How to apply for New India Foundation Fellowship


Are you a history scholar and love to write on Indian history? The New India Foundation has invited applications and proposals from the suitable candidates for the New India Foundation Fellowship. Interested and eligible candidates can apply by the due date. In this article, you can get the fellowship details, eligibility criteria, and application and selection process.

About NIF

The New India Foundation is located in Yemalur, Bangalore. It is well known for its work in Indian history since independence. The NIF was established in 2004 by Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys and scholar Ramachandra Guha. The foundation support and motivate authors to research and write about independent India. The main aim of the NIF fellowship is to cultivate a curiosity among the researchers for documentation of the changes in India post-independence. NIF Fellowship is still open for its current 12th round 2020 edition and annual Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize which award to the students and researchers for their work on the history of independent India.

The objective of the NIF fellowship

The main aim of the New India Fellowship is to deliver original research to different communities in an easy way. The New India Fellowships is awarded to scholars and writers by the New India Foundation, provided that the applicants must work on different aspects of the history of independent India.

Short-listing of applicants: Only shortlisted candidates will be called to appear before the jury for an interview. NIF will short-list about 15-20 applications out of a large pool of several hundred applications.

Duration of Fellowship: Fellowship will be granted for one year.

Number of Fellowships: 5-10 fellowships per year.

Stipend: The fellowships are awarded for one year and carry a stipend of Rs.1,50,000 a month.

Eligibility criteria

  • Only Indian nationals can apply for the fellowship. However, the Indians who are currently living abroad are also eligible.
  • The author of the book has to give a self-declaration stating that all material and outputs are the original work and only against which the fellowship is given.
  • Fellowship awardees will have to dedicate full time to the book project during the fellowship duration.
  • Past NIF Fellows are also eligible to apply.


Expectations from Fellows

Fellowship holders are expected to write original books. At the end of the year, as well as New India fellowship, an original book must be prepared as a final outcome which will be published by famous publishing houses. The Trustees of NIF already has wide experience of publishing with top firms in India and abroad.

The fellow may write:
  1. A memoir
  2. A reportage
  3. A thickly footnotes academic study
Their books can include any topic focusing on economics, or politics, or culture. The fellow can choose and give a highly specific description of a single decade or a single region-or wide-ranging, such as a countrywide overview.

Preparation of proposal

The proposal must be converted to a book; hence the applicant should clearly present an outline of the proposed work that must be oriented towards final publication. The proposed works must contribute to the full understanding of independent India.

Selection procedure

Applications for the New India Fellowship are called through the advertisement in leading magazines. Proposals received from the applicants are assessed by the trustee. Based on the proposals, applicants will be shortlisted and called for an interview before the jury. The jury panel will comprise eminent people from different fields like business, social service and scholarship.

Application procedure

NIF is accepting applications for a current round now. The applicants must visit the official website of NIF before applying. Candidate can apply through the online application form in which he /she will have to enter background details like Name, Date of Birth, Birthplace Permanent Address, E-mail, Phone no., Occupation, Nationality, Gender, and Educational Qualification and Language Known etc.
Further, the following documents have to be uploaded:
  1. Latest CV
  2. Book Proposal (with detailed Chapter Scheme)
  3. Writing Sample (not less than 5000 words)

Application Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Contact details

The Managing Trustee
The New India Foundation
C/O Neev School Sy no. 16,
Yemalur-Kempapura Main Road
Yemalur, Bangalore 560037
Phone: 8071101774


Comments

Author: Umesh02 Aug 2020 Member Level: Platinum   Points : 3

This appears to be a good opportunity for the students who have studied History, Social Sciences, Economics or Political Science during their higher studies to apply for this prestigious Fellowship. In the last 72 years there have been many social, economic and political changes that happened in our country and that has affected the lives of masses in myriads of ways and there is a lot of scope of studying those aspects and their outcomes for the benefits or setbacks for the society at large. It would be prudent to give ideas for the betterment and welfare of the society also based on the learning curves of past decades.

Author: Dr Deepali Gangwar02 Aug 2020 Member Level: Gold   Points : 2

Yes, the fellowship is a good and special opportunity for the history student, because there are lots of fellowships and scholarship scheme for science, engineering and medical students. But this fellowship gives chance to students of history so that they can utilize their knowledge to write some good work on the history of independent India that will be published as a book.



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