Agents of Ishq and The Open Dosa are pleased to invite Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi students to apply for a writing fellowship.
4 Applicants will be selected. They will receive a stipend of Rs.20,000 each and 2-3 mentoring sessions over a period of 2 months.
The works will will be published on the websites of Agents of Ishq and The Open Dosa.
Submission deadline: April 30th midnight.
FELLOWSHIP THEME
‘What did they do and how did they do it?’
We can only imagine what it was like for an entire generation of Dalit and Bahujan people to have arrived at acceptance, resistance, joy and a state of being without the internet. What was it like for them to fight for justice, voice, and dignity without twitter? Was it easier, quieter or much more challenging? Would they have preferred to begin necessary and important conversations on Instagram? How do they make sense of the freedom we imagine social media has given us? Was there more kindness in the way they practiced justice? Is there more kindness now?
These are just the beginnings of questions we hope will turn into good conversations about life, love, politics and being.
FELLOWSHIP ENGAGEMENT
The fellowship must involve Interviews with an older Dalit, Bahujan, or Adivasi person (or small group of persons) you find interesting but don’t know well already. A few conversations around their lives that aren’t just restricted to work but are also about their life, love, desire, food, hobbies, falling in love, getting over heartbreak, marriage, leaving marriage, self-work, self-love, what fruit they love eating, what trees they love watching, what their fears and dreams are. A poetic biography.
FORMAT
The final form of the piece can be anything - a graphic narrative, a personal essay, an interview or series of interviews, an essay interspersed with songs or poetry - as long as it is basically non-fiction.
WHO CAN APPLY
Anyone between the ages of 18 and 30.
Belonging to Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi communities.
IN WHAT LANGUAGES
English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil
HOW TO APPLY
1. Name and Age
2. A Short Bio (50-75 words)
3. Your Proposal with the following sections -
- Who will you interview and why do you want to interview them? What ideas do you want to cover? (Maximum 250 words)
- Language of the essay
- A short reflection on why you are applying for the fellowship (100 words maximum)
- Previous writing samples can be included but are not compulsory.
Fill out the application form here or email these details to agentsofishq@gmail.com by the deadline - 30th April, midnight.
SELECTION PROCESS
There will be a selection jury consisting of Vijeta Kumar from Open Dosa, Paromita Vohra from Agents of Ishq and third person - to be announced.
The selections will be announced between May 15-20.
FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FORM HERE
Click here to apply.
