APPENDIX A(i)-
GENERAL CULTURAL SCHOLARSHIPS
 SCHEME
 

In pursuance of the desire of the Government of India to promote cultural relations between India and foreign countries and to provide whatever educational facilities are available in India to students of countries which are not so well equipped in this respect, Government devised in 1949, a scheme to award 70

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scholarships every year to Indian and indigenous students from other Commonwealth and foreign countries for higher studies in India. In 1949-50, Rs. 1 lakh, in 1950-51, Rs. 2.84 lakhs, in 1951-52 Rs. 3.96 lakhs and in 1952-53 Rs. 3.25 lakhs have been provided for the implementation of this Scheme.

The participating countries are Indonesia, China, Nepal Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt, South Africa, East Africa, Ceyoln, Malaya, Burma, Mauritius, Jamaica, Trinidad, British Guiana, Fiji Islands, Siam, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Philippines, IndoChina, Tibet, Turkey, Portuguese Colonial Africa, Japan, North Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Nigeria and Surinam.

On account of cancellations or refusals only 56 Scholarships were availed in 1949-50, 52 in 1950-51 and 54 in 1951-52. At present 94 scholars are studing in India.

These scholarships are broadly classifiable into two categories:-

(i) Scholarships offered to students of Indian origin domiciled in Commonwealth and Foreign countries, and

(ii) Scholarhips offered to foreign students i. e., of non- Indian origin.

The reason for treating students of Indian origin abroad in a separate category is that there is a large Indian population settled abroad particularly in Common wealth countries and British possessions. This is mostly comprised of the descendents of Indians who emigrate to work as labourers under the Indenture system, etc. Due to general lack of educational facilities they have been relegated to a comparatively inferior status in the social, cultural and economic life of their adopted Countries. Moreover in the course of time they have been losing contacts with the culture of their mother country. The object of these scholarships is to uplift them educationally and to enable them to share in the common cultural heritage and thus strengthen their cultural ties with India.

The offer of scholarships to non-Indian students from abroad is essentially a gesture of goodwill calculated to develop closer friendships and greater understanding between India and other Asiatic and African countries.

Subjects of Study.-Scholarships are awarded for studies in Indian Universities and other educational institutions in the Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Agriculture, Medicine, Technology, Education and Law. Preference is given to students desiring to take up post- graduate courses, but in such countries where adequate facilities for higher education do not exist, students for under-graduate courses are also selected.

Value of Scholarships.-The scholar is normally paid a stipend of Rs. 200/- p. m. Capitation, Tution and examination fees are paid by the Government of India, direct to the institutions where the scholar is studying. All other expenditure incurred by the scholar on account of boarding and lodging etc. is to be paid by the scholar from Ms stipend.

Cost of Passage.-The cost of passage from the country of domicle to India and back as well as expenses on journeys within India are met by the scholars themselves or their respective Governments or private Organisations.

Duration, Commencement and Termination of Scholarships.-The Scholarship is tenable for the period necessary for the scholar to acquire the degree, diploma or certificate for which he is originally selected. It commences from the date when the scholar actually takes up the course of study in India. The scholar ships is terminable on grounds of unsatisfactory progress, misconduct and return from India without completion of course for which scholar was selected.

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Procedure of Section.-The Indian Missions/Embassies, abroad announce the Scheme in the Press of the countries coucerned and also invite applications in the prescribed form. No applications are entertained by the Government of India direct. Government's representatives abroad scrutinise the applications and forward a panel of names considered suitable for the award of scholarships, in order of preference to the Government of India, who make the final selection and also determine the course which the individual candidates are to pursue. Students are then informed of their selection and steps are simultaneously taken to secure admissions in suitable educational institutions in India.

Welfare Arrangements.-The Government of India have paid special attention to the welfare of the scholars and have taken steps to make their sojourn in India as fruitful as possible. Institutions and Universities where these scholars are studying, have been requested to appoint welfare officers for the supervision of scholars. ID response, our Universities and Institutions have entrusted this work to a Senior Member of their staff who assists, advises and guides these scholars. He also helps in making arrangements for their spending some time with Indian families. Holiday tours and sight seeing are also arranged so that scholars may be able to visit places of historical and cultural interest. Every opportunity is afforded to scholars to take full share in the life of the institution to which they are attached.

The Government of India keep a close watch on the progress of these students. Quarterly progress reports are called for from these scholars and their difficulties are resolved as far as possible. Scholars are also encouraged to learn at least one of the Indian languages. Occasionally these scholars are also contacted by the Government of India officers and their problems, if any, are discussed.

Private Students.-Besides the scholars selected under the Cultural Scholarships Scheme, a large number of foreigners and students of Indian origin in foreign lands have lately sought facilities for the prosecution of higher studies in India at their own expense. Some of these students are awarded scholarships by private philanthropists of the lands of their domicile. Most of these students belong to Africa, Burma, Malaya and some other countries in the Far East. The reason why these students come to India for obtaining higher education is-that either there is no proper facility in their country of domicle for higher education and even if there is any facility it is reserved for the favoured few and denied to the natives of the soil for various reasons.

Under these circumstances, these students look up to India for help and sympathetic consideration and also for what has been denied to them in their motherland. The Ministry of Education, keeping in view the ancient tradition of our land and also in consideration of the aggrieved circumstances in which these unfortunate students have been placed, try their utmost to meet their demands by providing all possible facilities to these students in the matter of education. Our main purpose in this connection is to let these foreigners know something of our culture and civilisation. We also want that those of the Indians who for some reason or other have migrated to foreign lands and have settled there-their sons and daughters should not forget the culture, tradition and civilisation of India under the foreign influence. In view of those considerations this Ministry have made it a policy to encourage these students in their mission and try to provide all help to them by arranging their admission, transfer, etc. In fact arrangements have already been made to reserve some percentage of seats in our educational institutions for these students and the State Governments have been asked to see that they do not feel any inconvenience after they come to India. Steps have been talent to make them feel quite at home in this land.

Appreciation of the Scheme.-The Scheme has been very well received by the Governments as well as Public Organisations and the student community abroad. Notes of appreciation have been received by the Government from many quarters

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overseas. The Scheme has already begun to play its part in developing cultural relations and fostering better understanding between India and the participating countries. As a reciprocal gesture of goodwill some of the countries such as Egypt, Iran, and Turkey have offered scholarships to Indian students for studies in their countries.

Conclusion.-Government have noted that this gesture on their part has gone a long way towards making ideals for which India stands better understood by its neighbours. Their very eagerness to imbibe Indian culture which is evinced by students testifies to the fact, that the General Cultural Scholarships Scheme satisfies a real need and by providing educational facilities which would otherwise Dot have been available to them, this Scheme takes an essential stop towards affording such. facilities to the participating countries. Nor can it be said the gain is one 'sided. More, offers of foreign scholarships are being received and Indian scholars are, afforded opportunities to go to neighbouring countries to study and imbibe their culture. Added to this is the much more important fact that the youth of India now meets its brethren on intimate terms-thus broadening its horizon . This can only result in a better understanding of one another-the desired object of the Scheme.