SASNET initiative behind ICCR professorship at Lund University

Balkrishna Shetty and Per Eriksson.

The ICCR professorship at Lund University is an outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Lund University, that was signed on 22 June 2010 by Mr. Balkrishna Shetty, former Indian Ambassador to Sweden, and Prof. Per Eriksson, Vice-Chancellor, Lund University. In a first phase, the agreement is valid for four years, with a new Indian Professor to be selected each year. 
SASNET was actively involved in finalizing the ICCR professorship at Lund University, with strong support from the Embassy of India in Stockholm. In April 2010, SASNET’s director, Dr. Anna Lindberg, participated in an official Lund University delegation to Delhi (more information), where final negotiations were held with representatives of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, regarding the proposed Indian visiting guest professorship at Lund University. 
The first ICCR guest professor was Prof. Lipi Ghosh from Calcutta University. She spent the period November 2010–March 2011 at the Centre for Gender Studies. More information.
A new ICCR Visiting Professor, Gopal Karanth, arrived at Lund University in September 2011. He will stay for the full academic year 2011-12, and is is hosted by the Department of Sociology.