Nine Indian scholars selected for Gates Cambridge 2021 programme

NINE Indian scholars are among 74 worldwide candidates chosen for the prestigious Gates Cambridge Class of 2021, the University of Cambridge’s leading international postgraduate scholarship programme.

The Gates Cambridge scholarship programme, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, was established through a $210 million (£150m) donation to the University of Cambridge from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 – the largest single donation to a UK university.

Among the Indian scholars are Ila Ananya, an MPhil social anthropology student who completed her masters in gender studies at SOAS, University of London.

Rishabh Bajoria is a PhD student in legal studies who wants to pursue a doctoral project exploring international law through the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960.

US-based Tathagat Bhatia is pursuing an MPhil in history and philosophy of science and medicine and hopes to better understand contemporary discussions about “remediating the climate crisis”.

Educationists Surya Deka, Nikita Jha; epidemiologist Anwesha Lahiri from Cambridge University; psychology graduate Mishika Mehrotra; astronomy student Arnab Sarkar and genetics scholar Samarpita Sen complete the Indian class of 2021 for the scholarship. “This year has been extraordinarily challenging, but it has highlighted the importance of the international, outward-looking and socially committed approach of these diverse and outstanding scholars,” said Professor Barry Everitt FRS, Provost of the Gates Cambridge Trust.

“We are sure the 2021 class of scholars will flourish in the rich, international community at Cambridge and will make a significant impact in their fields and in the wider global community,” he added.

Indian students have a good track record with the Gates Cambridge programme, with 11 selected in 2008 and 10 in 2001. Apart from the US, India has the highest share of Gates Cambridge Scholars-Elect this year.

There are also a number of Indian-origin scholars on the list, including Indian American physical sciences student Venkata Chaluvadi, radiologist Tanvi Rao, healthcare expert Veeraj Shah and English Literature student Meena Venkataramanan.

Since the first class in 2001, Gates Cambridge said it has awarded more than 2,000 scholarships to scholars from 111 countries who represent more than 600 universities globally and more than 80 academic departments.

The 74 new scholars will be joined by up to 10 scholars who are deferring from 2020, to form a class of 84 this October. They come from 30 countries. The 2021 cohort comprises 42 women, 31 men and one non-binary scholar.