The Delhi Cabinet has approved two new research fellowship programmes aimed at uncovering and preserving the capital's rich civilisational legacy. The initiatives will support scholars in documenting, digitising and scientifically studying the city's historical and archaeological wealth, including forgotten monuments, ancient manuscripts and centuries-old archival records.
Fellowship Details and Focus Areas
The Archives Fellowship will focus on preserving and digitising historical records while promoting research in archival science, conservation, records management, publications and languages, particularly Urdu and Persian. This initiative is expected to improve public access to historically significant documents that have remained confined to archives for decades.
The Archaeology Fellowship will promote research on Delhi's history, archaeology, architecture and conservation, with particular emphasis on lesser-known monuments that often remain outside the public gaze despite their historical significance.
Financial Support and Selection
Under the scheme, 15 researchers will be selected each year for a one-year fellowship and will receive monthly financial support ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.
Government's Vision
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, "Delhi is not only the national capital but also a living heritage of thousands of years of history, culture and civilisation. Preserving this invaluable legacy, ensuring its scientific study, systematic documentation and making it accessible to future generations are among the Delhi Government's priorities." She added that the fellowships had been approved to fulfil this objective.
Broader Impact
The government believes the initiative will not only strengthen heritage conservation efforts but also boost cultural and heritage tourism in the national capital. Highlighting the broader vision, the Chief Minister stated, "The two fellowship schemes will help build a strong pool of trained and skilled professionals in the fields of archives, archaeology and heritage conservation. They will provide fresh direction to academic research while making a significant contribution to the preservation of Delhi's documentary and archaeological heritage."
Implementation and Guidelines
Detailed operational guidelines, including eligibility criteria, the application process and the selection procedure, will be issued separately by the concerned departments before the fellowship programmes are rolled out.
