Delhi Professor Wins Prestigious Prize

Recognition: Delhi University Professor Charu Gupta won the 2026 Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy Prize for her book Hindi Hindu Histories: Caste, Ayurveda, Travel, and Communism in Early Twentieth-Century India.

Award Details: The prize was announced by the Association for Asian Studies, recognizing exceptional scholarly work on South Asia. The award is esteemed in the field of South Asian studies.

Book Synopsis:

• Hindi Hindu Histories was published in 2024.
• The work investigates early twentieth-century North India through autobiographies and vernacular print culture.
• It examines four distinct figures: an anti-caste reformer, a woman ayurvedic practitioner, a nationalist travel writer, and a Left journalist.
• The book seeks to highlight diverse perspectives on issues such as caste, gender, nationhood, and Hindu identity during the transformative period.

Research Focus: Ms. Gupta’s research encompasses themes of gender, caste, masculinity, medicine, and religious identities, effectively contributing to modern Indian history and the discourse on print culture.

Cultural Impact: The book illustrates the complexity and plurality of Hindu thought a century ago while indicating a potential narrowing of these perspectives in present times.

Historical Significance: The prize is named in honor of Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, a distinguished art historian and cultural thinker, underscoring the academic importance of Gupta's scholarly contributions to the understanding of South Asian history and culture.

Implications: Gupta’s work has significantly reshaped discussions regarding caste and gender in Indian historiography, fostering a deeper understanding of the societal changes in modern India.