Purushottam Agrawal
HistorianPurushottam Agrawal, an eminent historian of ideas and literature, has recently been honored with the Sahitya Akademi’s ‘Bhasha Samman’ for his significant contributions to the study of classical and medieval literature. His works, ‘Akath Kahani Prem Ki: Kabir ki Kavita aur Un ka Samay’ and ‘Kabir, Kabir: The Life and Work of Early Modern Poet-Philosopher,’ are considered path-breaking studies of Kabir and his times. His ‘Padmavat: An Epic Love Story’ (2018) is a poignant commentary (with some translations) on Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s epic poem.
Before serving as a member of the UPSC from 2007 to 2013, he was the chairperson of the Centre of Indian Languages at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and a visiting professor at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Cambridge University (UK), and at El Colegio de México.
Agrawal hosted a unique show on books called ‘Kitab’ on Rajya Sabha TV. One of the most celebrated among the numerous talks he has delivered is the Gandhi Peace Foundation lecture, ‘Majbooti ka Naam Mahatma Gandhi’ (2005), which sheds new light on the issues of violence and power. He is currently working on a book about the ‘Mahabharat.’