[Reader-list] Fellowship for DU students

[abir bazaz]

THE DR. ARVIND N. DAS 'SUMMER REPUBLIC' UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP


The Dr. Arvind N. Das (AND) Foundation for Critical Social and 
Cultural
Studies is pleased to announce its 'Summer Republic' Fellowship, 
and invite applications to the same.

The 'Summer Republic' Fellowship is meant for currently enrolled 
Indian
undergraduate students of the Delhi University. The Fellowship, in 
the unique spirit of its inspiration, Dr. Arvind N. Das, offers a 
financial award of upto Rs. 10,000 to a student (or a 
clearly-specified group thereof) wishing to undertake an unusual 
creative, intellectual project in a specific social science area. 
Such a project should entail some amount of identification and 
academic investigation of a principle, objective, issue or 
argument perceived as essential and necessary to the contemporary 
Indian Republic, played out at a local level.

This Fellowship is thus meant to extend support towards projects 
involving potential steps such as:

* Identification of an issue significant to the discussion of what 
constitutes'the Indian Republic' in contemporary times.

This may include a contextualized discussion of issues such as 
communalism,economic liberalization, gender roles, development 
models for poverty reduction, the contentious role of 'history' in 
India, the significance of sport, the divisions and possibilities 
raised by language, and so on. The Foundation would be extremely 
interested also in students identifying new, previously 
under-researched areas of interest students themselves feel are 
vital to study, in a discussion of issues or topics crucial to the 
entity that may be called 'modern India'.

* A 'field trip' to a local place (such as a bazaar, a tea shop, a 
cyber cafe, a sports ground or a movie theatre) or a location 
physically removed from the student's current one (a village, 
semi-rural or urban area in another state), added to by research 
on the chosen location's local history, its economic standing and 
its significance within a larger social picture.

* The Fellowship would then entail the awardee to present findings 
or
discussion on her/his chosen topic, either through a written paper 
on the same, or through slightly more unconventional means of 
representation, such as an audio-visual mode.

The aim of the AND Foundation's 'Summer Republic' Fellowship is to 
extend a certain amount of support to Delhi University 
undergraduate students, so that they may follow up research 
interests of their own choice and desire with organized financial 
backing.

The primary interest of the Fellowship is to encourage a strong 
element of fieldwork in the applicants' proposed projects. The 
point is essentially to allow younger students some agency to 
delve into their own ideas of how dreams, disasters and 
possibilities of 'the Indian Republic' are played out at an 
everyday, local level, to carry out some amount of academic 
research on such topics and present discussion matter or findings 
that are topical and thought-provoking.

The AND Foundation will hold a right to independently publish 
written materialproduced by the support of this Fellowship, as 
well a right to use subsequently any other kinds of material 
produced through the direct support of the Foundation.

Applications to the AND Foundation's 'Summer Republic' Fellowship 
may be made to the following address:

The Dr. Arvind N. Das Foundation for Critical Social and Cultural 
Studies,
27, Moulsari Avenue,
DLF Qutab Enclave, Phase III,
Gurgaun,
Haryana.

Please include the following with an application: a detailed 
project proposal,a schedule, a financial plan/estimate, a current 
CV/resumé with complete academic qualifications and contact 
details, a statement of support from aserving Head of Department 
at the Delhi University.

Closing Date: *31 May 2003***

Applications will be judged by a panel of AND Foundation Trustees. 
The
awardee/s will be notified of their decision by ****

India is Your Republic!

Be Inventive, Be Intrigued and Be Critical!