Written by Zubaan Publishers, in collaboration with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), has announced the recipients of the 2024-25 Research Grant for young researchers from Northeast India and the eastern Himalayan region. These grants, aimed at supporting creative and academic work in various forms, offer a platform for young scholars, artists, and activists to bring forward feminist, queer, and marginalized voices from the region.
The grants provide a modest fund for written, multimedia, and other creative projects on critical societal issues, particularly those explored through the lens of gender. They are part of Zubaan’s broader mission to challenge simplistic narratives about the Northeast and to showcase its diversity of people, languages, histories, and experiences. Grantees will develop their projects within an eight-month timeframe, working with mentors, and their outputs will be published digitally by Zubaan.
2024-25 Zubaan Research Grantees:
1. H. Sara Khongsai
2. Taw Yalla
3. Aditi Kumar
4. Antarul Haque/Sparsh Chetri Rajneesh
5. Klir Tissopi
6. Rizowana Hussaini
7. Asojini Rachel Kashena
8. Cyrus Khumukcham
9. Jessica H Vaiphei
10. Rishita Loitongbam
11. Rahul Saikia
12. Rosie N Sanate
13. Cindy Zothanpuii Tlau
14. K Malsawmthluangi
15. V.L Ruatpuii
16. Amo Konyak B
17. Purlemla Longkumer
18. Pema Gyalchen Tamang
19. Prashanti Subba
20. Shradhanjali Tamang
About the 2024-25 Research Grant
Now in its seventh year, the Zubaan Research Grant provides young researchers from the eight northeastern states and the eastern Himalayan region an opportunity to create diverse content, ranging from written research to multimedia projects. The grant encourages topics that highlight feminist friendships, queer relationships, community histories, ecological crises, and feminist resistance, among others.
This year’s grant particularly focuses on amplifying marginalized voices, especially women, queer, and oral histories from historically underrepresented communities. Projects may take the form of research papers, graphic stories, podcasts, photo essays, or other creative outputs. All submissions must be completed within the grant’s eight-month period, with mentorship and methodology workshops provided to support the process.
Zubaan Publishers, an independent feminist publishing house, is committed to producing cutting-edge work that pushes the boundaries of feminist and queer scholarship in the Northeast. This grant, in partnership with SPF, is an extension of that commitment, giving young researchers and artists the platform to tell stories that challenge, provoke, and inspire.