Marking the culmination of a rigorous national selection process, five Rhodes Scholars-Elect for India 2023 have been chosen to receive the scholarship. All candidates had to pass through a competitive application process and one round of preliminary interviews, post which the shortlisted finalists were interviewed and five were chosen for the scholarship. The scholars are from various parts of India and have excelled in their streams.
Daksh Walia: A final year Master’s student of Economics at Ashoka University, Daksh studied Economics and Philosophy at the UG level. He is interested in studying labour economics, particularly the determinants of female labour force participation in India and understanding the economics of climate change. Daksh hopes to continue working on economic research at Oxford, while also pursuing his passion for studying justice and the social production of knowledge.
Hansa Mukherjee: A final-year Economics student at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi (DU), Hansa is interested in researching social and behavioural interventions for improving women’s healthcare outcomes. She is a trained Odissi dancer, with a passion for graphic design and art history.
Dr Kirtana Sivasubramanian: Graduated with an MBBS from Government Medical College, Omandurar Government Estate, Chennai. She is excited by the potential of genetic engineering to deploy the immune system effectively in treating diseases. At Oxford, she looks forward to exploring fundamental concepts of T-cell Biology that might enhance immunotherapy for cancer and autoimmune conditions. She is committed to using primary research and innovation to democratise access to cutting-edge therapies.
Syed Muhammed Khalid: He is a final year English student at St Stephen’s College, DU, who hails from Allahabad and is interested in literature as well as in the documentation of people’s stories and movements. He aims to study Indian Muslims in South Asia to better understand the diversity within the community and how they respond to pressures on their identity. An ardent football fan, he is also involved in theatre.
Vedanta Thapar: A final-year Physics student at St Stephen’s College, DU. He is interested in the physics and mathematics of complex systems as well as in the social issues connected to scientific research. At Oxford, he aims to study mathematical modelling and scientific computing with a focus on climate dynamics and its associated policy challenges. Vedanta grew up in Delhi and has played competitive badminton.
The selected scholars will be heading to Oxford University in October 2023 to join a cohort of more than 100 scholars hailing from around the world to undertake fully sponsored postgraduate studies and become part of a strong community of people determined to make a positive difference in the world. The Rhodes Scholarship is the world’s preeminent and oldest graduate fellowship, based at the University of Oxford since 1903.
The Scholarships for India began in 1947 and have been awarded to five outstanding applicants each year. The selection process includes a meticulous review process before the finalists’ interview with a selection committee composed of renowned experts and leaders in diverse fields.
Dr Elizabeth Kiss, CEO, Rhodes Trust, said, “We are excited to see the tremendous talent of the Rhodes Scholars-Elect from every part of the globe. We know from nearly 120 years of bringing exceptional people to Oxford to study and build friendships and community that when un-likeminded but like-hearted people come together, brilliant things happen.”
Nandan Kamath, national secretary, Rhodes Scholarships for India, said, “As is the case each year, we had a diverse and talented field of applicants. We are thankful to our many volunteers who assisted us with our rigorous selection process and are proud of the five Rhodes Scholars-Elect who have emerged from the process. They will benefit from the rich intellectual resources of the University of Oxford and will join a lifelong community determined to change the world for the better.”
The applications for the 2024 Rhodes Scholarships will open in June 2023. More information about the Scholarship application be found at https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/the-rhodesscholarship/
The Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards providing transformative educational opportunities. Nearly 8,000 Rhodes Scholars have gone on to serve at the forefront of government, education, the arts, NGOs, commerce, research, and other sectors. The Rhodes Trust provides the Rhodes Scholarships in partnership with its Second Century Founders, John McCall MacBain OC, The Atlantic Philanthropies, and other benefactors.
Article Credits: Education Times