New Delhi: On the 75th anniversary of the Rhodes Scholarship in India, Ritika Mukherji, Adrija Ghosh, Akumjung Pongen, Dr. Varad Puntambekar, and Dr. Aishwarya Vedula are selected as the five Rhodes Scholars from India 2022.
They will now pursue their academic interests at the University of Oxford commencing this month. However, The United Kingdom ranks second among the top international destinations to study and eighth in the entire study destination in Europe.
Due to Covid-19, for the second year running, the entire selection process was conducted virtually. The five scholars qualified after clearing two rounds of Preliminary interviews and then were interviewed to receive the prestigious scholarship.
What is Rhodes Scholarship?
Rhodes Scholarship, established through the Will of Cecil John Rhodes in 1902, is considered one of the most prestigious international scholarship programs across the globe. Rhodes Scholarship was rolled out in India for the first time in 1947, the year of India’s Independence. Two Indian students had qualified for the scholarship at that time. This year, on the 75th anniversary of the Rhodes Scholarship in India, five students have been selected.
The first two Indian scholars were selected in 1947. Since then, up to six scholars have been elected every year from India, meaning there have been nearly 250 Indian Rhodes scholars.
Lovraj Kumar became the first Indian ever to get the Rhodes Scholarship in 1947 and went on to study Chemistry at Magdalen College, Oxford. Lovraj retired as the secretary of the Ministry of Steel in 1984.
The founder of Rhodes Trust wanted to promote unity among English-speaking nations and instill a sense of civic-minded leadership and moral fortitude in future leaders, irrespective of their chosen career paths.
Rhodes Scholars over the past years have achieved distinction as politicians, academics, scientists and doctors, authors, entrepreneurs, and Nobel Prize winners.
Many scholars have become heads of state or heads of government, including President of the United States Bill Clinton, and Economist Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
(Vinayak)