A three-month-long fellowship at SOAS University of London aimed at taking the research on the Dravidian movement and social justice to a global audience is nearing completion, with its first recipient from Tamil Nadu researching Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) welfare governance in the State.

The Ambedkar-Kalaignar Visiting Fellowship was initiated by Chennai-based technology entrepreneur V. Sabarisan and his wife, Senthamarai, daughter of former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, “with an objective to bring the Dravidian movement’s core principles of social justice, self-respect, and federalism to wider academic and policy audiences.”

Mr. Sabarisan told The Hindu he had donated 170 books on the Dravidian movement and social justice to SOAS two years ago. During a later visit to the University, he found students reading the books with interest, which prompted him to initiate this fellowship, which covers travel, visa fees, a three-month stipend, and term fees, enabling a researcher, journalist, or policymaker to develop and share their research work with an international academic audience.

This was the inaugural year of the fellowship, and of the 88 applicants, Bagavanidhi M., a researcher, who has a decade of experience working on the rights of SCs and STs, was selected.

His research examines the evolution of SCs and STs Sub-Plan governance in Tamil Nadu, including the shift from planning-based mechanisms to legislative enforcement and the conditions behind the enactment of the Tamil Nadu Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 2024.

Mr. Bagavanidhi said this fellowship enabled him an opportunity to interact with students and scholars from around the world at SOAS University of London and gave a new understanding and perspective of various issues.

Published - August 16, 2026 06:40 pm IST