By Fakir Hassen, IANS,
Stellenbosch (South Africa) : Tata Africa has awarded scholarships to 10 students of the University of Stellenbosch, helping boost India’s growing relationship with academic institutions in South Africa.
The scholarship, called the Tata Africa Scholarships for 2008, was awarded at the India Evening function jointly hosted here by the university and the Indian high commission.
Besides the scholarships, the university was also granted 325 books on India, with High Commissioner Rajiv Bhatia presenting a book entitled ‘100 Wonders of India’ to the vice chancellor.
Bhatia highlighted the rapidly growing relationship between the two countries in his address titled ‘New Trends in India-South Africa Relations’. Former Cape Town Archbishop Njogonkulu Ndungane presented his views on the theme.
Tata Africa managing director Raman Dhawan said that the Tata Africa scholarships covered tuition fee, stipend, books and accommodation for the year of post-graduate study.
The funding is provided to students who are financially challenged and have a proven academic track record as under-graduates.
Dhawan said the Tata Group had always believed in returning wealth to the society it served and that no success or achievement in material terms – achieved through fair means – was worthwhile unless it served the needs and interest of the country and its people.
He said the group was committed to skills development in South Africa and was proud to support Stellenbosch University by providing scholarships to deserving students.
Dhawan earlier handed over similar scholarships to post-graduate students at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
Earlier this year, the Indian Consul-General in Johannesburg, Navdeep Suri, presented a substantial collection of books to the same university, where a Centre for Indian Studies will be officially opened next month.
French-Vietnamese dancer Gilles Chuyen, currently in the country with his stage show ‘Bollywood Love Story’ as part of a six-week long ‘Shared Histories Festival’ presented by the Indian high commission, joined local Indian dancers from the Vadhini Indian Arts Academy of Cape Town to provide entertainment at the event.