Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Prayagraj
The Visiting Scholar Programme at the Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies offers an intellectually vibrant and interdisciplinary environment for academics and practitioners seeking to pursue advanced research within a supportive and critically engaged scholarly community. Designed to nurture rigorous inquiry and innovation, the programme facilitates access to the Institute’s state-of-the-art research infrastructure, including its specialised archives, digital databases, and curated collections pertaining to South Asia.
Visiting Scholars are encouraged to actively contribute to the Institute’s academic life by participating in public lectures, faculty seminars, and collaborative workshops. These inter-institutional engagements are intended to promote cross-disciplinary dialogue and foster a deeper understanding of contemporary challenges facing South Asia. Through their involvement, scholars will play a critical role in enriching the Institute’s mission to generate transformative knowledge in fields such as sustainable development, cultural and historical preservation, democratic resilience, religious pluralism, and human rights.
This programme represents a rare opportunity to refine and extend one’s research agenda in a focused and stimulating setting, while simultaneously cultivating professional networks that span academia, policy, and civil society. Priority will be given to applicants whose research proposals demonstrate clear resonance with the Institute’s core thematic areas.
Key Information
- Application Deadline: 30 November 2024
- Programme Commencement: Spring or Autumn 2025 (flexible by mutual agreement)
- Eligibility: Applicants must demonstrate a strong record of publication or significant applied work in South Asian Studies or a closely related discipline. A well-articulated research agenda that aligns with the Institute’s strategic priorities is essential.
Programme Benefits
- Formal affiliation with one of South Asia’s leading interdisciplinary research centres
- Dedicated office space and full access to on-site research facilities and collections
- Opportunity to publish in the Institute’s Working Paper Series and Policy Briefs
- Invitations to present at Institute-hosted workshops and regional academic forums
- Mentorship and editorial support aimed at facilitating high-impact scholarly and policy-oriented publications
Why Collaborate with the Sundar Singh Institute?
Becoming a Visiting Scholar at the Sundar Singh Institute is more than a professional designation—it is an invitation to join a collective intellectual enterprise committed to justice, sustainability, and peace in South Asia. Our academic community comprises a diverse fellowship of researchers, policy thinkers, and public theologians working at the nexus of scholarship and societal transformation.
Rather than pursuing isolated projects, Visiting Scholars are expected to contribute meaningfully to the Institute’s evolving academic ecosystem—one that values scholarly rigour as much as real-world relevance. This environment is intentionally curated to catalyse research that transcends disciplinary boundaries and informs both policy frameworks and grassroots practice.
We invite you to regard this Institute not simply as a place of study, but as a home for ethically grounded scholarship—a space in which ideas flourish, collaborations deepen, and research aspires toward enduring social impact.