The need for access to JSTOR in developing nations
Access to JSTOR [the US based online 'Journal Storage' that archives academic journals] is a major issue for research scholars and students particularly from the developing countries like India. The rule is that you need to be a member of a participating institution or library to be able to access it [individual subscriptions to JSTOR archives are not allowed]. However there is a way to access JSTOR archives in developing nations with an internet connection right on your laptop or desktop. Many in JNU campus, Delhi and elsewhere including your truly access JSTOR from their desktop and those who do not know about it work on the JNU library computers to access it! Read more to know how to access JSTOR without paying a penny or visiting an affiliated institution or library! 
GDN gives free access to JSTOR to “eligible researchers”
Global Development Network [GDNET]is “a leading International Organization of developing and transition country researchers, policy and research institutes promoting the generation, sharing, and application to policy of multidisciplinary knowledge for the purpose of development. Founded in 1999, GDN is now headquartered in New Delhi, with offices in Cairo and Washington.” In all probability, the access to JSTOR is only for members from developing nations ["eligible researchers"].
Join GDN, create an account for free JSTOR access in a developing nation
Click on the “new user, join now” link on the right and fill all the personal and research details of your work. Be sincere and fill the details accurately and truthfully because the organisation considers each application rather seriously and you do not get automatic access immediately. You should get your login id and password on email within 48 hours if you have been sincere in filling the form. You will get an email ["your GDN researcher profile has been accepted"] when your profile is accepted.
Then login to www.gdnet.org and you will see this box on the left of the page. As you see one of your services is free access to JSTOR. Click on the JSTOR link, fill the same GDN login and password and you will realize that the GDN is an open sesame to free and hassle free access to JSTOR! You can also create an account on JSTOR if you want to save citations or simply download the PDF articles.
You can also surf Project MUSE which provides “100 per cent full-text access to a comprehensive selection of Social Science and Humanities journals.”
You can do a lot with the GDN. You can showcase your research, contribute to the knowledge base, network with other researchers or submit research proposals and papers for the awards and medals competition and win thousands of US dollars!
This is what the GDN site writes on JSTOR access
GDN has granted access to J-Stor Journal Collection to GDN’s Registered Eligible Researchers on the Knowledge Base through their Researchers profiles. Researchers are granted access to Business I and II and Arts and Science II and VI Collections.
The current Collection brings together a compilation of titles in Economics, Finance, Education, Social Sciences, Political Science, Archaeology, Marketing, Managements and more.
So you want free access to research and other books too?!
Click here to read my article on Gigapedia.com which hosts links to eBooks download. Social Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Comics and whatnot! You can download so much from Gigapedia; it is raining eBooks there! Read the post or you may find Gigapedia very unfriendly on first visit!
So that’s a boon for researchers in developing nations! Poverty has its benefits too! Pardon the dark humour! 
[Originally written on 10 August, this post was slightly edited on 13 August 2009]
Some Links on critique of JSTOR, “the great firewall of America”
Thanks Vikas for very important info.
you are writing such nice informative posts!
Thank you Murariji and Reema.
Very useful!
You can also use JURN (jurn.org) to freely access full-text arts humanities articles.
For a change it’s good n gracious, previous one was a bit more titilating.
heya! you have been tagged
http://bitsnbytesoflife.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/jhatpat-tag/
hey i’m back. and i just noticed the “my other wedsites” sidebar.. boy! you have A LOT! Wasn’t 1 blog enough?
i know right? i really liked a couple of your ideas
so much information overload…what about the lesser mortals like me who take time to digest such facts?!?!
anyways, where have u been these days? long time, aye?
omgg, YOU WON! CONGRATS. COLLECT YOUR PRIZES ON MY SITE.
Hey good stuff…keep up the good work! I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,)
Quote
“IMPORTANT: Effective 17 September, 2009, eligibility criteria for JSTOR access has been amended to extend to only qualified researchers as per the JSTOR African Access Initiative and Developing Nations Tier 1 Countries”
Thanks for the information man! it’s very useful.
Your’ re welcome Rodrigo! I hope you read the access is only for people of developing countries.
i am a phd student at Delhi University. Need 2 access jstor
Great work Vikas.
i need to join as a researcher
amaizing! i’m going to bookmark this at all possible sites…glad i’m here…i wonder where was i all this while
thanks.
Vikas, i just tried creating a new acct at GDN…what do you mean when you say eligible scholars…i mean…i’m not registered as a research scholar yet…lot of official problems out there at rajasthan university…anyways…does that i mean i’m not eligible?
Tina,
You are eligible; it doesn’t have to do anything with your university. It means it is only for people from developing nations.
Vikas, you’re the man, thank you, namaste
Thank u Vikas, I’m glad i found ur blog, its been of great help to me!!
the thing that you said is for researchers and not for students . so how can undergraduate students access jstor for free
Dorothy,
Sorry if it didn’t work for you. It is only for researchers from developing nations. You can mail them if you want to.
Thank you Prashanth. I visited your Wikipedia profile and your blog too. You are doing a great job! *salutes*
Thanks.
Thank you Sanjay for the theme review. I will stay with this theme for some time!
Welcome back Dunya!
I read about your contest; may submit some ideas! The prize is very enticing!
Got little time Alice these days! I do keep looking at others from the feed readers but rarely venture out to comment!
Pxi, I have mentioned it in the post that it is for “eligible” scholars only.