PASIGHAT : Arunachal Pradesh University (APU) Assistant Professor of Mass Communication Dr Prem Taba has been awarded the prestigious South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Research Grant (SRG) 2026-27 by the SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC), Colombo, for his research on museum heritage in the South Asian region.
Dr Taba received the grant under the theme, “Interpreting Shared Heritage: Cross-Cultural Narratives in Museums in the SAARC Region.” The award was communicated through an official Letter of Offer dated July 8, signed by SAARC Cultural Centre Director Dr Kaushalya Kumarasinghe, who described the selection process as highly competitive and commended the proposal for its scholarly merit and relevance.
His research project, titled “When the Vitrine Silences the Forest: Decolonising Tribal Heritage Communication in the Museums of the Eastern Himalayan SAARC Corridor,” will examine how the Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum in Itanagar and the National Museum of Bhutan in Paro represent, or fail to represent, the tribal communities of the region.
Under the programme, each awardee receives a research grant of US $3,000, to be released in two installments—US $1,500 at the commencement of the project and the remaining amount upon submission and acceptance of the final research report.
Expressing gratitude over the recognition, Dr Taba said the grant was a matter of pride not only for him but also for the academic and cultural community of Arunachal Pradesh.
“This grant is a recognition that the heritage of our tribal communities belongs not only to Arunachal Pradesh, but to the shared cultural memory of South Asia. It is an opportunity to bring the voices of our people into a global conversation on how museums represent indigenous knowledge. I hope this work opens the door for more scholars from our region to engage with international academic and cultural institutions,” he said.
The SAARC Research Grants 2026 programme was approved by the 15th Meeting of the Governing Board of the SAARC Cultural Centre in Colombo in August 2025 and subsequently endorsed at the 62nd Session of the SAARC Programming Committee in Kathmandu in February 2026.
The programme invited research proposals from scholars across the eight SAARC member countries on the interpretation and communication of shared cultural heritage through museums.
As part of the grant, Dr Taba will submit a publishable research report incorporating recommendations of the SAARC Cultural Centre’s Research Grants Committee, with the final work to undergo review, editing and possible publication under the Centre’s publications programme.
Congratulating Dr Taba, Chief Minister Pema Khandu described the achievement as a proud moment for the state, noting that the highly competitive award would bring international attention to the rich heritage of Arunachal Pradesh’s tribal communities and strengthen the state’s presence on the global academic platform.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein also congratulated Dr Taba, saying the recognition reflects the growing academic excellence of the state’s institutions. He expressed confidence that the research would make a meaningful contribution to the preservation and promotion of indigenous heritage and tribal narratives across the region.
Extending his congratulations, Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona said the prestigious honour not only recognised Dr Taba’s scholarly contribution but also placed Arunachal Pradesh University on an important international research platform. He expressed hope that the achievement would inspire more scholars from the state to pursue excellence in research and innovation.
