The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is a research institution of higher learning located in Bangalore, India. It was established in 1909. After a chance meeting between Jamsetji N. Tata and Swami Vivekananda on a ship in 1893 where they discussed Tata's plan of bringing the steel industry to India, Tata wrote to Vivekananda five years later: Impressed by Vivekananda's views on science and leadership abilities, Tata wanted him to guide his campaign. Vivekananda endorsed the project with enthusiasm, and Tata, with the aim of advancing the scientific capabilities of the country, constituted a Provisional Committee to prepare a plan for setting up of an Institute of research and higher education. The committee presented a draft proposal to Lord Curzon on 31 December 1898. Subsequently, Sir William Ramsay, a Nobel Laureate, was called on to propose a suitable place for such an institution who suggested Bangalore as the best location. The land and other facilities for the institution were donated by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore,( now called State of Karnataka) and Tata himself. The Maharaja donated about 400 acres (1.5 km) of land worth 2 billion US dollars today .