About Homi Bhabha Fellowships Council
In India, as in other countries, there is a
great and continuing need for men and women of exceptional qualities of mind
and character to provide enlightened leadership. The Council accordingly seeks
out and assists outstanding young persons at a stage in their career when the
scope normally available for the full development of their talents may be
restricted by their relatively junior position in their profession or in the
organisation to which they belong. It is the object of the Council to provide such
persons with the means, training and opportunities for the full development of
their abilities at an age when they are at the height of their energy and
mental powers, thus enabling them to provide the leadership required in various
spheres and, in some cases, to make creative and original contributions.
The object of the Homi Bhabha Fellowships
Council is to give to young men and women of exceptional talent, opportunities
to develop their abilities at a relatively early age, through study, research,
travel and practical training, so as to enable them to provide in time the kind
of leadership the country requires in various fields. The Foundation has been
named after Homi Bhabha not only to honour his memory but because his genius
and vision served to inspire and encourage young people to strive for
excellence and to aim at significant achievements in the service of India. The
Homi Bhabha Fellowships Programme is thus intended to carry forward into
various fields of endeavour the inspiraton which Dr. Bhabha had so effectively
provided in the great tasks and projects which he formulated and brought to
fruition.
The selection and programme of development
are determined by the Council which is assisted by an Advisory Board and by
committees of consultants and specialists. The persons selected are betweem
the ages of 30 and 45 years.
While the system of selection is flexible,
applications and requests for the Council’s consideration normally require the
recommendation and support of a recognised institution or of a person of
eminence in the field concerned. The Council directly, or through it
committees, will carry out the process of screening, interviewing and testing
of those who seek the high distinction of a Homi Bhabha Fellowship.
Fellows
are expected to come from the class of persons who, on completion of their
institutional or academic training, have spent some time in the successful
practice of their special activity. As a rule, therefore, these Fellowships
are not available as scholarships for further scholastic study, e.g. towards a
Ph.D. or for training as such. They are intended to be grants to competent
young persons to carry out projects at an advanced level which would enable
them to achieve further progress in their special fields of interest. Fellows
may work either by themselves or in an institution as may be appropriate and
suitable.
The
nature and tenure of the award vary in accordance with the requirements of each
case. The amount of the Fellowship is Rs.50,000/- per month (tax free); those
who wish to draw their full pay and allowances from the parent Institute, the
Council will give a supplementary grant of Rs.25,000/-
per month (tax free) during the term of the Homi Bhabha Fellowship; in
addition, funds are provided wherever necessary, for essential travel, books
and other contingencies. The period of the Fellowship will be between one and
two years.
Homi
Bhabha Fellows include scientist, engineers, agronomists, architects,
educationists, historians, social scientists, writers, artists and
administrators, and, in fact are drawn from all fields of human endeavour.
The
Homi Bhabha Fellowships Council at present consists of the following members :
Mr.
R. K. Krishna Kumar
Prof.
M. G. K. Menon
Dr. A. Kakodkar
Dr.
M. S. Valiathan
Prof.
B. V. Sreekantan
Mr. Shyam Benegal
Prof.
S. M. Chitre (Hon. Executive Director)
All correspondence should be
addressed to the Honorary Executive Director, Homi Bhabha Fellowships Council,
C/o. National Centre for the Performing Arts, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400 021.
E-mail:
hbfc@mtnl.net.in /
hbfctrust@hotmail.com /
hbfc@homibhabhafellowships.com