India, 2024 – The Foundation for Indian Historical and Cultural Research (FIHCR), founded by eminent historian Dr. Vikram Sampath, proudly announces the launch of the Sir Jadunath Sarkar Fellowship for Indian History. The prestigious fellowship aims to nurture fresh scholarship on India’s diverse past.
The Sir Jadunath Sarkar Fellowship for Indian History is a key initiative of FIHCR, aimed at encouraging rigorous academic research across five distinct themes: Ancient Indian History, Medieval Indian History, Modern Indian History, the Freedom Movement, and Post-Independence Indian History.
Each year, through an open call for proposals, the Foundation will offer this prestigious fellowship to five to 10 deserving scholars. Ola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Ola, has partnered with and supported the fellowship. This partnership underscores Ola’s commitment to preserving India’s cultural heritage and fostering academic excellence.
The fellowship – open to Indian nationals including those abroad – will offer an INR 15 lakh grant for producing a publish-worthy manuscript. Qualification criteria for the fellowship includes a graduate degree and proven research and writing skills among others.
For the first batch of Sir Jadunath Sarkar Fellows, 19 shortlisted candidates went through a rigorous selection process, including interviews by an eminent jury panel. Consequently, Chandrachur Ghose, Shaan Kashyap, Dr. Saumya Dey, Arshia Malik, Nabaarun Barooah, Jasraj Singh Dhanju, Aarti Tikoo, and Dr. Lakshmi Arya have been selected for the fellowship. The awardees will receive assistance, mentoring, workshops, and funds to publish their manuscripts.
Dr. Vikram Sampath, Founder of FIHCR, said, “The Sir Jadunath Sarkar Fellowship represents a pivotal step in our mission to rejuvenate Indian historical research. By providing substantial support to emerging scholars, we aim to uncover new perspectives on our rich past and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of India’s historical trajectory.”
Through this initiative, FIHCR aims to drive media interest and community engagement, and attract new sponsors and donors to support its CSR activities. Additionally, FIHCR will introduce research projects at premier Indian universities and the YUVA program, which is designed to engage children and young adults in Indian history.