Shastri News - May 2009
Contents
- New programme deadlines
- Expert line-up for the University of Montreal’s upcoming Summer School on India
- Kwantlen researcher wins million-dollar grant to work with community on issues of youth violence
- Delhi University campus welcomes students from Saskatchewan
- Synergy '09 Education Conference: Canada, China, India
- The global economic downturn, G-20 and India
- How Will Disenfranchised Peoples Adapt to Climate Change?
- SFU field school update
- New publication
New programme deadlines
The Shastri Institute is pleased to announce that all application materials are now available for the following 2009-10 grants and awards:
India Studies Fellowships (For Canadians)
June 30, 2009
Scholar Travel Subsidy Grants (Indians/Canadians)
July 15, 2009 & February 15, 2010
Millennium Development Goals Research Grant (Indians/Canadians)
August 31, 2009
Partnership Development Seed Grants (Indians/Canadians)
September 30, 2009
Student Excellence Awards (Canadians)
October 30, 2009
Lal Bahadur Shastri Student Prizes (Canadians)
January 15, 2010
Information on more grants will follow in the next few months.
Expert line-up for the University of Montreal’s upcoming Summer School on India
This year’s Summer School on India at the University of Montreal is drawing in some of the world’s leading experts on India today. A dozen speakers are set to give their in-depth views on the emergence and importance of the new Indian giant. The seminar will run from Monday, June 29th to Saturday, July 4th, 2009, and will offer simultaneous lectures in both English and French.
Among topics being covered:
- Democracy and Capitalism in the Land of Castes
- Religion and Spirituality: From Foundational Myths to Daily Practices
- Social Inequalities and Justice in India
- Artistic Creativity: Literature and Cinema
- Women in India: Marriage, Family and the Informal Economy
- An Emerging Power Facing Challenges
- India in the World: Diaspora, Regional and International Policies
The training course will be led by, among others, Christophe Jaffrelot, France’s renowned India specialist, Mira Kamdar, from the World Policy Institute and Karine Bates, anthropologist specializing in Indian women’s issues. David Malone, former Canadian ambassador to India, will also give a lecture.
The University of Montreal’s Summer School caters to local citizens, members of public office, journalists, business managers and members of NGOs who are interested in international issues. Graduate students are also eligible for credits at the Masters level.
For more detailed information in English click here.
For more detailed information in French click here.
Theses sessions are part of a larger set of Summer Training programs, which include: China: how it changes and changes us; The Obama presidency, Year One; Climate Change International Law; Taking stock of the Biodiversity Convention; Pluralism and Radicalisation in the Muslim-Arab World; Understanding and Preventing Terrorism and Peace Operations: Manufacturing Peace. The University of Montreal offers this week of lectures in two versions, entirely in English and entirely in French. Its center board, the CERIUM, is headed by Mr Raymond Chretien. Not coincidentally, these schools occur during Montreal’s famed Jazz Festival.
All info here: www.cerium.ca/summer
And in French: www.cerium.ca/ete
Kwantlen researcher wins million-dollar grant to work with community on issues of youth violence
“It is much easier to keep youth out of gangs than it is to try to extract them once they are already caught up,” explains Dr. Gira Bhatt of Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey BC. “We are trying to identify factors that protect youth from ever getting involved in gangs in the first place.”
Dr. Gira Bhatt is humbled and inspired by the opportunity to direct a major research project involving ten academic researchers and 11 community groups for the next five years. Her objective is to reduce the amount of gang related youth violence in BC’s lower mainland by focusing on the positive factors that keep high-risk youth out of gangs today.
It is no coincidence that almost half the community groups involved in this project represent Surrey’s South Asian Diaspora. Over 115 youth have died due to gang related violence in BC’s lower mainland in the last 12 years, and a large majority of those victims have been Indo-Canadian. Bhatt, who was born and raised in Mumbai, has a PhD in Social Psychology from Simon Fraser University and is personally connected to the issues of ‘identity and acculturation’ that have become her life’s work. She is a research chair for the South Asian Community Coalition Against Youth Violence, which has taken a proactive stance to prevent further youth violence and support positive youth development in the South Asian community. The community will benefit directly from the project with 31 per cent of the $1 million grant going directly to the community for training and education.
The Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) provided this grant under the Community University Research Alliance program (CURA), which recognizes innovative research that is community based. In a stiff nationwide competition, it is a noteworthy accomplishment for Kwantlen Polytechnic University to receive this funding after only recently obtaining university status. In this accomplishment, it joins such prestigious company as the Université de Montréal, the University of Toronto, Queen’s University and the University of Ottawa. Kwantlen Polytechnic is also one of the newest Canadian members of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute.
To keep up-to-date on the progress of this project please visit the project website.
Delhi University campus welcomes students from Saskatchewan
On May 20th, 2009, the Centre for Canadian Studies of the University of Delhi hosted 19 Canadian students from the University of Saskatchewan. During a half-day Focus Canada-India international workshop, these MBA students participated in discussions on bilateral issues surrounding business education and research, economic ties, history and culture. Three students presented at the event. Dr. V.K. Vasal, director of the Centre, presided over the workshop and was encouraged by his interactions with this eclectic young Canadian team.
The students are participants in the Edwards School of Business International Study Tour, which journeyed to India for the first time this year. During their ten-day visit, the participants aim to gain greater understanding of how companies conduct business in different parts of the world. They will be touring several companies, in addition to meeting at prestigious institutions such as the University of Delhi.
Two directors from the Edwards School of Business, Dr. Leslee Harden and Ms. Jill Salamon, joined the students in India and presented at the Focus Canada-India international workshop in Delhi. Officials from both universities agreed that they should work to deepen the relationship between their institutions and consider more student/faculty exchange and collaborative research programmes. The University of Delhi and the University of Saskatchewan share a history of collaboration involving student exchanges, summer internships and visiting professorships since the late 1990s.
Synergy '09 Education Conference: Canada, China, India
Following the spectacular success of previous “Canada-India: A Synergy in Education” events held in 2007 and 2008, the highly anticipated sequel in 2009 will feature yet another education giant, China.
While Synergy I in 2007 brought hundreds of Canadian institutions together to discuss common objectives, challenges and opportunities, Synergy II conducted in 2008 in partnership with FICCI brought specialists from India who discussed specific vocational areas and presented joint partnership opportunities.
The Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) is delighted to announce Synergy ’09, which will feature the “who’s who” of Canada’s ‘internationalization’ efforts, be attended by the Indian and Chinese High Commissioners and will have sessions conducted or moderated by key stake holders such as:
- Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) & Canada-China Business Council (CCBC)
- Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities (MTCU)
- Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade (DFAIT)
- Canadian Education Council Network (CECN)
- Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE)
- Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC)
- Association of Universities & Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
- Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute
- Academica Group & Blakes
This landmark event will be held at Pearson Convention Center near Toronto on Sept. 17, 2009. Synergy ’09 not only highlights educational activities & opportunities in China and India, it presents unrivaled networking opportunities and is a must attend for Canadian institutions and academics interested in operating in either or both countries.
The idea behind the Synergy series is to foster an exchange of thought via a networking event to further the interests of those currently involved in or considering involvement in the ‘International’ education arena. It will also explore and share opportunities in this burgeoning sector and create an awareness by highlighting each other’s experiences and pitfalls to avoid. The conference presents an opportunity for institutions to showcase their programs and accomplishments with their peers and is a strong testament to the expansion of the “education triangle” between the three countries. Via power packed sessions, you will hear from policy makers within governments and associations and receive tips from experts active in China and India while learning about exciting opportunities, recent changes and how they may impact you.
For a detailed agenda and to register or sponsor, please visit http://www.ICEunlimited.com/Synergy2009.aspx
The global economic downturn, G-20 and India
The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce, in association with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Canadian International Council, is pleased to invite you to a presentation on “The global economic downturn, G-20 and India,” which will assess economic policy expectations post-Indian elections.
The distinguished guest speaker will be Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Director and Chief Economist of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), one of India’s leading independent economic policy think tanks. He is a member of the Boards of the State Bank of India and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, and was Chief Economist of the Confederation of Indian Industry and a member of the National Security Advisory Board. Dr. Kumar has served at the Asian Development Bank and as Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance. He has authored many books and is an active columnist.
This event, as part of ICCC’s Distiguished Speaker Series, will be held Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 6:00 pm, registration at 5:30 pm at the McGill Faculty Club, 3450 McTavish Street, Montréal H3A 1X9.
A reception will follow.
ICCC, APFC, CIC members have free admission, and there is a $10 change for non-members (cash only).
Please RSVP to
How Will Disenfranchised Peoples Adapt to Climate Change?
Fourteen community activists and activist scientists from Brazil, India, South Africa and Arctic Canada gathered at York University April 16 -17 for an international conference: Strengthening the Ecojustice Movement: How Will Disenfranchised Peoples Adapt to Climate Change? They shared stories about their local vulnerabilities and adaptation to climate change, and discussed strategies for addressing inequities in climate change causation, mitigation, funding, education and global/local politics.
Three Indian participants shared their input at the conference: Prof. Joyashree Roy, Head of the Department of Economics at Jadavpur University (Kolkatta), Vivek Jha from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in Delhi, and Chaitanya Kumar from the Indian Youth Climate Network, a Hyderabad-based coalition uniting Indian youth and Indian youth-oriented organizations who are concerned about climate change. Their unique perspectives provided a sample of the many different issues being faced in India, and the different types of people interested in fighting climate change.
Arctic Canada was also represented by three participants: Joe Linklater, Chief of the Vuntut Gwich’in First Nation, Yukon, who has considerable experience building and implementing public policy and First Nation self-governance, Andy Norwegian, a Language Specialist with the Deh Cho Divisional Educational Council, Northwest Territories, and Aaju Peter, who graduated from Akitsiraq Law School and was recently called to the bar. She advocates for Inuit rights to seal and sealskin products as well as the Inuit right to be involved in issues related to Arctic waters.
The conference was sponsored by York University’s Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS). It sought to address how specific peoples from four disparate nations around the globe may address common concerns on the impact of climate change. The participants came from very different regions and different cultures, but found common issues and solidarity from which to build new understanding about how to address and adapt to climate changes. Their collective efforts have enabled them to better raise their mutual concerns with politicians, industry, academics, and the general public by sending out the message that these concerns are global and not just local to individual nations or disenfranchised peoples within them. However, these peoples may be the most vulnerable and bear the brunt of environmental changes that will affect their ways of life for generations to come.
SFU field school update
Simon Fraser University is happy to announce that its Fall 2009 Field School to India will now also include a non-credit option. Non-credit participants are invited to join the field school either for 3 weeks (Sept. 26-Oct. 17: Delhi, Agra and Fatepur Sikri) or for the full programme (Sept. 8 – Nov. 18). For more information, please visit the programme website by clicking here.
New publication
Prof. Papia Sengupta, Canadian Studies Faculty Research Fellow of the Shastri Institute, has recently been published in the International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations. Her paper entitled “Linguistic Diversity and Economic Disparity: An Issue for Multiculturalism in India,” addresses the discord between majority and minority linguistic groups in India, arising due to the latter progressing faster than the former, and presenting a set of wider issues which need to be adequately addressed by multiculturalism.
Sengupta, who is an assistant professor of Political Science in Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, has also been invited to present her paper at the Ninth International Conference on Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations in Riga, Latvia, June 16-19, 2009. The Conference examines the concept of diversity as a positive aspect of a global world and globalised society.
A copy of Sengupta’s paper may be purchased for a reasonable rate at the following site: http://ondiversity.com/journal/publications/
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