JMI Scholar Awarded Prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for Research on Indian Knowledge System of Tribes
New Delhi, December 1, 2025 : Mr. Nitesh Dogne, a research scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) pursuing his Ph.D. on Indigenous Knowledge System of Tribal Circularity, has been awarded the prestigious Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship 2025–26. He is conducting his research under the supervision of Prof. Hina Zia, Professor & Head, Department of Planning, and Prof. Nisar Khan, Professor, Department of Architecture, JMI.
Awarded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), United Kingdom, the Split-site Scholarship is highly competitive and fully funded, granted each year to a limited number of exceptional researchers worldwide. In 2024, only 57 scholars from 40 countries received this honor.
As part of the 2025–26 award, Nitesh will pursue one year of advanced research at the University of Bath, UK. His research proposal was also shortlisted by other leading global universities, including University College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and Newcastle University — highlighting the academic impact and global relevance of his study.
Research Focus: Indigenous Circularity & Sustainability
Prof. Hina Zia stated that Nitesh’s research examines how the Bhil tribe utilizes water, energy, biomass, and waste in a circular and near-zero-waste manner. The ecological intelligence embedded in Bhil traditions provides critical frameworks for achieving:
- SDG 6 — Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 7 — Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 13 — Climate Action
She emphasized that such Indigenous practices hold immense value for countries in the Global South, where sustainable resource use is a growing priority.
Prof. Nisar Khan added that many age-old Bhil practices are fading due to rapid urbanization. Documenting these systems will offer a foundation for reviving the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) and integrating Indigenous wisdom into modern sustainability models.
University Leadership Congratulates Scholar
Prof. Mazhar Asif, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, congratulated the scholar and supervisors, noting that this prestigious award not only highlights the relevance of Indigenous knowledge in global climate solutions but also strengthens academic ties between JMI and the University of Bath.
Prof. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar, JMI, also commended the scholar’s achievement and emphasized the importance of strengthening international research collaborations to address shared global challenges.
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