Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme 2021
Jharkhand government has launched Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme 2021. MGJSMO scholarship is a first-of-its-kind initiative to encourage tribal students to pursue high education abroad. The MGJSMO scholarship scheme has been rolled out for the students of Jharkhand from the ST category to pursue higher studies in the universities of England and Ireland.
Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme 2021
Nearly a century after Jharkhand’s iconic leader Jaipal Singh Munda was admitted to St John’s College, Oxford, six students from Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in the state have been selected for pursuing higher studies in prestigious UK institutes under a state-funded scholarship. This scheme is named as Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme. This scheme is named after Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda who was the first tribal student to study overseas at Oxford University in England between 1922 and 1929. Later, he captained the Indian hockey team in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games, leading them to win the gold medal in the Olympics.
Who is Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda
Jaipal Singh Munda was born in an ST family at Takra Pahantoli hamlet in undivided Bihar, who used to look after cattle was taken by missionaries to England after they recognised his exceptional talent and he graduated with Honours in Economics from St John’s College, Oxford. Munda had left the coveted ICS and later captained the Indian Hockey team in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games to win the gold medal. Munda, who had taken up teaching assignments abroad, returned to India in 1937 and became a voice for the rights of tribal people.
Approval of Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Scholarship Scheme
The batch of six students will pave the way for tribal talents to apply and seek support in future for studying abroad under the scholarship scheme that was approved by the state cabinet on 28 December 2020 in its meeting chaired by chief minister Hemant Soren. Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme is a fitting tribute to the tribal icon and the scholarship is possibly the first provided by any state to promote young talents to pursue studies in prestigious institutes abroad.
Beneficiaries of Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme
The following six students have been qualified for the maiden Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme:-
- Hercules Singh Munda will pursue an MA at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies
- Ajitesh Murmu will study for an MA in Architecture at the University College of London
- Akanksha Mery has been selected for an MSc in Climate Change Science and Management at Loughborough University
- Dinesh Bhagat will pursue MSc in Climate Change, Development and Policy at the University of Sussex
- Anjana Pratima Dungdung has been selected for MSc at the University of Warwick
- Priya Murmu will pursue an MA in Creative Writing at the Loughborough University
Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme will benefit tribal youth who will represent culture, values, rich legacy and society on the world stage and will bring glory to Jharkhand and the rest of the country.
Launch of MGJSMO Scholarship Scheme
Jharkhand government had launched the MGJSMO Scholarship Scheme on 29 December 2020 with a provision to provide all financial support to 10 students from ST communities of Jharkhand intending to do a one year Masters or a two year MPhil in 22 courses in select 15 top universities of the United Kingdom. The government had notified the programme on 7 March 2021. Applications were invited from prospective students of the scholarship scheme on 7 March 2021, following which 6 students were selected for the scholarship for pursuing higher education in England.
The state government claimed that Jharkhand is the only state to execute a state-funded initiative for only ST students for taking up higher education in the UK. Chief minister Soren on 22 September 2021 will be felicitating the students and their family members. Under Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme, students coming from the Scheduled Tribes category will be provided tuition fees, and living, journey and other expenses. At present, the institutes include universities in the UK and Northern Ireland. In the future, Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme will be extended to prestigious institutes of other countries as well.
Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda was the first student from a Scheduled Tribe to study overseas at Oxford University in England between 1922 and 1929. He had formed the Adivasi Mahasabha in 1938, raising the demand for a separate Jharkhand state for STs. He was called ‘Marang Gomke’ (great leader) in Mundari, a regional language in Jharkhand. Munda was also a part of the Constituent Assembly, responsible for drafting the Indian constitution. The Government of India also provides 20 scholarships under an overseas programme for SC and ST students.