Morang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda overseas scholarship scheme for post-graduate studies for tribal students in UK
The Hemant Soren Government with an aim to revive the legacy of Jaipal Singh Munda — a distinguished parliamentarian, a sportsman of international repute and an educationist — has introduced Morang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda overseas scholarship scheme for post-graduate studies for tribal students.
Under the scheme, the State Government will bear the educational expenses (will provide scholarship) of 10 tribal students studying at the prestigious University of Oxford and University of Cambridge both in the United Kingdom.
Jaipal Singh Munda (1903 –1970), a man with multi-faceted personality, a powerful orator with mastery over multiple national and foreign languages was the first known tribal from State to study at prestigious St John’s College, Oxford.
The Jharkhand Government, which is the first State Government in the country to launch such a scheme for tribal students, will provide scholarship to 10 tribal students every year for studying at University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. The scheme was launched on December 29, on the first anniversary of the Soren government.
The overseas scholarship scheme will open the gates for illustrious students for higher studies in 22 disciplines including anthropology, agriculture, arts and culture, climate changes, economics, law, media and communication, tourism including others for two years. The scholarship schemes will also encourage research in these subjects.
An official from Chief Minister Office (CMO) requesting anonymity said, “The main thrust of the Hemant Soren government launching such an ambitious scheme is to revive the old glory of Morang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda. Very few people know that late Jaipal Singh Munda was the biggest and first crusader of Jharkhand movement was appointed the Captain of the first Indian national hockey team in the Olympic Hockey Tournament in Amsterdam in 1928, where India won Gold. Marang Gomke was not just a great leader, but also the precursor to such outstanding adivasi hockey players as Michael Kindo, Sylvanus Dung Dung, and Ignace Tirkey and Dilip Tirkey.”
His contribution was not confined to sports, but in 1938 he formed an Adivasi Mahasabha, which asked for a separate state of “Jharkhand”, to be carved out of Bihar. He was also a member of the Constituent Assembly which debated on the new Constitution of the Indian Union.
The State Government has set some criteria for availing scholarship; the students must graduate with 55 per cent or aggregate. Students having experience will be given preference and the applicant age should not be more than 40 years. Domicile of Jharkhand is must for availing the benefits.
The CMO official said, “Apart from educational qualification requisite for the scheme, the applicant’s parents’ income should be less than Rs 12 lakh per annum. The scheme will be not applicable for sons and daughters of Union Ministers, State Ministers, MPs, MLAs and senior government officials. “
The official said, “The applicant applying for the scholarship must have an offer letter from the prestigious universities (Oxford and Cambridge) along with the details of the course for which the student is applying. Mere applying at these universities will not serve the benchmark for availing the scholarship schemes.”
The official claimed that the main idea behind introducing the scheme is to explore the hidden talents of tribal students and in their endeavour, State Government’s role is to provide financial assistance to such students so that monetary aspects don’t become a barrier for such students.
The Government will bear the selected students’ tuition fees, expenses of books and other study materials, visa fees, air travel expenses, health insurance and other expenses.