Abhi Nimmagadda, a third-year student at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, has been awarded the Beinecke Scholarship to pursue graduate studies in South Asian Studies.
Nimmagadda is the only Indian-American recipient of the US$ 35,000 scholarship this year, the 10th Northwestern recipient and the only one since 2014.
Born to Indian immigrants in Jackson Mississippi, Nimmagadda moved to Hyderabad, India, at age three and subsequently back to Crown Point, Indiana, at ten. He is fluent in several languages, and considers Telugu his native tongue.
At Northwestern, Nimmagadda is working on a senior thesis about the literary contributions of Telugu-Americans and the intersections of caste and race. He also co-founded the Jasmine Collective, a student group focused on South Asian identities and politics.
“In South Asia, language reflects caste, geography, and class,” Nimmagadda, who plans to use the Beinecke Scholarship to continue his research into the logics of race and caste discrimination said.
“American society often overlooks caste-related discrimination. I hope my research can support global anti-caste movements,” Nimmagada said.
“American society doesn’t know how to read discrimination and illegal actions in terms of caste. It is related to race but often unseen. I hope to contribute to the global anti-caste movements through research that can hold up to academic scrutiny,” he added.
“Abhi embodies the concept of public humanities and connects his studies with current events,” said Jason Kelly Roberts, associate director for outreach and communications in the Office of Fellowships.
The Beinecke Scholarship Program was established in 1971 by the Board of Directors of The Sperry and Hutchinson Company to honor Edwin, Frederick, and Walter Beinecke. The program provides substantial scholarships for the graduate education of young men and women of exceptional promise, encouraging them to pursue opportunities in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
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