Global Indian Foundation

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Global Indian Foundation (GIF) ^[1] is a Singapore based organization funded mainly by profits from the Global Indian International School (GIIS) Singapore. GIF, previously known as the Global Indian Education Foundation (GIEF) and Indian Trust, Singapore, is registered in Singapore with the Registry of Societies as a not-for-profit organization. It helps to operate GIIS schools in Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, India and possibly other countries. The Chairman and CEO is Atul Arvind Temurnikar who is a permanent resident of Singapore and a native of Nagpur in Maharashtra state, India.

It has its main office in Singapore (at the GIIS Singapore Queens-town campus) occupied by Atul Arvind Temurnikar, Chairman. A second office is in the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra state, India. This Indian office is occupied by Shailesh Arvind Temurnikar, a Maharashtra based entrepreneur and Atul Arvind Temurnikar's brother.

The governing body for this organization is the Board of Governors ^[2] which is the core group headed by the Chairman and CEO Atul Temurnikar, Dr L M Singhvi (Indian Diplomat, deceased), H.C.S. (Chandrashekhar Shankar) Dharmadhikari ^[3], and Kaustubh Bodhankar. Atul Temurnikar and Shailesh Temurnikar are both grand-nephews of the Senior Governor H.C.S Dharmadhikari, resident in Mumbai. H.C.S Dharmadhikari's father Dada Dharmadhikari was a well known liberation fighter who fought the British occupiers of India using non-violent means as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi. Kaustubh Bodhankar (MBA), Director (Global Academics) and Director (Projects), was with Thermax Indonesia, and is Atul Arvind Temurnikar's brother-in-law. He is also linked to the Rotary Club through his father who was a governor of certain departments in India and a prominent Rotary Club member.

The other luminaries and dignitaries are arranged in the formation of a Presidium of Patrons and Advisors ^[4], the most remarkable recent addition being Dr Shashi Tharoor who has attracted attention to the "Global Indian" expat community in Singapore with an article on this topic printed in a Singapore newspaper in April 2008.

[edit] Related organizations

A related organization is Global Indian Foundation Japan Ltd registered in Japan by Niyanta Deshpande, Director of GIIS School Japan. Deshpande is an expert in rote learning and has demonstrated multiplication tables up to 20 on a Japanese TV. But Deshpande is not known to be a related family member. Kumiko Torikai is also associated with GIF Japan Ltd.

There are other related organizations in Singapore and a joint venture company in Thailand and some Indian companies by relatives.