Amrithagiri Research Foundation (ARF)

Interdisciplinary Research and Academic Alliances

Amrithagiri Research Foundation (ARF) is the research and innovation wing of Amrithagiri Himalaya (AH), established to fulfill AH’s core objectives and to implement its diverse projects across India in collaboration with its sister organizations – ARSHA Trust, Amrithagiri Eco Life (AEL), and Amrithagiri Wellness Empowerment (AWE).

ARF advances AH’s vision through academic alliances with some of India’s most prestigious universities and research institutions, including the University of Kerala (UoK) and Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (HNBGU), among others. These collaborations promote research in areas such as river conservation, ecology, village sustainability, cultural heritage, agriculture, history, and environmental science, contributing to India’s broader goal of inclusive development.

Academic Leadership and Key Collaborations

ARF’s research initiatives are guided by eminent scholars and academic experts, including..

•Prof. Priyankar Upadhyaya, UNESCO Chair on Peace and Intercultural Understanding, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) – leading ARF’s initiatives in peace studies, cultural integration, and social responsibility.

•Prof. Sameer Das, University of Calcutta – leading the Village Sampark Program (VSP) and research on rural sociology and governance of livelihood upkeep.

•Prof. Girish Kumar R, University of Kerala (UoK) – heading collaborative research in Ganga river studies and environmental ecology.

Building on these national alliances, AH and ARF are in the process of forming international collaborations with renowned research institutions across Asia, Europe, and North America to expand joint studies, policy dialogues, and global knowledge exchange.

ARF is also working on establishing partnerships with leading research institutes in the field of Geospatial Technology to integrate advanced mapping and analytics into AH’s core projects -including River Ganga studies, ecological restoration, eco-agriculture and sustainable tourism. These collaborations will help develop data-driven models for environmental planning, biodiversity mapping, and heritage conservation.

In tune with its social mission, ARF also seeks to introduce basic awareness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Geospatial Technology among youth and students from remote and underprivileged regions of India, empowering them with knowledge of emerging tools for environmental innovation and digital advancement.

ARF and AH invite universities, research centers, scholars and interns from India and abroad to participate in this evolving network of academic and field-based partnerships. These collaborations create platforms for community transformation, ensuring that knowledge flows seamlessly from laboratories and classrooms to villages and ecosystems.

National and Institutional Partnerships

The key academic partnerships of AH and ARF are designed to support a wide range of national development projects initiated by India’s premier research and policy institutions, including:

•Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

•Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)

•Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)

•Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)

•Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

•National Institute of Hydrology (NIH)

•National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)

•National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR)

•Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)

•Ministry of Tourism – Swadesh Darshan & Dekho Apna Desh Schemes

•Department of Science and Technology (DST)

•Ministry of Culture – National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA)

These collaborations enable ARF to leverage cutting-edge research, technology and traditional knowledge systems for addressing national priorities in agriculture, environment, heritage conservation and sustainable community development.

They also ensure that AH’s field-based initiatives - such as river basin conservation, village revitalization, sustainable farming, and cultural documentation - are scientifically supported and institutionally recognized.

Research Grants and Fellowships

ARF is committed to nurturing the next generation of researchers on sustainability, culture, and social development. Through its Research Grants and Fellowship Programs, ARF supports students, academics, and independent scientists who contribute to projects in line with its core mission.

These fellowships emphasize:

•Capacity building in environmental and cultural research.

•Innovation and applied science for sustainable living.

•Documentation and preservation of indigenous knowledge systems.

•Community-oriented research models linking academia with ground realities.

By empowering young minds and enhancing their fact-finding skills, ARF encourages innovative, interdisciplinary, and socially relevant research that contributes to national progress and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).