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A New Look at American History
Nayani Melegoda, a senior lecturer in the Department
of History and International Relations at the
University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, traveled to
the University of Tennessee to conduct research
on the role of women in the American Civil War.
During her time as a Fulbrighter, Melegoda was
able to complete a draft of a manuscript on a
book about the American Civil War, introducing
a Sinhala-language glossary for American Civil
War concepts. To her pleasant surprise, Melegoda
also found many documents related to Sri Lanka's
foreign policy online through the National Archives.
This helped her to compile a catalogue for the
American Information Resource Center in Sri Lanka
about Sri Lankan resources available in the archives
and libraries of universities around the United
States.
A very motivated scholar, Melegoda did not confine
her Fulbright research activities to the University
of Tennessee. She made sure to make many contacts
with scholars around the United States and counts
the opportunity to meet C.R. de Silva, the dean
of arts and letters at Old Dominion University
in Virginia, among the highlights of her stay.
She was also able to secure two financial grants
from an association in Indiana to assist underprivileged
students at the University of Colombo. Melegoda
managed to make time to audit an American Civil
War graduate course at the University of Tennessee
and enjoyed greatly the interaction with students
that it afforded her.
Melegoda was also very grateful for the facilities
and up-to-date IT services provided by the Center
for the Study of War and Society that not only
made it easier to conduct her research but to
stay in touch with family back in Sri Lanka. Her
American colleagues were extremely welcoming and
supportive as well, making themselves available
for consultation and ensuring that she was able
to maximize her time as a Fulbrighter. As a direct
result of their assistance, Melegoda received
an award to conduct research in India.
Her interactions with other American history
scholars led Melegoda to develop many new course
curricula, which she used to introduce two new
classes at the University of Colombo.
Outside of the classroom, Melegoda enjoyed greatly
a chance to see the University of Tennessee Volunteers
football team play at a packed Neyland Stadium.
Amazed by the large gathering of over 100,000
people, Melegoda was surprised by the support
for the team and remarked that it brought to light
many of the strengths of the American nation.
She also met the Tennessee Children's Dance Ensemble
in Knoxville and arranged for them to tour Sri
Lanka.
Since returning to Sri Lanka, Melegoda has published
a book in Sinhala based on the research she did
in Tennessee. She has also been appointed deputy
coordinator of policy planning and implementation
in the "Improving Relevance and Quality of
Undergraduate Education (IRIQUE)" project
of the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka, funded
by the World Bank.
Please contact
us if you would like to submit your own story
and/or photographs.
"International education
exchange is the most significant current project
designed to continue the process of humanizing
mankind to the point, we would hope, that
nations can learn to live in peace"
--J. William Fulbright |
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