For Mitu Sengupta (PhD 2004), the University of Toronto has played a pivotal role in her life – and now she’s ensuring it will be part of her legacy.
Mitu’s journey to Canada began as an international student from India at McGill University, where she completed both an undergraduate and graduate degree in political science. However, she says it wasn’t until she arrived at U of T to pursue her doctorate that she truly felt at home.
Given my parents’ dedication to empowering the poor – especially my father’s work advocating for the poor to understand their legal rights – I chose the law school. It’s not just a financial gift; it’s a testament to the values my parents instilled in me and the bond we shared as a family.
“Arriving at U of T set a tremendous trajectory for my life,” she says. “What I liked most was the diversity – that was a big part for me. I was treated with respect and had so many positive experiences.” These included being “embedded” in the U of T community, working as a teaching assistant and as a residence don at St. Michael’s College. “I got to see a side of U of T that many don’t,” she says. “As a don, I met people from different programs, faculties and life experiences. It was a wonderful experience.”
Given my parents’ dedication to empowering the poor – especially my father’s work advocating for the poor to understand their legal rights – I chose the law school. It’s not just a financial gift; it’s a testament to the values my parents instilled in me and the bond we shared as a family.
Building a legacy
Now, 20 years later, Mitu, a professor of political science at Toronto Metropolitan University specializing in comparative politics, reflects on her time at U of T as one of the most pivotal periods of her life. Another key moment was the loss of her parents, who paved the way for her international aspirations. Her father, Arjun, who passed away in 2010, was a leading economist and politician in India, serving as the United Nations independent expert on extreme poverty. “My father was a champion of the rights-based approach to development,” Mitu says. “He worked diligently on the legal empowerment of the poor—helping them understand their legal rights and what the state was obligated to provide.”
Similarly, her mother, Jayshree, who passed away in 2020, was a noted journalist who focused on the Indian economy and women’s participation and empowerment in India. As Mitu puts it, she was deeply concerned “with the lack of social and economic recognition of women’s work.”
Honouring a commitment to social justice
The loss of her parents was profound and led Mitu to reflect on her own legacy and the impact she wanted to make. Given the transformative role U of T played in her life, she decided to approach the university about including a gift in her will. She also felt confident that U of T would manage her contributions responsibly. The result: a scholarship at U of T’s Faculty of Law.
Mitu Sengupta (PhD 2004) created a bursary at the Faculty of Law honouring her family and will support it through her estate.
“Given my parents’ dedication to empowering the poor – especially my father’s work advocating for the poor to understand their legal rights – I chose the law school,”
she says.
Working with U of T’s Gift Planning office, Mitu established the Arjun, Jayshree & Mitu Sengupta Bursary at U of T’s Faculty of Law. The bursary will be awarded to one or more JD students based on financial need, with preference given to students who have demonstrated interest and participation in the Faculty’s Downtown Legal Services Clinic. Mitu has also arranged her will to further supplement the bursary in the future.
Mitu Sengupta (PhD 2004) created a bursary at the Faculty of Law honouring her family and will support it through her estate.
“The three of us were like a team,” she says. “We talked a lot about what kind of legacy we wanted to leave and because of the impact U of T had on me, I wanted to give back here.”
As Mitu looks to the future, she is excited about the potential of the bursary to make a lasting difference. “I hope the bursary will be a beacon of opportunity for generations to come,” she says. “It’s not just a financial gift; it’s a testament to the values my parents instilled in me and the bond we shared as a family.”
If you would like to find out more about how to donate through your will, please visit the gift planning website or reach out to Michelle Osborne at michelle.osborne@utoronto.ca.
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