Prof. R. Mahalakshmi
Historian, Professor of Ancient & Early Medieval South Asia
Centre for Historical Studies
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
Biography
R. Mahalakshmi is Professor at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her research interests encompass the development of state institutions, as well as religious and artistic traditions across ancient and early medieval India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Her monograph The Making of the Goddess: Korravai-Durgā in the Tamil Traditions (Penguin, 2011) was awarded the Professor Hiralal Gupta Prize for the Best Book by a Woman Historian by the Indian History Congress. She is also the author of The Book of Lakshmi (Penguin, 2009) and editor of Art and History: Texts, Contexts and Visual Representations in Ancient and Early Medieval India (Bloomsbury, 2020).
Elected President of the Ancient India Section of the Indian History Congress (2024), her ongoing projects examine performative traditions in early Tamil Nadu and the history of the Cholas.
Authored Books
The Making of the Goddess: Korravai-Durga in the Tamil Traditions
Penguin India (Gurgaon)
Traces the evolution of the goddess deity in Tamil society. Awarded the Professor Hiralal Gupta Prize by the Indian History Congress.
The Book of Lakshmi
Penguin Viking (Gurgaon)
Explores the mythical and historical development of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi through ancient texts and iconography.
Edited and Co-authored Volumes
Goddesses in South Asia: Traditions and Transformations
Co-edited with Malavika Binny & Megha Yadav
Focuses on regional iterations and contemporary shifts of Hindu female deities across South Asia.
Art and History: Texts, Contexts and Visual Representations in Ancient and Early Medieval India
Bloomsbury (London)
An edited anthology exploring the intersections between textual prescriptions, historical contexts, and visual art.
The Economic History of India: Historiographical Issues and Perspectives
Co-edited alongside Suchandra Ghosh
Tribute volume in honour of Prof. Ranabir Chakravarti analyzing historiographical perspectives.
Colonisation: A Comparative Study Of India & Korea
Co-authored with Vyjayanti Raghavan
Comparative political evaluation examining colonial trajectories across India and Korea.
Articles & Commentary
Lectures & Video Media
Public Address
Nehru's Legacy Revisited: Defending Rationality, Science and Democracy
A public lecture examining historical rationality, democratic principles, and scientific temper in modern Indian society.
Interview
Unmasking Patriarchy with Prof. R. Mahalakshmi
An in-depth conversation exploring gender dynamics, historical context, and patriarchy across South Asia.
Academic Panel
Interplay Between Polity and Religion in Early India
A scholarly discussion analyzing state power, iconography, and religious institutions in early Indian history.