said.
Commenting on the award, Mr. Jack Reardon, Executive Director, Harvard Alumni Association, said, “Anand Mahindra is a loyal and devoted alumnus of Harvard College and Harvard Business School. He has a deep interest in Harvard and understands the research efforts of the University that can make a positive difference to people around the world. Anand Mahindra is a very deserving recipient of the Harvard Medal.”
Co-founder of the Harvard Business School (HBS) Association of India, Mr. Mahindra is also a founding member of the University’s South Asia Institute (SAI), the HBS India Research Center, and the SAI field office in Mumbai, India. He is also a longtime member of the Asia Center Advisory Committee. He was invaluable to the HAA in the planning and execution of the Global Series conference in New Delhi in 2006.
He is currently a member of the President’s Global Advisory Council, the Committee on University Resources (COUR), the HBS Board of Dean’s Advisors, and the SAI Founder’s Club. He is also very active with the Harvard College Fund and his class fundraising efforts. In 2010, Mahindra made a transformative gift of $10 million to the Humanities Center. The center was then renamed the Mahindra Humanities Center in honor of his mother, Indira Mahindra.
Mr. Mahindra recently strengthened his association with the US, having been appointed to the Board of the U.S. – India Business Council (USIBC). As a member of the board of directors, Mr. Mahindra will help bring the US and India closer together by promoting the policy advocacy priorities of the USIBC and advising members and senior staff on a wide range of topics.