An interview with Dhvani Mehta, National Secretary, Rhodes Scholarship India

Rayan Chakrabarty, a final-year Master’s student from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, plans to create a museum and document the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Asia. Vibha Swaminathan, a final-year Law student at National Law School, Bengaluru, aims to study citizenship regimes and human rights litigation. Avanish Vats, a visually-impaired graduate from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi, is interested in epistemology and making philosophy accessible to people with disabilities. Shubham Narwal, a veterinarian at ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, plans to explore conservation strategies for the Great Indian Bustard. Pal Aggarwal, a B.Tech student from IIT-Bombay, intends to become an astronaut, and advocate for women in Science.

From L-R: (Pal Aggarwal, Shubham Narwal, Avanish Vats, Rayan Chakrabarti and Vibha Swaminathan) | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

What do these youngsters have in common? They are all recipients of the Rhodes Scholarships 2025, which will enable them to pursue their higher education at Oxford University, the U.K. In September 2024, The Rhodes Trust announced the creation of a sixth Rhodes Scholarship for India. Dhvani Mehta, National Secretary, Rhodes Scholarship for India, talks about how the scholarship came to be, how it impacts Indian students, and more.

Dhvani Mehta, National Secretary, Rhodes Scholarship India | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The beginning

Established in 1902 by Cecil Rhodes, a British financier who was Prime Minister of Cape Colony in the 1890s, the Trust now acknowledges the role of colonial wealth and discriminatory practices in laying the foundation for the scholarship. Today, steps are being taken to correct the mistakes of the past and make it more inclusive and equitable. “Earlier scholarships were restricted to the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand; in short, where the white man had made his mark. But the idea now is to ensure that more of the wealth on which the scholarship was founded goes back primarily to Africa, to which Cecil Rhodes owes a great debt, and to acknowledge other parts of the world where there has been a history of colonial rule and trauma,” she adds.

The parameters on which the scholarships are awarded are the same across countries. “There is no variation in the criteria barring technical variations of age, eligibility, citizenship, educational requirements. But, the criteria mentioned in Rhodes’ will — academic excellence; energy to use one’s talent to the fullest, including excellence in co-curricular or extracurricular activities, and values or how one demonstrates truth, courage, devotion to duty, timeliness, and leadership — are still the basis on which the Trust awards the scholarships,” explains Mehta.

Busting myths

Mehta busts the myth of a “typical Rhodes scholar”. There is no ‘type’, she explains. In fact, the scholarship’s strength lies in its diversity and the opportunity to meet different people while at Rhodes House. Another myth was physical prowess: that one had to excel in a sporting activity. Back in 1903, the scholarship required applicants to be athletic and able men. But that isn’t true anymore. The selection criteria mention ‘energy to use one’s talents to the full’, but this can be shown through a range of extracurricular pursuits and leadership opportunities.

Mehta also shares tips for students who are planning their Rhodes journey:

Early start: Don’t wait till you are in the final year of your UG to think about what your application will look like. The scholarship requires you to have demonstrated your engagement in extracurricular and leadership activities early on.

Authenticity: Don’t engage in extracurricular or co-curricular activities only for the sake of the scholarship. The selection committee can make out which candidate is authentic and which ones are out for personal gain.

Introspection matters: Maintain an excellent academic record. Apply to the scholarship as an opportunity to introspect about the kind of person you want to be and the career you want to have. The committee wants to see a demonstration of committment to public progress.

Get acquainted: Research and zero-in on which course is most suited for you, as admission to Oxford is highly competitive. The Rhodes website has extensive information on eligibility, application process, deadlines, past students’ experience, and more. This can be used as a primer before beginning the application process.

Be realistic: Apply to courses where you have a realistic chance of getting in and to those that have the coursework and professors that you are interested in learning from. Do your homework on what it is that you want to study and why you want to go to Oxford as opposed to other universities, and what the Rhodes community can offer.

For more details, visit https://tinyurl.com/yrxeedx2.