Ashok K. Malhotra (ISI ’63-69), currently a Distinguished Teaching Professor of the Philosophy Department at SUNY Oneonta, was recognized for his work in promoting literacy among underprivileged children in India by being named a recipient of the 2008 Gullands Excellence Award.

Ashok is the recipient of the EWCA Distinguished Alumni Award and established The Ashok Kumar Malhotra Seva (Compssionate Service) Award for students with outstanding community service.

Full news release below.

NEWS RELEASE

September 30, 2008

SUNY-ONEONTA PHILOSOPHER AWARDED FOR PROMOTING LITERACY

ONEONTA, N.Y. — Distinguished Teaching Professor Ashok K. Malhotra of the Philosophy Department at the SUNY College at Oneonta has been named a recipient of the 2008 Gullands Excellence Award for his work in promoting literacy among the underprivileged children of India. Dr. Malhotra received the award, presented by the Association of Non-Resident Indians at its annual meeting, on September 27 in London.

At the ceremony, Professor Malhotra was presented with a plaque as one of a dozen recipients of the award worldwide who were recognized for exemplary service in their areas of specialization, including art, music, literature, engineering, economy, banking, manufacturing, engineering, education, and community service.

Gullands of Maidstone, a solicitor firm from England, created the award to celebrate extraordinary achievements by non-resident Indians in support of their homeland. Dr. Malhotra was recognized for establishing four Indo-International Schools through the Ninash Foundation. The schools now serve more than 750 of the poorest children of India.

Dr. Malhotra established the Ninash Foundation in 1996 to support efforts to promote literacy among children and adults throughout the world. He has received many honors for his work with the schools, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the East-West Center, the Bharat Excellence Award from the Friendship Forum of India, and the Spiritual Leadership Award from the Friends of the Religious Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The Indo-International School project was recognized as a gift of service to humanity in 1999 and presented to the Dalai Lama during the Parliament of World Religions in South Africa.

A member of the SUNY-Oneonta faculty since 1967, Dr. Malhotra received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1994 and was promoted to the rank of SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor in 2001. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Rajasthan in India and a doctorate from the University of Hawaii.