The Peninsula Foundation Public Charitable Trust (commonly known as The Peninsula Foundation or TPF) is an independent, non-partisan institution dedicated to public policy research and advocacy, based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Founded on the conviction that Governance must serve Conscience and that Humanity must Transcend divisions, TPF works to foster ethical leadership, inclusive development, and just international relations. Created to address the need for a distinct regional, maritime, and Indo-Pacific perspective, TPF supplements India’s predominantly continental policy discourse by encouraging innovative ideas and stimulating critical debate on governance, international affairs, and India’s economic and technological sovereignty.
The Peninsula Foundation‘s core comprises a small group of dedicated members who bring extensive experience, expertise, and knowledge. TPF brings together scholars, practitioners, and civic-minded leaders to address the ethical, governance, and security challenges of the 21st century.
Anchored in India’s civilisational wisdom and engaged with global realities, TPF works at the intersection of geopolitics, governance reform, science and technology, and social justice. The Foundation is both a think tank and a values-driven movement–seeking not only to analyse the world, but to improve it through ideas anchored in ethics, evidence, and empathy.
We envision India’s rise as a moral civilisation a beacon of ethical innovation, secular democracy, and universal kinship and a world where no nation dominates others, where technology serves humanity, and where justice guides all relations.
Guided by the spirit of Yaadhum Oorey, Yavarum Kelir ("every place is home, everyone is my kin"), TPF envisions governance and global relations rooted in justice, empathy, equality, and cooperation within a rational, multipolar order.
TPF’s mission is to originate, disseminate, and expand understanding of robust, evidence-based public policies grounded in liberty, equality, democratic values, efficient and transparent governance, economic freedom, peace, and security.
By engaging policymakers, business leaders, academia, and civil society, the Foundation aims to shape informed and resilient narratives and solutions that uphold India’s sovereignty and contribute to a more inclusive world.
TPF‘s work spans research, dialogue, and action across these key areas:
We produce rigorous, non-partisan research on governance, constitutionalism, national security, technology and society, climate and resources, and India’s role in the emerging multi-polar world. Our goal is to equip policymakers, institutions, and citizens with clear, actionable insights.
We convene conferences, roundtables, public lectures, and training programmes that bring together officials, academics, professionals, and students. TPF nurtures a culture of informed citizenship and ethical leadership through serious, reflective dialogue across ideological, disciplinary, and generational lines.
We study long-term trends in geopolitics, technology, economics, and society to help decision-makers anticipate risks and opportunities. Our focus is on how India and the Global South can navigate systemic transitions with prudence, creativity, and moral clarity.
We work with public institutions, civil society, and educational bodies to develop frameworks, training, and tools that enhance integrity, transparency, accountability, and citizen-centric governance.
Beyond expert forums, we seek to build a broad societal constituency for ethical governance through publications, digital content, youth engagement, and partnerships that align action with values.
TPF’s philosophy is grounded in a distinctive synthesis of Indian and global thought.
"Yaadhum Oorey, Yavarum Kelir" from the Tamil sage Kaniyan Poongundranar’s dictum, meaning "every place is home, every person is kin." We affirm universal human dignity and reject hierarchies of race, creed, and nation.
From Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural, especially the triad of Aram (virtue), Porul (rightful prosperity), and Inbam (humane well-being), we derive the view that governance must be morally grounded, economic life must be just, and human flourishing must be inclusive and compassionate.
We believe that power without ethics is tyranny; progress without justice is destruction.
These foundations translate into working principles that define TPF’s ethos.
Guided solely by evidence and ethics, with a non-partisan approach; beholden to no political parties, ideologies, corporate interests, or foreign interests.
Academic excellence wedded to uncompromising ethical conviction.
Welcoming wisdom and voices from all backgrounds and cultures.
Thinking beyond election cycles toward future generations’ flourishing.
Translating research into advocacy, dialogue into action, vision into institutional change.
TPF is not merely a think tank – it is a ‘moral movement’. We seek to build a broad societal constituency for ethical governance. TPF plans to achieve its mission through promotion and advocacy of free enterprise, effective government, individual freedom, Indian civilisational ethos, and values based on ethics, integrity, and a strong national defence.
The Foundation places great importance on global governance and policies that protect the environment and ensure the global commons are free of conflict and accessible to all. TPF views environmental degradation as the single most significant national and human security threat. These challenges can only be met through visionary policies, strong regulatory frameworks, and education that brings about active participation of people.
TPF aims to pursue its mission by conducting timely, accurate research on key policy issues and effectively marketing these findings to our primary audiences: policymakers, the media, and the academic community. We support those policies that will demand political accountability and responsibility.
We believe that peace is best achieved when democratic nations are well defended. TPF supports a strong Indian military and the development of a strong national military culture. Furthermore, we believe India’s strength emanates from economic and technological strengths. TPF’s work focuses on energising policies that underpin India’s economic and technological sovereignty.
Provide timely, accurate research on key policy issues, and engage governments, the private sector, civil society, and our members in open debate and private discussions about the most significant developments in governance, security, and international affairs. TPF will carry out independent and rigorous analysis of critical global, regional, and national challenges.
We lay strong emphasis on public outreach and effectively market our findings to primary audiences. We offer new ideas and proposals on how best to confront these challenges and opportunities from the near to the long-term. Policy recommendations will be developed in collaboration with policy makers, experts, and stakeholders in each area.
TPF provides strong and effective advocacy of realist and pragmatic policies to help build a strong India through a better life for its citizens.
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Old No 16, New No 17, Crescent Road, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai - 600 030, India.