From ‘Art of Living’ to the ‘Art of Giving’
The first generation of Indian immigrants came to America to build careers, businesses and economic security. The next stage is what they do with that success. Increasingly, those who have achieved it are becoming institutional builders, putting their wealth into American universities, research, entrepreneurship and the next generation of American workers. The case of techie and entrepreneur-turned-philanthropist Anil Sharma and his educationist wife, Anupama Sharma, and their recent “generous endowment”, the amount of which remains undisclosed, to George Mason University’s top-ranked Costello College of Business is more than a philanthropic gesture. It reflects a broader evolution in the Indian-American story— from pursuing opportunity in America to creating opportunity for the Americans who come next. They are investing in an American university and the American innovation economy.
At a time when immigration, belonging and who gets to claim America as home have become increasingly contested questions in American political discourse, the Sharma endowment offers a very different immigrant narrative, not one of seeking acceptance, but of investing in the country they now regard as their own. The endowment by Anil and Anupama Sharma also sits within a broader evolution of Indian-American philanthropy. Indian immigrants and their children have increasingly become significant contributors to American universities, hospitals, cultural institutions, research centres and community organisations.
This endowment comes at a critical juncture in America’s political landscape. Particularly compelling is the destination of that generosity. This is an investment in an American university, American students and an American regional economy. Its intended beneficiaries are not confined by nationality, ethnicity or identity. The gift is about belonging. An immigrant arrives in a new country seeking opportunity. Over time, that country becomes home. Eventually, giving back becomes another way of saying: “This is my community too.”
George Mason’s Costello College of Business sees the gift in precisely those terms. Dean Ajay Vinzé describes it as a milestone for the college and the centre, one that can strengthen the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, expand opportunities for students, alumni and community members, and create an engine of innovation for generations.
That distinction is key, as neither Anil nor Anupama is a George Mason graduate. Their contribution is rooted in a simple belief: education can create opportunity, entrepreneurship can transform communities, and success carries with it a responsibility to help others find their own path.
Perhaps, in a way, that answers the doubts being raised about the success of Indian immigrants in America. Anil Sharma elaborates on his philosophy behind the endowment: “I certainly recognise that my ability to give back was made possible by the opportunities I found in America... Giving back is, in many ways, about recognising the people and the country that helped make your journey possible and helping create those opportunities for someone else.”
For Anupama, the connection to education is equally personal. A teacher in India, she says she saw first-hand how education could transform lives. Giving through education, therefore, is a natural extension of what she has always believed. “We are blessed to be able to give back,” she says.
Anil Sharma’s Big American Dream story is like that of many from India, his Janam Bhoomi (country of birth), who made America their home and land of opportunity, but not before arriving with just a penny or a few rupees in their pockets. Anil, too, came in 1997 with just about $100. Thirty years later, his journey has become the kind of American Dream story many aspire to.
“America, my Karma Bhoomi, gave me the opportunity to express myself fully, to dream, to take risks and to build. I found an environment where merit mattered, where hard work could open doors, and where entrepreneurship was encouraged. Just as importantly, I found people willing to give an immigrant like me a chance. That combination of opportunity, openness and a supportive business environment made my journey possible.”
But why give to an American university rather than to an Indian cause? He sees the endowment as a long-term investment in America’s mainstream. “I like to see my work create sustained value. I think of it much like a builder who wants the building he creates to provide shelter long after he is gone.”
Sharma makes a distinction between charitable causes and investing in future generations through education. “Charitable giving can address an immediate need, and I am actively involved with organisations that serve our communities. But education has a unique multiplier effect. A university is a cradle of knowledge and talent. It develops abilities, builds capabilities, and equips generations of people to create value of their own.”
For both Anil and Anupama, an educationist herself, “an institution of learning is beyond a national identity.”
But why George Mason, and why entrepreneurship and innovation? The endowment for Mason also serves the region they belong to—Virginia.
“George Mason University is a leading research and learning institution, and it is right here in our backyard. We are headquartered in McLean, in Fairfax County, and we have a strong commitment to the region and to Virginia. Mason’s proximity creates tremendous opportunities for meaningful collaboration—with university leadership, faculty and students, and through internships, capstone projects, research and innovation.”
But there is also a personal connection. Entrepreneurship and innovation are close to Anil, as these have been central to his American journey.
“I have experienced first-hand how an idea, combined with persistence and the willingness to take a risk, can become something real,” he explains, adding, “I believe innovation is what moves society forward, and entrepreneurship is one of the ways we turn that innovation into impact.”
True to humble Indian values, Anil Sharma tells TSG what it means to be an immigrant and to give back to America.
“I don’t think any of us can truly claim to be entirely self-made. Along the way, there are always people who help, guide, encourage and believe in us—parents and siblings, spouses and children, teachers and professors, employers and mentors, financiers who take a chance on us, and customers and employees who put their trust in us. The list can be as long as the journey itself.”
And for him, the endowment is about enabling students to build their dreams.
“I want them to believe in what is possible. When I arrived in America with $100, my wife and my child, I could not have predicted the journey ahead. Within months, I lost my job. There were setbacks and uncertainties, but there were also opportunities, and I learned to pursue them with grit and persistence... I hope students who benefit from this gift will pursue their dreams with that same determination. Innovate constantly. Be fair. Be honest in your dealings. Stay humble. And when you succeed, remember that you did not get there alone.”
Stay humble—that is what he prescribes to the next generation of big American dreamers and Gen Z immigrants.
“I want them to become the people who create opportunities for others. That, to me, is the true meaning of giving back and the greatest return on any gift.”
Maneesh K Pandeya is a Fulbright Professor, editor and Global Fellow, and currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the School of Global Journalism & Communication, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland.
