Tel: (65) 6516 3756
Office: AS1 05 - 06

I was educated in India, USA and UK. My international education has left its mark on my thinking as a liberal and objective historian. Prior to my appointment as Visiting Senior Fellow at the NUS I was Professor of History and Chairperson of History Department at the University of Delhi, India. I have traveled widely in India, Afghanistan, USA, UK, Europe and Southeast Asia. My specialization is pre-modern history of south Asia and its neighbouring countries. I have published a book and scores of research papers/articles, review articles and book reviews. Currently I am preparing the final draft of my proposed book tentatively entitled Fifty Years of Coin-finds in India, 1953-2003. I plan to submit it for publication by the end of August 2005. I am engaged in completing another book for publication tentatively entitled Monetary History of Northern India, c. AD 650-1000. For my research I use epigraphic, archaeological and unpublished numismatic material which is held by bona fide public coin collections. I taught number of courses in Indian, European and US history at different stages of my teaching career but for research my focus has been on topics related to socio-economic and cultural history. I am particularly interested in numismatics, pre-modern Indian Ocean trade; Art and Architecture specially the step-wells of Rajasthan; history of museums and museum collections; conservation and heritage issues; Indian religions specially Jainism and Sikh religion including Sikh religious practices and Sikh Diaspora studies. I am also interested in the history of Oswal Jains who emerged as a powerful merchant community in Rajasthan during 8th-9th centuries AD and continue to be owners of large business houses in India. The other business groups that interest me are the Parsis and the Sikhs. I am impressed by the philanthropy of the Parsis, Jains and the Sikhs. In my spare time I watch T.V., listen to music, go to movies, chat with friends, do some exercise, go shopping., visit archaeological sites and museums, travel to new places and I am fond of driving.