JFP announces launch of the Damal Fellowship

Kathmandu, December 30 — Just Futures Pahal (JFP) has announced the launch of the Damal Fellowship, a national initiative that will commence in January 2025.

JFP states that the fellowship aims to foster a deep and critical understanding of caste, class, gender, and sexuality while generating new questions, knowledge, and perspectives on these themes. The central focus of the fellowship will be on the lived experiences, aspirations, capabilities, and joy of Dalit women.

The fellowship is named after the historical term "Damal," which refers to a system of legal punishments based on caste and gender, as outlined in Nepal's Muluki Ain of 1854. 

JFP has also announced the selection of six Dalit women as fellows from a pool of twelve applicants. The selected fellows are Anjana Bishankhe, Asmita Majhi, Kakunti Rabidas, Madhu Mahara, Seema Baitha, and Sita Devi Baudel.

The nine-month fellowship program will focus on intergenerational and interdisciplinary learning, encouraging writing and creative expression through in-person seminars, community-based exchanges, and collaborative learning.

The program will utilize a specialized curriculum and pedagogy centered on the experiences of Dalit women, offering fellows the opportunity to develop their voices and engage in critical social discourse.