The donation will establish an endowed PhD studentship and ongoing funding for postdoctoral research. The scholarships will be named after former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi, who was a key figure in the Dravidian movement, thereby honouring a transformative politics of social justice, expanded educational access, and inclusive economic progress that reshaped Tamil Nadu in the post-independence era. 

In a joint statement, Sabarisan Vedamurthy and Senthamarai Stalin said, “At a time when conversations around inclusion are shaping global agendas, we believe Tamil Nadu offers a powerful example. This donation seeks to ensure that its journey is explored, understood, and shared with the world—enriching the movement itself in the process.”   

The state of Tamil Nadu, known for its ‘Dravidian model’ of growth, has a history of implementing socio-economic policies grounded in the principle of equality of opportunity, from widening access to education, preventing marginalisation, and enabling socio-economic empowerment. Yet the success and heritage of the region are not widely understood outside of India. "This is about recognising the power of the Dravidian movement, which brought dignity and opportunity to millions. As the world looks for stories of hope, we want Tamil Nadu’s experience to be part of that global conversation”, the couple said. 

Professor Tim Harper, Head of the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences, said, “We are delighted that Mr Vedamurthy and Mrs Stalin have chosen to support the future of these important areas of study, and we look forward to welcoming the first M. Karunanidhi scholar next year”. 

Professor Shruti Kapila said, “This donation will have a lasting impact on future generations and help to bring Dravidian studies to a global audience. We are very grateful to the family and pleased to be able to honour M. Karunanidhi here in Cambridge.” 

The PhD studentship will be awarded preferentially to students from socially and financially disadvantaged backgrounds. It will support research topics concerning contemporary Dravidian history, politics and economics with a focus on the Tamil Nadu region.  

The funding will sit within the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences and be allocated to faculties according to the specific focus of the successful candidates.