The G.S. Sardesai Fellowship for History of Indian Archives (GSFHIA) supports scholars, researchers, and writers undertaking a one-year, fully funded project focused on archival research.
Unlike conventional fellowships, this programme prioritises the source base itself – encouraging scholars to recover, analyse, edit, and publish archival materials that remain underexplored.

Our objective is to:

• Strengthen India’s archival foundations
• Encourage discovery of lesser-known archives
• Enable the creation of documentary resources for future historians
• Support rigorous, evidence-based archival scholarship

• Archive-Centred Research:
  Focuses on archives as subjects of study, not just sources.
• Building Source Infrastructure:
  Encourages catalogues, translations, edited volumes, and document compilations.
• Beyond Narrative History:
  Moves from interpretation to foundation-building.
• Book-Length Output in One Year:
  Structured milestones ensure a publishable manuscript.
• Funding & Support:
  ₹15 lakh grant covering research, travel, and documentation work.

This fellowship supports projects centred on:

• Histories of specific archives
• Document collections and edited volumes
• Translation and annotation of primary materials
• Archival cataloguing and documentation
• Institutional histories of record-keeping traditions

Scope of Work Includes:

• Archival discovery and documentation
• Compilation of primary sources
• Contextual historical analysis
• Creation of research-ready materials

All projects must be grounded in primary archival engagement.

• Applications Opening: 19 April 2026
• Closing Date for Submission of Proposals: 10 May 2026
• Commencement of the Fellowship: 1 September 2026

The Fellowship is open to:

• Independent scholars
• Archivists and researchers
• Authors and historians
• Academics and PhD candidates (if the project is independent)

Applicants must:

• Be Indian citizens or Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)
• Demonstrate archival research capability
• Propose a feasible one-year project
• Commit to producing a book-length manuscript

Your application must include the following components:

1. Research Proposal (5-7 pages) including:

• Title: Clear and descriptive title of your project
• Abstract: A concise summary (500 words) of your research question, its significance and contemporary relevance.
• Background & Literature Review: Context for your project, including existing scholarship and research gaps that your work addresses, and how it makes a significant and original contribution to the literature.
• A Brief note on the USP: A concise statement (in 250 words) explaining what makes the book proposal unique, interesting, and different from competitors, justifying why it deserves to be published and read.
• Research Questions: The specific historical questions your project seeks to answer
• Methodology: Your approach to research (archival work, oral history, quantitative analysis, etc.)
• Sources & Archives: Primary and secondary sources you will consult; archives or collections you plan to visit.
• Chapter Outline: Tentative structure of your manuscript (5–8 chapters)
• Timeline: A realistic work plan structured over a fixed period of 12 months, covering research, writing, and revision phases.

Note: Your proposal must be sharply focused and demonstrate that the project can be completed within one year.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Your educational background, research experience, publications (if any), and relevant professional experience.

3. Writing Sample (3,000–5,000 words)
A sample of your academic or narrative writing that demonstrates your research and writing skills. This can be an excerpt from a thesis, an article, or an essay.

4. Budget Plan
A brief budget outline showing how you plan to use the ₹15 lakh grant (e.g., research travel, archival fees, living expenses, equipment, translation costs).

5. Two Letters of Recommendation
From scholars, researchers, or professionals who can speak to your research capabilities and commitment to the project.

Please Note: Proposals will be accepted only in English

Submission: All materials must be submitted via the online application form by 10 May 2026. No extension of timelines will be permitted.

Applications will be evaluated on:

• Originality of archival focus
• Strength of methodology
• Depth of primary source engagement
• Feasibility within one year
• Contribution to India’s archival ecosystem

• Editorial guidance
• Archival research support
• Peer cohort engagement
• Workshops and sessions
• Publication guidance
• Public presentation opportunities

GSFHIA fellows will join a network of researchers committed to strengthening India’s archival base.
The programme aims to build a long-term ecosystem of source creators, not just interpreters.