Romila Thapar

Indian historian · India · On the map · Writers · Born 1931 · age 94

Romila Thapar is an Indian historian. Her principal area of study is ancient India, a field in which she is pre-eminent. Thapar is a Professor of Ancient History, Emerita, at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi.

Romila Thapar is read about 216 times a day, in 26 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

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2016“Intolerance of the views of others and anti-intellectualism are on the rise.”In their wordsinterview in 2016, as quoted in "Why Right-wingers and lapsed liberals hate Romila Thapar, the mother of history in India", The Print, 21Read the whole statement

2015“Secularism is the curtailment of religious control over social institutions, not the absence of religion from society.”In their words20 August 2015The Indian Express August 20Read the whole statement

2014“Nations are not easily forged since many identities have to be coalesced.”In their wordsThe Past as Present, Aleph Book Company (2014).Read the whole statement

“In the questioning of existing explanations the validity of periodizing Indian history as Hindu, Muslim and British was increasingly doubted.”In their wordsThe Past as Present, Aleph Book Company (2014).Read the whole statement

“Pre-modern Hinduism had its warts - big and small - as do all religions, but its subtleties were richer than what is now being thrust on its believers.”In their wordsThe Past as Present, Aleph Book Company (2014).Read the whole statement

“Hindutva claims to represent indigenous Indian thought opposed to western interpretations of Indian religion, traditions and culture.”In their wordsThe Past as Present, Aleph Book Company (2014).Read the whole statement

2008Kluge PrizeAward2006Fellow of the Royal Society of EdinburghAward2000Honorary Doctorate from INALCOAward1997Fukuoka Asian Culture PrizeAward1931Born30 November 1931

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Romila Thapar

Sibling Romesh Thapar

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Romila Thapar

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Political ideologies focusing in particular on what they call ‘cultural nationalism’ - and this is common to many societies apart from the Indian - blatantly exploit history.
2014 · The Past as Present, Aleph Book Company (2014)., Own words