The program falls under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-256, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act which aims “to enable the Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries……; and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of the world.” As such, the program draws on the long history of friendship and shared interests between the United States and India. The goal is is to inspire and develop a network of aspiring young civic leaders from the two countries to work together to advance civil rights, social justice, and inclusion locally, nationally, and internationally by exploring the history and legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative is designed for a group of approximately twenty undergraduate, graduate, and/or recently graduated, aspiring civic leaders representing diverse range of communities and backgrounds from the United States and India. The goal is to bring participants together to develop their leadership skills and, explore historical and contemporary themes in civil rights, social justice, peace, nonviolence, and reconciliation from both countries’ perspectives. In addition to academic study of program themes, the Exchange aims to provide participants a deep understanding of the history, cultures, and contemporary issues in both the countries; leadership development workshops; community engagement; and opportunities to apply new skills and knowledge not just in the classroom but beyond.