Nitesh Dogne, a Ph.D. research scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi, has been awarded the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship 2025-26. He is pursuing his research on the Indigenous Knowledge System of Tribal Circularity under the guidance of Prof. Hina Zia, Professor & Head of the Department of Planning, and Prof. Nisar Khan from the Department of Architecture. The scholarship, awarded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), United Kingdom, is highly competitive and fully funded. In 2024, only 57 scholars from 40 countries received this award. Under this programme, Nitesh will continue his research for one year at the University of Bath. His proposal was also selected by University College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and Newcastle University. Prof. Hina Zia said, “This research investigates how the Bhil tribe uses water, energy, biomass, and waste in a circular and near-zero manner. Their ecological wisdom offers critical insights for achieving SDG 6, SDG 7, and Climate Action (13), especially in the Global South.” Prof. Nisar Khan added that the research studies the Bhil tribe’s age-old practices, which are disappearing due to urbanisation, and that documentation will support the revival of the Indian Knowledge System for sustainability. Congratulating the scholar and his supervisors, Prof. Mazhar Asif, Vice Chancellor of JMI, noted that “this scholarship not only repositions Indigenous knowledge at the forefront of climate solutions but also strengthens relations between Jamia Millia Islamia and the University of Bath.” Prof. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar of JMI, commended the scholar and supervisors for their work and emphasised that global university collaborations are key to addressing worldwide challenges.
