ZUBAAN PUBLISHERS RESEARCH GRANTS FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS FROM THE NORTHEAST, 2024-25 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 03 SEPTEMBER 2024

[Find a PDF version of this call here]

 

Zubaan Publishers is offering a number of research, documentation, archiving and publishing grants for 2024-2025 for young researchers from the eight northeastern states and the eastern Himalayan region. The grants provide a modest fund to prepare written, multimedia, visual and other creative content focusing on the themes detailed below in the call.

Background

For over a decade, Zubaan Publishers has collaborated with researchers, writers, photographers, and artists to support the feminist movement in Northeast India. We focus on amplifying indigenous feminist perspectives and providing platforms for this knowledge through books, essays, visual archives, exhibitions, and more.

The Fragrance of Peace project was born out of this vision, challenging the oversimplified view of the Northeast as a single, homogeneous entity. This region, rich in diversity, is home to a multitude of people, religions, languages, and histories. By promoting and collaborating with communities that are crafting their own narratives, we aim to reshape the way the Northeast is perceived in the broader social, economic, and political landscape.

Details of the Research Grant

This research grant, now in its seventh year, hopes to encourage young writers, researchers and artists to contribute to the diversification of knowledge production. It supports work within the broad framework/themes mentioned below examined through the lens of gender.

Theme

We encourage young researchers to focus on topics ranging from personal experiences of feminist friendships, queer relationships, community histories, to wider societal issues of continuing ecological crises, feminist resistance and movement building , and more. Applications focusing on women’s, queer, feminist, and oral histories, especially from those who have faced marginalization within the region and beyond, will be strongly preferred. We aim to support these voices in telling their stories through various mediums like storytelling, podcasts, visual content, and research papers, all to be completed within the 8-month grant period.

Submissions will be in English, with multimedia content requiring English subtitles or transcripts. All grant-supported work will be first published digitally by Zubaan Publishers.

Proposals can range from academic research to creative projects, and hybrid forms are welcome. Selected candidates will attend a Writing and Research Methodology workshop and be paired with a mentor for the duration of the grant. Additionally, they’ll have access to a network of writers, researchers, and artists who will provide support and guidance throughout the process.

[Note: You can refer to our previous year’s call on our website for more detailed information on this.]

Eligibility criteria

  1. If you are from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura and are less than 45 years of age, you are eligible to apply. The research grant is also open for applicants from hill regions of districts Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

[Note: Preference will be given to candidates based locally and working actively within the community.]

      2. You must be fluent in reading and writing English.

[Note: If you feel that you fit into the eligibility criteria and have an interesting proposal to discuss, which may not be in English but has the scope of being translated/adapted, please write to us at contact@zubaanprojects.org before submitting your proposal.]

     3. You must commit to researching and writing a 10,000 words (minimum) essay or an equivalent for other content — e.g. a  complete graphic story comprising at least five double-page spreads, a photo essay with 8-10 photos with detailed captions and context, a podcast series, etc. The grant allows you to develop graphic narratives, do extended interviews, or produce creative works such as audiovisual output, photo essays, etc., instead of the essay, all within a specified timeline.

[Note: Since we have a limited number of grants available, we would like to encourage applicants who can commit to submitting the first drafts of their work within five months after the methodology workshop.  Please apply ONLY if you feel you can fulfil these criteria so as to not deprive other deserving applicants.]

To apply 

Please complete this Google Form and upload all required documents as specified.

List of documents: 

  1. A grant proposal (maximum two pages) which clearly describes what you wish to do, what sources you will tap (primary and secondary), the subject of your research and a timeline.
  2. A writing sample of roughly 500 words or, a two-page spread of a graphic story, or an extract from previous work similar to the form of your proposed work, done by you. (Grant proposals may be creative and do not need to be written in academic language).
  3. Submit your CV and any other relevant information about yourself that you think is necessary, including proof of age.
  4. Two names of referees, ideally people you have worked with.

[Note: If you need clarification on the research proposal format, please write to us at contact@zubaanprojects.org for a sample research format.]

Interested applicants can send their applications by filling in the Google Form (click here).  The last date for submission of the application is 3 September, 2024

Selected candidates will be informed by Mid October. 

Shortlist and selection of grantees

A selection committee will screen all grant proposals. The committee will prepare a shortlist based on relevance to the grant’s priorities as described in this document and may wish to interview some candidates. Interviews can take place via Zoom or, phone or in person. The committee will then decide, and the candidate will be informed. The committee’s decision will be final.

Duration

The first draft of the selected papers is expected in five months after the methodology workshop/webinar, details of which are mentioned below. Depending on the online review and feedback meetings, papers may need to be revised after the first draft. After the feedback meetings, three more months will be provided for the final draft. The total duration of the grant is eight months.

Payments

The grant carries an amount of Rs 100,000, less applicable taxes.

Payments will be made in three instalments: 25 per cent on approval of the project and signature of the contract, 50 per cent on submission of the first draft and attendance of review meeting and the final instalment on completion of the study.

Methodology workshops/webinars

All selected candidates will be required to attend a preliminary residential methodology workshop (location to be decided) in mid to late November (to be intimated to selected candidates) as well as a mid-term online review where they will present a draft of their work in order to get feedback from peers and resource people. Attendance for both is mandatory for the research grant. In the time remaining for the grant, candidates will be required to take the feedback on board and finalize their work. 

__________

Zubaan is an independent feminist publishing house based in New Delhi. We publish academic books, fiction, memoirs and popular nonfiction, as well as books for children and young adults under our Young Zubaan imprint, aiming always to be pioneering, cutting-edge, progressive and inclusive. For more information, log onto www.zubaanbooks.com.

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation addresses the diverse and complicated issues that human society is encountering in the 21st century. SPF and Zubaan Publishers work together in Northeast India, on projects linked with writers and literature. For more information, log onto www.spf.org.

 

FAQs:

Find a PDF version of the FAQs here.

  • What kind of research is this grant for?

The grant will fund projects exploring: community histories, experiences during the pandemic, notes on lived realities, political and social commentary, cultural production, labour and migrant relations, indigenous histories, etc., particularly historically marginalized women’s queer, feminist and oral histories, from community researchers, writers, artists, etc. These are a few examples, and this list is not comprehensive.

  • Who is this grant for?

This grant is for writers, researchers, artists, etc., from the eight northeastern states and the eastern Himalayan region. However, we strongly encourage applications from young women, queer, trans and non-binary people within the region. Preference will be given to candidates based locally and working actively within the community. This call is not open to non-Indian nationals.

  • Can I apply if I live outside of India?

You can apply if you are not a resident of India, but preference will be given to locally-based candidates working actively within the community. You will have to be available for a physical methodology workshop in mid to late November (to be intimated to selected candidates)

  • Is there an age limit to apply?

Yes, you must be not above 45 years old when applying.

  • What language should my submission be in?

All submissions should be in English. For multimedia content, the language can be non-English, but it will have to be accompanied by subtitles/transcripts in English provided by the applicant.

  • What kind of content can proposals be submitted for?

You can submit proposals for academic research papers, long-form journalistic essays or extended interviews, written, multimedia, visual and other creative content like podcasts, documentaries, visual essays, graphic stories, etc., thematically aligned with the grant call.

  • What should I not submit?

Masters or PhD thesis (whether completed or ongoing), proposals for fiction, poetry, etc., are not eligible as submissions.

  • Does my submission need to be final, or can it be a draft?

You should submit a proposal which clearly describes what you wish to do during the grant duration.

  • How do we submit multimedia proposals?

You can submit your multimedia proposals in the same format, with a link to a Google Drive housing the content.

  • How do we submit translation proposals?

If you feel that you fit into the eligibility criteria and have an interesting proposal to discuss, which may not be in English but has the scope of being translated/adapted, please write to us at contact@zubaanprojects.org before submitting your proposal.

  • What will mentorship look like?

Mentors will be individually assigned to you during the grant period. You will be in touch with your mentors over email.

  • Where will the final output be published?

All submissions made with the support of the grant will be published and disseminated online by Zubaan. They may be adapted to other formats too.

  • Who will own the copyright to the work I submit?

The materials created with the support of the grant will be co-owned by Zubaan and the applicant and will carry the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

  • Can I submit earlier work and develop it further through this grant?

If you are submitting a proposal to develop earlier published work, please focus on the differences and material development required for the current project and the importance of developing the project further.

  • Will my previously published/ screened work be eligible as a submission?

No

  • Can multiple submissions in various categories or formats be made?

You can make only one submission per category. For example, if you submit one research paper, you cannot submit another research paper. However, you can make a submission in another format, like a video or a graphic story. –

  • How will the grant amount be transferred?

The initial instalment of 25 per cent will be transferred through NEFT after the project’s approval, signing of the contract and attendance of the methodology workshop. The next 50 per cent will be transferred on submission of the first draft and attendance of the review meeting, and the final instalment on completion of the study.