New Delhi: The Mumbai-based Lodha Foundation is all set to inaugurate the Lodha Theoretical Physics Institute or LTPI in May 2026, envisioned as a space for cutting-edge research in fundamental physics. It is set to be headed by Jainendra Jain, professor of physics at the University of Pennsylvania and winner of the Wolf Prize in Physics, and will be housed in Mumbai’s Lodha Towers.
“When I first heard about what Abhishek Lodha and the foundation had planned for the institute, I thought that it would be paradise for theoretical physicists,” said Jain in a conversation with ThePrint.
On 18 March, Jain announced in an X post that he will be serving as the Founding Director of the LTPI, calling it a “deeply personal and meaningful milestone” for himself. His post also introduced the LTPI to the public.
The Institute will be formally launched through an inaugural international conference on ‘Emergent Phenomena in Quantum Hall Systems – 10’ (EPQHS), to be held in Mumbai from 27 to 29 May. This conference, featuring an illustrious panel of Nobel Prize-winning physicists and researchers from across the globe, is held once every two years for scientists working in quantum physics. This will be the first time it is held in India.
“India has a lot of talent in physics, and the researchers here are on par with their global counterparts. Through the LTPI, we want to give them a chance to express themselves,” said Jain.
A theoretical physicist working on emergent quantum systems, Jain was born in Rajasthan and received his early education from Maharaja College, Jaipur, and his master’s degree in physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. After moving to the US for his PhD at Stony Brook University, he remained in the country in different research and teaching positions. As the Founding Director of LTPI, he now plans to shuttle between Pennsylvania and Mumbai.
While speaking about his vision for the Institute, Jain emphasised that LTPI will be equipped with the resources and space for physicists to carry out pure research, without needing to worry about mandatory teaching and administrative tasks.
“It’ll allow all fellows and members to engage in the research of their choice, with none of the minutiae of daily life,” explained Jain. “There’s no pressure to work on ‘fashionable topics’ to get easier funding, because we will provide funding for what the researcher wants to pursue.”
Describing physics as a ‘collective’ enterprise, Jain explained how LTPI would strive to build an environment where physicists from across the world could interact with and learn from each other.
The EPQHS conference is the first step toward this vision. The following speakers are expected to participate in the conference:
- Klaus von Klitzing, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and Professor at the Max Planck Institute in Germany
- Bertrand Halperin, an influential theoretical physicist of Harvard University
- Allen MacDonald, pioneer of 2D material physics and a professor at University of Texas, Austin
- T Senthil, professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Building a pure science ecosystem in India
In August 2025, the Lodha Foundation inaugurated the Lodha Mathematical Sciences Institute (LMSI), a one-of-a-kind research institute for pure mathematics. Headed by Canadian mathematician Vijay Kumar Murthy and engaging eminent personalities such as Fields Medalist Manjul Bhargava, LMSI also functions on the same principles of pure scientific research with little administrative duties.
While India is already home to institutions such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, it still lacks institutions that are designed only for research and not education.
“The existing institutions are great, but we will basically be focusing on just one thing, which is fundamental theoretical physics, and we’ll be a much nimbler institute,” said Jain. “But of course, there’s no competition here. We’ll all be working together, and it’ll be a win-win scenario for India.”
Currently, LTPI has not divulged any details about the other faculty members and fellowships they would offer in the future. However, Jain did share some information about what possible topics the institute would explore and expand upon in theoretical discussions.
“Naturally, the study of emergent quantum matter—my own area of research—will be one focus area,” said Jain. “We’ll also see how this field connects to quantum topological computing, which is something that attracts mathematicians, physicists, and computer scientists, too.”
LTPI also plans to work alongside the Indian government with its focus on building a STEM research ecosystem, and with missions such as the National Quantum Mission. With India’s talent pool and support from private entities such as the Lodha Foundation, Jain firmly believes that India’s theoretical physics landscape can be overhauled. He also believes the LTPI will be able to attract global talent to India.
“We want to follow our nose, attack the most pressing problems in physics, and go after bold ideas. And global talent goes where there is a chance to make discoveries. We give them that chance.“
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
In a nation where students learn basic physics by memorizing, I fail to see the point of such an institute. Maybe the focus should be on primary education rather than white elephants like these.