The Long Memory commissions research articles on marginalised themes in Indian history and narratives of the past that have long been under-represented in mainstream historical scholarship. Commissions are awarded through a formal proposal process.
The editorial correspondence between The Long Memory and a commissioned author is governed by the terms set out below, together with any written correspondence confirming the specific terms of a commission (including timeline, structure, and honorarium) as agreed with the Editor-in-Chief.

B. Commissioning Process

1. The commissioning model will operate under a specific process, with each stage ending up with an official email for documentation purposes, as follows:

   1. Approach Paper Submission: Prospective candidates are required to submit an Approach Paper via email to formally register their interest. This document must delineate the proposed article’s theme, primary sources, core argument, and intended length. Furthermore, the submission should include a detailed rationale for the candidate’s interest in the subject, a comprehensive methodology, and a proposal for compensation. It is imperative that the requested remuneration accounts for all costs associated with field research and expert consultations, as these are standard expectations for project contributors.

   2. Editorial Board (EB) Commissioning: The Editorial Board shall issue a formal determination within seven days, providing one of the following outcomes:

1. Formal acceptance of the proposal as submitted.

2. Conditional acceptance, requiring specified revisions.

3. Rejection of the proposal, accompanied by detailed feedback.

3. Acknowledgment Mail by Candidate: Upon the final approval of the proposal, the candidate is required to submit a formal acknowledgment reply via email. This action officially initiates the commissioning period. It is after this stage that the disbursement of advance payment of 30% of the agreed remuneration will be processed. Authors whose articles require fieldwork will be paid around Rs 15 to 25 K, while others will be paid Rs 10 to 15 K.

4. Article Submission by Candidate: Upon completion, the candidate shall formally submit the article via email for the Editorial Board’s review.

5. Receipt Confirmation by the Editorial Board: Upon the formal submission of an article for consideration, the Editorial Board shall issue an official acknowledgement correspondence to the candidate.

6. Editorial Evaluation and Determination: The Editorial Board shall conduct a rigorous assessment of the submission to ensure academic integrity, factual precision, originality, and writing style. Subsequently, the Board will issue a formal notification of:

1. Formal acceptance by granting a “Determination of Completion”, signifying the draft meets all stipulated quality and submission requirements, and confirming that full remuneration will be granted; or

2. Formal rejection, which may include an invitation for resubmission following substantive revisions, which implies that the researcher will have to re-submit the article for review post the changes.

3. It should be noted that a “Determination of Completion” serves as a guarantee of full remuneration to the contributor, but does not necessarily ensure the publication of the draft. In instances where a submission is not selected for publication, the author remains entitled to the total agreed-upon amount.

7. Remuneration Fulfillment: Following a Determination of Completion mail, the Editorial Board will initiate the remaining 70% payment procedures and confirm via email that the pre-agreed compensation shall be disbursed in accordance with the performance-contingent framework.

2. Submission Deadline: The finalized draft must be submitted within a period of 30 days following the receipt of the Editorial Board’s (EB) acknowledgment correspondence. In instances involving extensive field research or specialized study, an extension may be accorded, contingent upon the formal inclusion of such an adjusted timeline in the EB’s initial acknowledgment.

C. Deadline and Late Submission Policy

Contributors are expected to submit their completed review by the deadline agreed with the Editor-in-Chief at the time of commissioning. The Long Journey recognises that unforeseen circumstances may arise; however, timely delivery is essential to the editorial process.

1. Late Submission: Honorarium Reduction

Where a commissioned review is not submitted by the agreed deadline, the following honorarium reduction schedule shall apply:

Reductions are cumulative and apply to the total honorarium agreed at commissioning.