Dr. Krishnamurti and Dr. Ganga Dakshinamurti established and endowment fund at the University of Manitoba with an initial gift of $100,000 in 2016. The Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative will make a contribution to this fund.
Dr. Krishnamurti Dakshinamurti is the President of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Canada, which since 2010, has annually conferred the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award to recognize and honour original thinkers and initiators of conflict resolution, and holds an annual dinner and awards ceremony for the recipients. It is the intention of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Canada to donate the proceeds from this annual function to the endowment fund each year.
The purpose of the fund is to recognize graduate students who have a focus in human rights research, social justice, and peace and conflict studies. An additional gift of $5,000 will be made to offer the first award(s) in the 2016-2017 academic year. Then, each year, beginning in 2017-2018, the available annual income from the fund will be used to offer one or more scholarships to graduate students who:
- 1) are enrolled full-time in a Master's or PhD program in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Manitoba
- 2) have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.5 based on the previous 60 credit hours (or equivalent) of study;
- 3) are currently undertaking research with a focus in human rights, social justice, or peace and conflict studies.
Preference in selection will be given to students who are working in collaboration with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
The selection committee will have the discretion to determine the number and value of the awards based on the available funds each year.
The Vice-Provost (Graduate Education) and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (or designate) will name the selection committee for this award, which will include a representative for this award, which will include a representative of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Canada.