CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2025 TRAVEL TO INDIA; DEADLINE OCTOBER 30, 2024

FY24 Fulbright-Hays GPA short Term Program (Project type 2)

A NON-POLITICAL PROJECT FUNDED BY THE US DEPT. OF EDUCATION

THEME

Narratives of Diversity Performed through Storytelling and Encoded in Historical Architectural Sites

A unique opportunity to join a study tour to India’s historical sites, learn its culture, collecting topic based materials, develop and disseminate teaching documents for K-12 Hindi learners.The program pays for all expenses of the study tour for participants. (Participants are not required to have a prior knowledge of Hindi but must be inclined to learn.)

PROGRAM SUMMARY

FY24YHS-NYU Fulbright-Hays GPA (Hindi) Short-Term Curriculum Development Project with thematic focus on “Narratives of Diversity Performed through Storytelling and Encoded in Historical Architectural Sites”, provides opportunities to study the historical, ideological and sociological perspectives of diverse narratives, experienced, collected and recorded by program participants. The program is designed to expand participants’ knowledge about the oral, visual and performance-based centuries-long storytelling traditions of India. The Program will create opportunities for all potential participants, especially K-12 educators, to design new curricular materials with a deeper understanding of the rich cultural diversity of India. The program participants will visit the architectural structures in Ajanta-Ellora, Sanchi, Delhi, Khajuraho, and Varanasi and will explore folk figurative and performing arts, (e.g. dastangoi, puppetry, qawalli, jatra, pandavani, phad or kaawad) through hands-on workshops and demonstrations in the Tribal Arts Museum, Bhopal and in the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, Delhi. Their exposure to and study of its various kinds of narrative traditions will allow them to make informed choices when representing India in their classrooms through a balanced integration of content, culture and language and thus to create more inclusive and diverse classrooms.

Objectives: The objectives of the program are to examine the cultural, social, and political themes, symbolism and meaning of various historical, mythological and folk narratives, significant as top-down and bottom-up communicative processes of encapsulating the intangibles of the cultural heritage in various regions of India.The participants will examine secular, ideological and mythological themes depicted in architectural spaces and details (murals, sculptures and reliefs).

Leadership: The Project Director, Team Leader and Administrator Ashok Ojha, along with the Academic Director Prof. Gabriela Nik Ilieva, Clinical Professor, Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, New York University, will lead 12 Fulbright-Hays participants on a 4 week study tour to five locations in India where pre-planned daily activities for collection of authentic materials, cultural products, realia, workshops with experts and visits to local communities will be conducted.

Our supporters and collaborators:  A host of Hindi Language and Area Studies academic experts from partnering institutions in the USA and India will guide and advise program participants. Besides the close collaboration with NYU, partnering institutions in the USA are: University of Texas-Austin (UTA), McMillan Center, Yale University, and Michigan State University (MSU). In India: RN Tagore University, Bhopal, Banaras Hindu University, Vasant College for Women, Varanasi, Indira Gandhi Center for the Arts, Delhi,.engage in and develop the historical, ideological and sociological perspectives of diverse narratives, experienced, collected and recorded by program participants. On the other hand, the participants will also explore stories, legends, or myths that emerge organically from the collective wisdom and experiences of local communities and through various forms of storytelling preserved and communicated. These folk narratives are usually rooted in the traditions, customs, and beliefs of a specific community; they often reflect their histories, values, and cultural identities, and hence embody pluralism and diversity. To examine all these narratives, the program participants will visit the architectural structures in Ajanta-Ellora, Sanchi, Delhi, Khajuraho, and Varanasi and will explore folk figurative and performing arts, (e.g. dastangoi, puppetry, qawalli, jatra, pandavani, phad or kaawad) through hands-on workshops and demonstrations in the Tribal Arts Museum, Bhopal and in the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, Delhi. 

Phase I comprises of a five online pre-study tour orientation/preparation sessions every weekend during December 2024- January 2025. Phase II involves the study tour to India (Feb-March 2025) and phase III will be held online in the weekend during April-June 2025 during which participants will finalize their teaching documents under the guidance of the Academic Director. After completion and submission of their final documents, participants will be asked to fill and submit an impact report detailing their dissemination plan or completed teaching materials. If a participant fails to meet any of the program expectations,  the program will consider him/her liable to pay for all expenses incurred on their behalf.)

Eligible applicants (see below for more on eligibility), please go to: https://tinyurl.com/fulbright-hays2024

In addition to filling and submitting the google form, applicants must draft a personal statement (approx. 500 words) in Hindi or English about their career goals and how this program may impact their future career as well as a declaration form (draft provided) and email (WORD OR PDF) as attachments to: 

fhs002024@gmail.com, cc: aojha2008@gmail.com

DECLARATION FORM (APPLICANT MUST SIGN)

I, (NAME), an applicant for FY24 Fulbright-Hays GPA short Term Program, hereby declare that, if selected for this program, I will be responsible for meeting all expectations of the program and fulfilling on a timely basis all instructions assigned by the Academic or Program Director during the 18 months period of the program. I will work towards improving my linguistic and socio-cultural proficiency to at least one sub level up than the current level, as guided by instructors of the program. I understand that if I drop out of the program for any non-emergency reasons at any stage of the program the program I will be liable for paying penalties including a financial one, determined by the program leaders. Also the program leaders might inform the US Department of Education as well as my affiliated institution about my performances.

signed with date

The last date for submitting the online application form along with the required documents ( essay and declaration) is October 30, 2024. Should you have any questions, please write to Ashok Ojha, Program Director, fhs002024@gmail.com or aojha2008@gmail.com or call him on 732-318-9891. 

ELIGIBLE GPA PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

An individual is eligible to participate in a GPA project if s/he is:

• A citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States; and

• Currently employed full-time in a U.S. school system, institution of higher education, Local Education Agency or State Education Agency (not applicable to students); and,

at least one of the following:

• A teacher in an elementary or secondary school;
• A faculty member who teaches modern foreign languages or area studies;
• An experienced education administrator responsible for planning, conducting, or supervising programs in modern foreign languages or area studies at the elementary, secondary, or postsecondary levels;
• A graduate student or junior or senior in an institution of higher education, who is a prospective teacher in the areas of social sciences, humanities and foreign languages. The student should meet the provisions set by his or her local and state education agencies.

(Note: All GPA participants must be:

• educators, students, pre-service teachers or administrators who fulfill the criteria

above and;

• the selection criteria set by their respective projects and;

• are currently teaching, studying, and/or administering in the eligible fields of humanities, social sciences, foreign languages, and/or area studies. (Area studies is defined as a program of comprehensive study of the aspects of a society or societies, including the study of their geography, history, culture, economy, politics, international relations, or languages.)

Restrictions on Participants

• Preference should be given to candidates who have not previously received a Fulbright award will get preference in selection
• Individuals who are not currently employed full-time are not eligible.
• Preference should be given to candidates who will not be retiring within the next 1-2 years.

QUESTIONS? Please don’t hesitate to contact the program director, Ashok Ojha by email fhs002024@gmail.com, cc: aojha2008@gmail.com 

or call him at 732-318-9891

Travel as a Group

All group participants and leaders must travel together during the international travel and host country phase of the program. While participating under the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad grant, participants are required to remain with their respective programs throughout the duration of the program. Travel outside of the program is prohibited. At the end of the overseas phase, participants are required to return to the U.S. with their program.

Passports and Visas

The GPA grant does not provide funds for passport and visa expenses. The participants are responsible for obtaining their passports and any necessary visas. The program is not responsible for procuring or assisting in any of the processes involved in the acquisition of passports and/or visas. It is up to the individual applicant to complete and submit all of the required paperwork to the appropriate office, embassy and/or consulate. Should the applicant fail to have the required documents prior to travel, the individual may be prohibited from participating in the project.

HEALTH INFORMATION

Inoculations

For information on availability of medical services abroad and recommended shots (e.g., gamma globulin), fellows should contact the Fulbright Commission or the U.S. embassy in the host country. Additional information on recommended shots may be obtained on the Center for Disease Control’s website http://www.cdc.gov/

Health and Accident Insurance

The program does not cover the health and accident insurance of project participants

as this is typically considered a U.S.-based cost. The GPA does not take any responsibility for any personal injury, accident, illness, and loss of personal property or other contingencies that may happen to participants during or as a result of their stay abroad.The program requires that participants be covered by health and accident insurance plans.The insurance should include Emergency Medical Evacuation as well as Repatriation of Remains coverage.