HPU Research Scholar Receives Prestigious Ernst Mach Grant
Dolly Shah, a Ph.D. research scholar in the Department of English at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), has been awarded the globally renowned Ernst Mach Grant. This fellowship is funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research and administered by OeAD, Austria.
Research Stay at University of Graz
The grant will support her research stay at the University of Graz, Austria, scheduled from October 2026 to June 2027. Her project, titled "Marginalisation and resistance in Dalit diaspora non-fiction in the United States: Literary activism and policy change," builds upon her doctoral work in Dalit Studies, Diaspora Studies, and American Studies.
University's Pride
Professor Mahavir Singh, Vice-Chancellor of HPU, congratulated Shah on her achievement, calling it a matter of pride for the university. He wished her continued success and noted that this award highlights HPU's growing international academic presence.
Previous Academic Achievements
During her Ph.D., Shah has represented HPU at the 51st International Conference of the Austrian Association for American Studies (2024) and participated in the London Critical Theory Summer School (2025) at Birkbeck, University of London. She was also selected for the Virtual London Critical Theory Summer School 2026.
Scholar's Gratitude
In response to her achievement, Shah expressed gratitude to Professor Neelima Kanwar, Head of the Department of English; her supervisor Dr. Seema Banta, Assistant Professor at UIT; and all faculty members for their guidance and support throughout her academic journey.
