Sikh Chairs in North America an Opinion - Global Sikh Studies
Sikh Chairs in North America an Opinion - Global Sikh Studies
Sikh Chairs in North America an Opinion - Global Sikh Studies
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e is the merit of the gr<strong>an</strong>t application <strong>an</strong>d its fundability. There is no reason why such<br />
fund<strong>in</strong>g support from the community could not underwite the development of new<br />
academic teach<strong>in</strong>g also.<br />
It would be em<strong>in</strong>ently fair to expect that the funded scholars would provide:<br />
1. Annual progress report. Renewal of further fund<strong>in</strong>g would then be cont<strong>in</strong>gent upon<br />
satisfactory progress.<br />
2. Occasional talk at the gurdwara if that is a fund<strong>in</strong>g agency.<br />
3. Some level of community <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> the <strong>Sikh</strong> community, particularly if the<br />
scholar is a <strong>Sikh</strong>.<br />
Even the NIH has hear<strong>in</strong>gs on its budgets where their activities are commented upon <strong>an</strong>d<br />
questioned <strong>in</strong> the US Congress. There is no reason why such matters should not be<br />
discussed at special hear<strong>in</strong>gs held <strong>in</strong> gurdwaras.<br />
In other words, you are say<strong>in</strong>g to the scholars: “If you w<strong>an</strong>t my money keep open the<br />
communication with me. You c<strong>an</strong>not say, I w<strong>an</strong>t your money but will tell you noth<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
what I do with it.”<br />
VI. Adv<strong>an</strong>tage of the Proposed Model for Fund<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Sikh</strong> <strong>Studies</strong><br />
There are some very obvious adv<strong>an</strong>tages to the proposed model for m<strong>an</strong>agement <strong>an</strong>d<br />
fund<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>Sikh</strong> studies:<br />
1. It would be possible to fund a greater variety of activities – from the writ<strong>in</strong>g of a<br />
book, travel for research, development of a course, salary support of faculty or<br />
graduate assist<strong>an</strong>ts etc.<br />
2. It would be possible to support activities at more universities <strong>an</strong>d <strong>in</strong>stitutions at<br />
the same time for the same amount of money. So the community would get more<br />
for its money.<br />
3. In this model it would not matter where the applic<strong>an</strong>t was tra<strong>in</strong>ed, whether at<br />
Toronto or at Guru N<strong>an</strong>ak Dev University. What would matter would be the<br />
merit of the proposed project <strong>an</strong>d whether or not it meets the expectations of the<br />
fund<strong>in</strong>g agency.<br />
4. The quality of research would improve because: a0 <strong>in</strong>creased competitiveness <strong>an</strong>d<br />
b) the c<strong>an</strong>didate would have to describe his or her specific goals, research<br />
methodology <strong>an</strong>d the signific<strong>an</strong>ce of the proposed research.<br />
5. Quite clearly, considerable accountability of the funded activities to the<br />
community <strong>an</strong>d communication with the community would result. The<br />
community would not run <strong>in</strong>to the problems it has hitherto encountered where<br />
some holders of positions appear non-responsive to it.