SAARC Research Grants 2017
Call for Research Proposals for Short-Term Research Grants for further Research on Buddhist Cultural Trails
BACKGROUND
The SAARC Research Seminar on Buddhist Cultural Trails: Journey Through Time and Space, of Merchants, Monks and Pilgrims was held successfully in August 2017 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Research Grants will provide an opportunity for the Academics, Scholars, Researcher, etc., from the Member States to explore new research areas and sites along the Buddhist Cultural Trails. This will also act as a precursor to the Cultural Trails proposed for the future and lay the ground work in research to look at Cultural Trails as connected routes where ideas, information and knowledge travelled both ways.
OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH GRANT
To encourage new research through the SAARC Research Grants (8 Research Grants, one for each Member State)
- Research on identification of new sites, locations, trails, Tangible and Intangible Heritage associated with BCT.
- To facilitate new research and new approaches to study the BCT as an integrated entity.
- To study and analyse all different perspectives and areas which influenced the establishment, development and continuation of the Cultural Trails in the region.
- To present innovative measures for the conservation and preservation of BCT locations.
RESEARCH GRANT OVERVIEW
The SAARC Cultural Centre invites Academics and Researchers from Member States to submit detailed Research Proposals (along with the detailed budget breakdown for US$ 1,000/=) for new and innovative short-term research projects on the Buddhist Cultural Trails. One research proposal will be selected from each Member State to be awarded the short-term research grant of US$ 1,000/=. The selection of Research Proposals will be carried out by a Team of Experts selected by the SAARC Cultural Centre. The first instalment of the grant (US$ 500/=) will be made at the commencement of the Research Project. The final payment is subject to the review of the final presentation made to a Team of Experts via Video Conferencing and submission of the Final Research Paper. Any suggestions / recommendations made by the SCC Team of Experts at this stage should be included in the research process by the respective researchers.
At the completion of the Research Project each Researcher will be required to submit a Research Report of Academic Research quality to be published in the “South Asian Cultural Trails” publication series of the SAARC Cultural Centre in 2018. The Research Project is to be presented at a local or international forum within 1 year and to disseminate the knowledge gathered with the relevant stakeholders (Academic discussion, Tourism industry, sustainable development, etc.) and to send SCC the relevant documents with regard to the above dissemination of information.
RESEARCH THEMES
The following themes based on discussions and ideas submitted during the Research Seminar on Buddhist Cultural Trails held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in August 2017. The Research Proposal can be based on the themes provided below but need not be limited to these themes only.
- Identification of New Sites and Locations along the Buddhist Cultural Trails.
- Comparative Studies of Buddhist Monasteries in different areas.
- Comparative Research and interpretation of Landscape values of Buddhist Sites.
- Travels of Buddhist Monks and Pilgrims. (Ariyadeva, Buddhaghosa, etc.)
- Connectivity between Buddhist Monasteries of different Countries and Regions.
- Buddhist Cultural Trails (BCT) – The paths of the Buddha, Sites of Relics of Buddha, the way of Arahat Mahinda, the path of Theri Sanghamitta, the Fa Xian (Fa Hsien) Route, the Xuanzang (Hsuan Tsang) Route, the Cave Caravan Routes of the Western Ghats, the pilgrimage route of King Nissankamalla to Sri Pada (Sacred Footprint), Sixteen sacred places of Sri Lanka, Footsteps of Guru Rimpoche, Buddhist Cultural Trails in Maldives, Buddhist Cultural Trails in Bangladesh, Traditional Centres of learning, New Buddhist Cultural Trails for Tourism promotion and pilgrims, Buddhist Manuscript Trails, etc.
- Art and Architecture of BCT.
- Archaeology of BCT.
- Intangible Heritage of BCT (Music, dance, folk art, folk stories, traditional healing, handicrafts, etc.)
- Trade and Commerce of BCT (Aromatics, Spices, Exotic items, etc).
- Buddhist Manuscripts, texts and inscriptions, languages and scripts (Gandhari, Prakrit, Sanskrit, etc., languages and Brahmi, Kharosthi, Greek Bactrian, etc. scripts) of BCT.
- Technology of BCT (Irrigation, engineering, agriculture, etc.)
- Cultural Diffusion of BCT
- Heritage Management of BCT sites
- Tourism promotion of BCT
ELIGIBILITY
Academics and Researchers of the SAARC Member States.
Academics and Researchers who have received Research Grants from the SAARC Cultural Centre previously will not be eligible.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Format for the Application is attached herewith.
- Each Member State can forward any number of Research Proposals for consideration.
- Research Proposals should be for an innovative and new research based on the themes mentioned above (No. 4 of this document) or on a new theme related to Buddhist Cultural Trails.
- All sections of the application should be completed (Part A, B and C). Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Applications must be forwarded to the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Ministry of External Affairs of the Member State.
- An advance copy can be emailed to the SAARC Cultural Centre – scc@saarcculture.org with copy to dd-research@saarcculture.org
- All Research Proposals must reach the SAARC Cultural Centre by 10th November 2017.
- The Research Grant will be distributed in 2 instalments – The first instalment (US$ 500/=) at the commencement of the project and final instalment (US$ 500/=) after the submission of the Final Report.
- The final payment is subject to the review of the final presentation made to a Team of Experts via Video Conferencing and submission of the Final Research Paper. Any suggestions/recommendations made by the SCC Team of Experts at this stage should be included in the research process by the respective researchers.
- At the end of the Research Project each Researcher will be required to submit a research report of academic research quality.
TIME SCHEDULE
- Deadline for Accepting Research Proposals 10th November 2017
- Approval for the Research Project 25th November 2017
- Commencement of the Project 10th December 2017
- Presentation of the Research to the Team of Experts February 2018 (Dates TBA)
- Final Report 1st March 2018
CONTACT INFORMATION
Bindu Urugodawatte
Deputy Director – Research, SAARC Cultural Centre.
Email: dd-research@saarcculture.org or binduling@gmail.com
Tel/Whatsapp: 0094-77-105-3007
