Congratulations to ICCR Awardees in the Academic Year 2019-2020

ICCR Awardees' Facebook Profile snapshots. *Ven. Soben Kumar is under CLMV Scholarship to study at Nalanda University, Rajgir, Bihar.

Heartily congratulations to ICCR Awardees 2019-2020. You have embarked on a journey to the west, India, in search of the truth of Dhamma (knowledge). India has been well known for its very ancient knowledge and great civilisation which emulated itself to be in pair with great powers in the modern world. 

It’s a great opportunity to experience the studies and living in so-called incredible India, a land of diversity in terms of its geography, weather, culture, religion, ethnicity, language, food and people way of life. However, due to this diversity, outsiders often experienced “culture shock”. 

India is the world's 7th largest country by area and the 2nd most populous country with 1.3 billion residents. 

To Buddhists, it’s a Buddhabhumi (Land of Gautam Buddha). Dr R.B. Ambedkar, Father of Indian Constitution, was a converted Buddhist who founded Navayana Buddhism for uplifting thousands of Dalits, lower-class people in Indian society. He was also said to have associated with Samdach Preah Dharmawara Bellong Mahathera: The Great Dhammaduta Monk of Cambodia in the 1950s. India is also well known for its philosophy of non-violence propagated by Gandhiji, Father of India. 

Those who read Cambodian political history in the 1950s & 1960s would come across another well-known figure, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, who became an influential “guru” of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, former King and Head of State of Cambodia, in formulating his foreign policy of neutrality and non-alignment in the bipolar world order. 

Not to take much of your time, we are happy to inform you that there are seventeen students admitted to various universities in India this year under Mekong Ganga Cooperation Scholarship Scheme, MGCSS-2019-2020 of ICCR (two PhD candidates, eleven PG students and four UG students). And also there's one student under the CLMV scholarship scheme to pursue his higher education (PG) at Nalanda University.

That’s a good number indeed in comparison to previous years. Unfortunately, two qualified students have been reported dropped off their scholarships. As per the information we have obtained, the seventeen awardees have been admitted in various courses in universities in India segmented across cities and states as followings: 

• 1-Ven. Yon Bunyom, PhD in Buddhist Studies and Civilisation, Gautam Buddha University, Noida, NCT
• 2-Huy Hang, PhD in Ethical Studies, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal
• 3-Ven. Yen Sokne, M.A. in Buddhist Studies and Civilisation, Gautam Buddha University, Noida, NCT
• 4-Keav Mengkoang, M.A. in History, University of Delhi, New Delhi, NCT
• 5-Bunna Vann, M.A. in Political Science, Jamia Islamia University, New Delhi, NCT
• 6-Chhun Banann, M.Tech. in Structural Engineering, Cochin Technology University, Cochin, Kerala
• 7-Yen The, MBA, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab
• 8-Chhuon Vanny, M.A. in Sociology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra 
• 9-Tom Sreysross, MBA, University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka
• 10-Min Chanthul, MBA, Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
• 11-Ven Chanratana, M.A. in Tourism Management, National Institute of Tourism & Hospitality Management, Hyderabad, Telangana
• 12-Im Chantola, M.Sc. in IT, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
• 13-Chheang Sophearom, M.Sc. in IT,  Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, NCT
• 14-Soeurn Mengseang, B.Sc. in IT,  Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, NCT
• 15-Loem Socheanet, B.Sc. in IT,  Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, NCT
• 16-Lim Lychhay, B.Tech. in Civil Engineering, Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, NCT
• 17-Hing Sokserey, B.Sc. in IT, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra

• *Ven. Soeurn Phearom (Soben Kumar), M.A. in Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions, Nalanda University, Rajgir, Bihar, under CLMV Scholarship.

We are sorry for those who did not pass their scholarship examination and who did not get their admission in any university in India. We encourage you to try again next year. You may read these Useful Tips and Information for Indian ICCR Scholarship and Applying For Indian Scholarship? See A Selected List of 22 Universities Before You Apply.

While some students have already settled down in their respective university, some are still struggling to complete their university registration and some just arrived. For the last two categories, please read this post: ICCR Scholars: Six Relative Steps to Do on Your Arrival in India.

Should you have any inquiry, please feel free to post your comment below.