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The Chancellor
Dr S B Mujumdar, a distinguished academician and educationist, is the Founder
Director of Symbiosis the man who envisioned this multi-lingual,
multi-national, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary educational complex of
international repute.
He is also the Chancellor of the Symbiosis International University(SIU). In
2005, the President of India conferred India's prestigious 'Padmashree' title
on Dr Mujumdar in recognition of his long and illustrious career.
Dr Mujumdar is also the Chairman of the education wing of the prestigious
Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industries(FICCI).
Born on 31st July 1935, in the small town of Gadhinglaj in Kolhapur district of
Maharashtra, Dr Mujumdar completed his college education at Kolhapur and Pune.
He achieved a First-Class first in MSc (Botany) and later a Doctorate in
Microbiology. He was the Head of the Department of Botany of the prestigious
Fergusson College, Pune, for 20 years. He has written several books, published
several papers in national and international publications, and was a member of
the Executive Council of the Pune University for nine years.
While at the Fergusson College, he was witness to the difficulties faced by
foreign students, particularly those from Afro-Asian countries, studying in
Pune. Inspired by the ideals of Rabindranath Tagore's 'Vishwa Bharati', and
Sane Guruji's 'Antar Bharati', Dr Mujumdar established Symbiosis in 1971. Dr
Mujumdar now intends to strive towards setting up a 'Vishwa Gram' - a Global
Village where he envisions Indian and international students to live together
in hostels, learn together in classrooms, play together on sports fields, and
eat together in the cafeterias.
The Vice Chancellor
 Dr M S Raste, the Vice Chancellor
of Symbiosis International University, is a renowned academician. A student of
the prestigious St. Vincent's High School, Pune, he later studied at the
Nowrosjee Wadia College, Pune, and completed his LLB from the Symbiosis Society's Law College and his LLM and PhD from
University of Pune.
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He began his career as a lecturer in Symbiosis Society's
Law College. He was a Member, and later the Chairman, of the Board of Studies
in Law. He has also been the Dean of the Faculty of Law as well as a member of
the Academic Council, Senate Board of Examinations, and other committees of the
University of Pune.
A hard core academician, an eschewed administrator ... and even today, his
students say, "He is still a part of us!"
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The Joint Director 
Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, the Joint Director of Symbiosis Society, is a qualified
medical doctor who has specialised as a gynaecologist. She also has a degree in
law.
Born in 1964, she imbibed the zeal for social and educational work through her
father Dr S B Mujumdar. She has travelled widely to countries like UK, USA,
UAE, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, etc to
participate in educational fairs and has interacted with students and parents
in an attempt to promote Indian higher education abroad.
She has also developed close contacts with the Ministries of Education in
different countries. By liaisoning with these departments she is able to
understand the specific needs of the youth of those countries. Under her
administration at Symbiosis, these needs are then met and provided for, in an
attempt to increase the comfort level of the foreign students at Symbiosis.
Dr Vidya's main interest is to carry forward the vision of her father, Dr
Mujumdar, by promoting international understanding through quality education.
Being a member of the Board of Management of the Symbiosis Society and
Symbiosis International University, she contributes to the overall planning and
development of Symbiosis. She has been instrumental in collaborations of
Symbiosis with some of the world-class universities.
She is currently the youngest member of the UGC (HRD Ministry), and governing
body member of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
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