The Bahá’í Chair for Studies in Development is an endowed Chair at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore established to promote interdisciplinary research and scholarship on social and economic development based on a vision that regards enduring prosperity as an outcome of material and spiritual progress. In seeking to advance knowledge on a conception of development that encompasses material, social and spiritual well-being, the Chair draws upon insights from the social sciences as well systematic learning on the application of spiritual principles such as the oneness of humankind, justice, equality of women and men and environmental stewardship in the pursuit of development. The Chair carries out research, offers courses and creates fora for sharing of ideas and learning on themes related to development.
The Chair was established in 1991 through a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India.
Head
Dr. Arash Fazli is Assistant Professor and Head of the Bahai Chair for Studies in Development at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore. Prior to joining the Chair, Dr. Fazli worked as a journalist with The Hindu and The Times of India and as a Principal Researcher with the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity at Haifa, Israel.
Advisory Board
The members of the Baha’i Chair’s Advisory Board are Prof. Mangesh Teli, Professor, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai; Prof. Shirin Mahalati, Professor and Head (Retired), Devi Ahilya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Indore and Dr. Arash Fazli
Dr. Arash Fazli
Dr. Mangesh Teli
Dr. Shirin Mahalati