The purpose of encouraging scholars to conduct research using cultural institutions and their resources

Originally termed as the “Visiting Fellows in Art, Culture & Heritage”, the fellowship was introduced byThe Ministry of Culture, Government of India,with the purpose of encouraging scholars to conduct research using cultural institutions and their resources, much of which remains unknown to the larger public till today. As part of the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, this scheme was renamed “Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research” in his honour.

The Ministry selected CSMVS as one of the cultural institutes from the western part of India for this prestigious Fellowship scheme.

Since its inception at CSMVS, this prestigious fellowship has been awarded to:

Dr. M. K. Dhavalikar was awarded the Tagore National Fellowship for the year 2009-10. An eminent archaeologist, he focused his research on “Heritage of a Metropolis: Art & Archaeology of Mumbai (up to 1200 CE)”. His study has been published as a book Cultural Heritage of Mumbai

Dr. Gautama Vajracharya was awarded the Tagore National Fellowship for the year 2012-14. A renowned scholar in Nepalese art, South Asian languages, and literature, Dr. Vajracharya undertook research on “Glimpse of Nepalese Art and Culture” which is nearing its completion.

Dr. Shereen Ratnagar was awarded the Tagore National Fellowship for the year 2013-15. She is an eminent Indian archaeologist whose work has focused on the Indus Valley and Mesopotamian Civilisations. Her study has been published in the book The Magic in the Image: Women in Clay at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.

Dr. Deepak Kannal was awarded the Tagore National Fellowship for the year 2017-19. His research on “Re-reading Ancient Indian Sculpture in the light of Indian Semiotic and Aesthetic theories” is currently underway.

Dr. Kanchana B. Bhaisare was awarded the Tagore National Scholarship for the year 2018-20 Her research on “Cultural Landscape of Washim: State and Society of Vatsagulma Branch of the Western Vakatakas (250 CE to 550 CE)” is currently underway.