MINUTES of the 138Th RESEARCH PROJECTS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD on 18Th and 19Th December

MINUTES OF THE 142nd RESEARCH PROJECTS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 28 & 29 April, 2015 AT 2.00 P.M & 9.30 A.M. IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM OF THE COUNCIL

MEMBERS PRESENT

1. Professor Y. Sudershan Rao Chairperson

2. Professor P.T. Haridas Member

3. Professor Rahman Ali Member

4. Professor C.I. Issac Member

5. Dr. Meenakshi Jain Member

6. Professor Kiran Kranth Choudary, D. Co-opted Member

7. Professor E. Sudha Rani Co-opted Member

8. Gopinath Ravindran Member Secretary

Professors Gangmumei Kamei and R.S. Agrawal could not attend the meeting.

(a) The minutes of the 141st meeting of the RPC held on 30 & 31 October, 2014 at 2.00 p.m. were confirmed and noted.

(b) The minutes of the Foreign Travel Grants Committee held on 27 April, 2015 at 11.00 a.m. were approved.

The Chairperson, Professor Y. Sudershan Rao, began the proceedings by welcoming the members of the Research Projects Committee. The Chairperson mentioned that he has received a large number of e-mails requesting the ICHR take up some new projects. He proposed to constitute a sub-committee to study these proposals. One of the proposals read out by him was from the Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi proposing research on Ancient Indian history based on Sanskrit texts and revisiting theme of Aryan immigration into India.

Dr Meenakshi Jain pointed out that dating of Ancient Sanskrit manuscripts was a highly complex proposition. The references to scholars on Out of India Theory in the proposal received by the Chairperson showed that most leading authorities on the subject were missing. She also inquired whether the Council would invite scholars to submit research proposals on science and technology, and who would decide the aims and objectives of these proposals.

Professor Gopinath Ravindran, Member Secretary, ICHR suggested that instead of general themes and large questions being topics of research, more focused themes should be taken up so that the projects could be completed in two years as suggested by the Chairperson. Further, the Member Secretary suggested that proposals may be first submitted and then the Chairperson could constitute a Sub-Committee.

The Committee authorised the Chairperson to constitute a Sub-Committee to prepare a work report on the feasibility and modalities of the projects after receiving written proposals. The Sub-Committee’s reports will be placed before the next meeting of the RPC.

Some members suggested that Professor Dilip Chakrabarti and Professor Michel Danino should be members of the Sub-Committee.

The Committee decided that the following tentative titles would be referred to the sub-Committee after the detailed proposals are received:

1. New Approaches to writing Ancient Indian History: from the earliest times to the Mauryan period.

2. A Comprehensive History of Science and Technology from Ancient Times to 18th Century.

3. Conference to commemorate Chola rule in India.

4. National Colloquium-Cum-Workshop on Indian Knowledge Systems.

5. Workshops on manuscriptology and epigraphy.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Item 1 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Women’s History in Northeast India: with special References to Meitei Women from Dr. Lalrameng K. Gangte, A-22, Bawngkawn’s, Aizawl, Mizoram-796001.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 2 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Heritage & Culture in South Odisha in the early part of 20th century – A Historical Study for the Promotion of Tourism from Dr. Rajendra Kumar Bishoyi, 163/715, 6th Lane, Prem Nagar, Behrampur, Odisha- 760002.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 3 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Historical Monuments during the Gond rule in Central India from Dr. Suresh Mishra, 13 Vardhman Parisar, Chunabhatti, Kolar Road, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-462 016.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 4 Request for financial support for a Research Project on The Historical Doctrine of Incardnation of Shri Shiridi Sai Baba and the Bhakti Renaissance: Study into Baba’s Wonderful Miracles and Eternal Spiritual Preachings from Professor Suryadevara Satyanarayana, Department of Philosophy, & Religious Studies, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh-530017.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 5 Request for financial support for a Research Project on History of Maharashtra through Genealogy: A Case Study from Dr. Shende Sopan Ramlal, 407, ‘A’ Wing, Maismurti Housing Co. Society, Sr. No.50, Vadgaon (BK), Singhbad Road, Pune – 411041 (Maharashtra).

The Committee recommended that the comments of the Expert be communicated to the applicant for revision and that the revised proposal be sent to the same Expert. The revised proposal along with the Expert’s opinion thereon should be placed before the next meeting of the RPC for its decision. (Revise and Resubmit)

Item 6 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Training teachers of history for teaching citizenship education from Dr. Machado Maria Elvina Xavier, 426 A, Fr. Jose Pereira Marg, Khazanbhat, Mulgaon, Vasai-401201, Maharashtra.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 7 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Megalithic Culture and Munda Tribe of Jharkhand from Dr. H.P. Sinha, Harihar Estate, C-103, Kusum Vihar, Road No.4-C, Behind Chiranjeevee Play School, Morabadi, Ranchi-834008, Jharkhand.

The Committee approved a sum of `1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac only) for a period of two years.

Item 8 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Sports, Politics and Identity: Mohammedan Sporting in Late Colonial Bengal from Dr. Rajsekhar Basu, 9/3 Balaka, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kolkata-700104 West Bengal.

The Committee approved a sum of `1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac only) for a period of two years.

Item 9 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Genesis, Development and Challenges of Chatuspathi (Tol) Centered Sanskrit Education in West Bengal from Dr. Siharan Chakrabarty, Ramakrishna Mission Sikshanamandira, Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal-711 202.

Item10 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Rain Water Harvesting, Conservation and Management in Bundelkhand (800 AD – 1800 AD) from Dr. Safiya Khan, C/o Shakeel Mohd Khan, Vill-Heerapur, Post – Mancha, Dist – Kanpur-209111, Uttar Pradesh.

The Committee approved a sum of `1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac only) for a period of two years.

Item 11 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Impact of Migration on Cultural Framework in Thanjavur Region During Martha Regime from Dr. Velusamy Ravichandran, Department of History, A.V.V.M. Sri Pushpam College (Autonomous), Dist–Thanjavur, Poondi-613 503, Tamil Nadu.

Item 12 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Natural Calamities in Odisha Under Colonial Rule in the 19th Century from Dr. Sirisa Kumar Shadangi, Anchalika Mahavidyalaya, Jagannath Prasad, Ganjam, Odisha-761121.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 13 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Magamai Fund: More than a century old Nadar community practice for self upliftment from Dr. B. Balasubramanian, Assistant Professor, School of Management, Sastra University, Thanjavur-613 401, Tamil Nadu.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 14 Request for financial support for a Research Project on The Resurrection of Islamic Medical Science: Unani and The British Raj in Bengal (1858-1947) from Md. Jahan Ali Purkait, J.B. Health Mission, Vill-Hariharpur, Ghosh Para More, P.O. Baneshwarpur, PS-Usthi, Dist – 24 Parganas (S)-743375, West Bengal.

The Committee approved a sum of `1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac only) for a period of two years.

Item 15 Request for financial support for a Research Project on A Critical Study of the Historical Development of Education in Ramakrishna Mission from Swami Tattwasarananda, Ramakrishna Mission Sikshanamandira, Belur Math, Howrah-711 202, West Bengal.

The Committee approved a sum of `1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac only) for a period of two years.

Item 16 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Medicine and Social Legitimacy: A Socio-Historical Appraisal of European Medical Missions in Kerala during the Nineteenth Century from Dr. Vinod Kumar Kallolickal, Department of History, Maharajas College, Ernakulam-682011, Kerala.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 17 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Trade, Migration and Urban Networks in Port Cities of Colonial Andhra (1600-1800 AD) from Prof. N. Kanakarathnam, Department of History, Archaeology & Culture, Dravidian University, Dist – Chittoor Kuppam-517426.

Item 18 Request for financial support for a Research Project on The Portuguese Forts in India from Dr. Lalima Dhar Charkrabarti, Senior Government Officer’s Colony, C-II/16, Tilak Lane, New Delhi-110001.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 19 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Development of Teacher Training in Bengal in Colonial Period from Shri Ajoy Ghosh, Ramakrishna Mission Sikshanamandira, Belur Math, Howrah-711 202, West Bengal.

Item 20 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Hydrology, Technology and Building Construction in Punjab: 13th to 17th Century from Shri Hitender Kumar, Flat No.12, Staff Quarters, S.P.M. College, West Punjabi Bagh, Delhi-110026.

The Committee approved a sum of `1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac only) for a period of two years.

Item 21 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Understanding Gujjar Cultural Tradition in Himachal Pradesh: A Study of Dehrian and Jatherian from Smt. Bindu Sahni, Village & P.O. Ambota, Tehsil-AMB, Dist- Una-177205, Himachal Pradesh.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 22 Request for financial support for a Research Project on A Rethinking on Government’s Welfare Schemes for Tribal People in Kalvarayan Hills from Dr. S. Kuppusamy, Assistant Professor, Department of Indian History, University of Madras, Chennai-600005.

The research proposal was not found adequate in terms of the criteria set for evaluating Research Projects. (Not approved)

Item 23 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Leather Working Caste and the English East India Company in Madras during 17th and 18th Centuries from Dr. Vikram Harijan, Assistant Professor, Department of Medieval and Modern History, Allahabad University, Allahabad-211002.

The Committee approved a sum of `1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac only) for a period of two years.

Item 24 To consider the request for an extension for one year from Dr. Sangeeta Krishna, Assistant Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University, Lucknow to complete the project on Folklore, Oral Tradition and History Writing: A Study of Folk Songs of Marginalised Communities in India (1857-1947)

The Committee approved an extension for six months without any financial assistance.

Item 25 To consider the extension request for one year from Dr. Mohabbat Singh Rathod, Project Director, Pratap Sodh Partishthan, Udaipur (Rajasthan) to complete the project on तांबापत्र की बही [1838 ई] संपादन (मेवाड़ राज्य की 1838 सेंचुरी की तांबापत्र बही).

The Committee approved an extension for six months without any financial assistance.

Item 26 To consider the request for an extension of the project upto 31.03.2015 from Dr. Renu Modi, Project Director, Centre for African Studies, University of Mumbai, Vidyanagri Campus, Kalina, Santacruz (E), Mumbai to complete the project on Indian Investment in Agriculture in East Africa: A Historical Perspective.

The Committee approved an extension for six months without any financial assistance.

Item 27 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Debating Cultural Identity: Spaces of Negotiation in Contemporary Parsee Fiction from Dr. Shiv Govind Puri, Department of English, University of Lucknow, Lucknnow-226007, Uttar Pradesh.

Item 28 Request for financial support for a Research Project on Second World War and Tripura from Dr. Sukhendu Debbarma, Associate Professor, Department of History, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar-799022, Agartala, Tripura.

The Committee noted the decision taken by the 10th meeting of the Advisory / Monitoring Committee of the ICHR, NERC Guwahati, held on 8.12.2014 and approved a sum of `5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lac only)

Item 29 Request for financial support for a Research Project on ‘Mriga’ Splendor of deer & Antelopes in Indian Art & Culture from Dr. Mohammad Nazrul Bari, Department of History, Central University of Karnataka, Kadaganchi, Aland Road, Dist: Gulbarga, Karnataka-585 311.

The Committee approved a sum of `1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac only) for a period of two years.