A new fellowship for IAWRT India

Veteran IAWRT Chapter India member Dr. Padmaja Shaw, has instituted a fellowship in IAWRT India.

The IAWRT-Shaw Memorial Fellowship is in memory of her late husband Rajendra Shaw.

Shaw was an alumni of India’s eminent film school – the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune (1975 batch) and a firm believer in affirmative action. 

 

The award was instituted on October 26, which was Rajendra’s birthday.

 

Rajendra Shaw worked his entire professional life in social sector organizations making communication materials, teaching and training people in visual and text documentation. He also mentored young people in photography,videography and video editing, in addition to writing in clear and simple language for text documentation.

 

“I wanted the scholarship in my late husband’s memory to continue this in some way, by helping a Dalit girl student get formal training in film-making techniques through any available/willing institute (state-run, commercial or colleges run by mission schools) to ensure that the student gets through and does come out with a portfolio that opens doors for meaningful work”  Padmaja observed.

 

Padmaja has given us Rs 5 lakhs to the IAWRT corpus and the  interest accrued every two years will be used towards a fellowship of an SC/ST candidate studying media/communications/film.

 

It will be in the form of an award so that for the student it becomes a matter of pride and accomplishment. There will be an innovative selection process and a two-member committee with Padmaja and one other IAWRT member will select the person for the award bi-annually.