ITANAGAR, May 19: The Reading Promotion Endowment Trust for Arunachal (RPETA), a public charitable trust founded in Delhi to promote reading and educational advancement among youth in Arunachal Pradesh, has announced two fellowships for the year 2026-27.
The third “Mandakini Khandekar Memorial Fellowship for Educational & Professional Advancement” 2026 has been awarded to wildlife student-artist Behelti Ama of Wakro. A senior youth library volunteer, she will receive a fellowship amount of Rs 35,000 to pursue advanced professional training in digital art during 2026-27.
Late Mandakini Khandekar, who passed away in Pune in March 2023 at the age of 94, was a strong supporter of RPETA’s reading promotion activities and youth library movement in Arunachal Pradesh. She had expressed her desire that her contributions be utilized for the educational advancement of deserving youth from the State.
Meanwhile, the second “Capt KK Venkatraman Memorial Fellowship for Professional Enhancement” has been awarded to Ashapmai Dellang, lead member of the Carnatic music group “Wakro Sisters.” She will receive Rs 30,000 to attend advanced training workshops in Carnatic music during 2026-27.
Capt KK Venkatraman, who passed away on May 27, 2024, was a pioneer educational administrator of VKVs in Arunachal Pradesh and a dedicated patron of RPETA Trust.
RPETA president Ngilang Taley expressed gratitude and respect to late Mandakini Khandekar and late Capt Venkatraman for their commitment and generous support towards the advancement of Arunachal youth.