Romila Thapar

Historian

Indian Lucknow, United Provinces, British India

Quick Info

ProfessionHistorian
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth30/11/1931
Age94 years
BirthplaceLucknow, United Provinces, British India

Latest News about Romila Thapar

25/01/2026

Historian Romila Thapar criticized the removal of Mughal history from NCERT textbooks at the Kerala Literature Festival 2026. She stated that history is a continuous process and cannot be understood in fragments, calling such removals 'absurd' and 'nonsense' as they distort historical understanding.

01/12/2025

Romila Thapar celebrated her 94th birthday, marking over six decades of fundamentally transforming the understanding of ancient India. She is recognized as one of the most influential historians of the modern era, having introduced modern social science inquiry and conceptual frameworks to the study of early Indian civilization.

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Bio/Wiki

Profession(s)
  • Historian
  • Professor
  • Author
Famous ForAuthoring books about Indian history

Physical Stats & More

Height161 cm (5โ€™ 3โ€)
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorGrey

Educational Qualification(s)

EducationPhD
College/University
  • Miranda House, University of Delhi
  • Panjab University, Chandigarh
  • School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
  • Wadia College, Pune
Major Works/Books
  • Aล›oka and the Decline of the Mauryas
  • Ancient Indian Social History: Some Interpretations
  • Recent Perspectives of Early Indian History
  • A History of India: Volume One
  • Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300

Personal Life

School
  • St. Mary's School, Pune
  • Wadia College, Pune
NoteShe attended schools in various cities in India.

Relationships & More

Marital StatusNot Known
Family
FatherDaya Ram Thapar (army doctor)
MotherKaushalya
Siblings
BrotherRomesh Thapar (elder; Journalist)
SisterBimla Thapar (elder)
SpouseNot Known
ChildrenNot Known

Career

Awards, Honours
  • General President of the Indian History Congress in 1983
  • A Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 1999
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship in 1976
  • Co-winner with Peter Brown of the Kluge Prize for the Study of Humanity for 2008
  • A Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009
  • Honorary D.Litt. from Calcutta University
  • Honorary D.Litt. from Oxford University
  • Honorary D.Litt. from Chicago University
  • Honorary Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
  • Honorary Fellow of SOAS, London University
  • PG National Award 2024
Positions Held
  • Reader in Ancient Indian History at Kurukshetra University (1961-1963)
  • Reader in Ancient Indian History at Delhi University (1963-1970)
  • Professor of Ancient Indian History at Jawaharlal Nehru University (1970-1991)
  • Professor of Ancient History, Emerita, at Jawaharlal Nehru University
Visiting Professorships
  • Cornell University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Collรจge de France in Paris

Favourites

Favourite Historian(s)
  • Eric Hobsbawm
  • A. L. Basham
Favourite Subject(s)
  • Botany
  • Ancient History
Favourite LeaderMahatma Gandhi
Favourite Sports
  • Horse Riding
  • Swimming

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Romila Thapar is a highly acclaimed Indian historian known for her work on Ancient India.
2. She holds the title of Professor Emerita at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi.
3. Romila was born into a Punjabi family, with her father having served as the Director General of the Indian Armed Forces Medical Services.
4. Her primary area of expertise lies in the study of Ancient India.
5. Her upbringing involved a strong focus on education; her maternal grandfather insisted that all his daughters, including Romila's mother, be graduates.
6. Romila's academic journey started at St Maryโ€™s School in Pune, where she was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's principles.
7. Her passion for history was nurtured by her father, leading her to pursue higher studies in the UK under the guidance of A.L. Basham.
8. Upon completing her studies, Romila chose to return to India and develop her career in academia.
9. She has held notable positions at institutions like Kurukshetra University, Delhi University, and JNU.
10. Despite her contributions to historical research, Romila Thapar has faced criticism for her perceived political leanings.
11. Her father gave her the choice between a dowry or further studies in London, and she chose to study.
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