Professor Kuldip C. Gupta, a founding member and president of Hindu University of America in Orlando, died Feb. 7 of a heart attack while traveling in Bombay, India. He was 66 years old
Considered the backbone of the university, Professor Gupta was the first person to serve four years as president of the school, from 2003 until October 2006, molding the staff, and giving stability and direction to the fledgling institution, said Abhinav Dwivedi, Hindu University vice president and co-founder.

Professor Gupta had been associated with the Hindu University of America project since 1986, as a member of the its board of directors and executive committee since 1992, and had served as its director of academic affairs until the end of 2006. He had retired to attend to family matters, Dwivedi said, but planned to return to the university in some capacity later. He was also a Courtesy Professor at the University of Central Florida.

Before joining Hindu University, Professor Gupta had been a Professor Emeritus of the University of Colorado, having taught there since 1983. Prior to that that he was a Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India. Dwivedi said he and others who were exploring the idea of starting Hindu University in Orlando contacted Professor Gupta, who had an interest and expertise in education in Hindu culture. Early on, Professor Gupta showed great interest and enthusiasm, Dwivedi said.

Professor Gupta is a Life Member of ISKCON and had been on Advisory Board for the ISKCON temple in Denver. He is a patron and past member of National Governing Council and Executive Board of the Vivsha Hindu Parishad of America.  He was on the founding Board of Trustees of Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Rockies.

Professor Gupta was the author of eight books and a contributor to two handbooks, an encyclopedia, and two other edited books. Professor Gupta was the author of more than 240 research papers and holder of four patents. A Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (USA) and a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India), he was honored with the IEEE-MTTS Distinguished Educator Award, IEEE Third Millennium Medal and has been on several leadership positions with the IEEE and the Microwave Theory and Techniques Society.  He was the founding editor of an international journal on electrical engineering published by John Wiley (1991-2003), and an associate editor and on the boards of several international journals. He is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in Engineering, and Who’s Who in American Education.

Professor Gupta is survived by his wife, Usha; son, Sandeep; daughters Parul and Anjula, and two grandchildren.

A prayer and shraddhanjali meeting, in which friends and colleagues pay tribute and pray for Gupta’s peace, is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the Hindu University of America, 113 N. Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando. A funeral in India is planned.

Sources: Orlando Sentinel , Hindu University of America