ICHR presses former chairman to reconsider declined Gurukul Fellowship 

ICHR urges Prof Y. Sudarshan Rao to reconsider declining prestigious Gurukul Fellowship for historical research contributions.

The Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education, has formally requested Prof Y. Sudarshan Rao, former Professor of History and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Kakatiya University, Warangal, to reconsider his decision to decline the Gurukul Fellowship. 

In a letter addressed to Prof. Rao, ICHR Member Secretary Om Jee Upadhyay highlighted the council’s unanimous resolution during its meeting on March 27 to urge Prof. Rao to accept the fellowship. The Gurukul Fellowship, one of ICHR’s most prestigious awards, was offered to Prof. Rao for his extensive scholarship and dedicated contributions to history. 

Prof. Rao had earlier declined the fellowship, citing a dilemma regarding the propriety of a former Chairman of ICHR availing such an award. The council, however, emphasised that the fellowship was awarded based on merit and the significant impact of Prof. Rao’s work in historical research. The letter underlined the potential benefits of Prof. Rao’s continued involvement and expertise to both the academic community and future generations. 

“We believe that your acceptance of this fellowship would greatly benefit the posterity and the larger academic community,” stated Upadhyay. The council expressed hope that Prof. Rao would reconsider his previous decision and honor them by accepting the fellowship.