SAARC Research Grants 2018

Background
The Research Grants will provide an opportunity for the Member States to explore new research areas and sites along the Hindu 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 in all directions.

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 HCT.
  • To facilitate new research and new approaches to study the HCT 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 HCT 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 Hindu 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 2019.  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 Project Themes

  1. Identification of New Sites and Locations along the Hindu
  2. Cultural Trails.  Comparative Studies of Hindu Temples in different areas.
  3. Comparative Research and interpretation of Landscape values of Hindu Sites.
  4. Travels of Hindu Pilgrims
  5. Connectivity between Hindu Temples of different Countries and Regions.
  6. Hindu Cultural Trails (HCT) –
  7. Art and Architecture of HCT.
  8. Archaeology of HCT.
  9. Intangible Heritage of HCT (Music, dance, folk art, folk stories, traditional healing, handicrafts, etc.)
  10. Trade and Commerce of HCT (Aromatics, Spices, Exotic items, etc).
  11. Hindu Manuscripts, texts and inscriptions, languages and scripts of HCT.
  12. Technology of HCT (Irrigation, engineering, agriculture, etc.)
  13. Cultural Diffusion of HCT
  14. Heritage Management of HCT sites
  15. Tourism promotion of HCT

Eligibility

  1. Academics, Scholars and Researchers of the SAARC Member States.
  2. Academics, Scholars and Researchers who have received Research Grants from the SAARC Cultural Centre previously will not be eligible.

Application Process

  1. Format for the Application is attached herewith as Annexure 1 and available at the SAARC Cultural Centre website. (www.saarcculture.org)
  2. Each Member State can forward any number of Research Proposals for consideration.
  3. 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 Hindu Cultural Trails.
  4. All sections of the application should be completed (Part A, B and C).  Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  5. 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.
  6. An advance copy can be emailed to the SAARC Cultural Centre – scc@saarcculture.org with copy to dd-research@saarcculture.org
  7. All Research Proposals must reach the SAARC Cultural Centre by 30th June 2018.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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: 31st August 2018
Approval for the Research Project: 10th October 2018
Commencement of the Project: 20th October 2018
Final Report: 31st January 2019
Presentation of the Research to the Team of Experts: March 2019