| A. K. Narain | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gaya, India |
| Residence | Varanasi, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Fields | Archaeology, History, Numismatics, Indology |
| Institutions | University of Wisconsin–Madison, Banaras Hindu University |
| Alma mater | Banaras Hindu University |
| Known for | Research on the Indo-Greeks |
| Notable awards | Holker Guggenheim Rockefeller Ford Foundation Dayaram Sahni Gold Medal Chakravikrama Gold Medal |
Professor A (Awadh). K (Kishore). Narain is an internationally acclaimed Indian historian, numismatist and archaeologist, who has published extensively on the subjects related to South and Central Asia. He is famous for his book, The Indo Greeks [1][2] (published by Oxford University Press in 1956), in which he discussed the thesis of British historian Sir William Woodthorpe Tarn.
After his work on the Indo Greeks, he got involved in research investigations related to the peoples of Central Asia who followed the Indo Greeks, e.g. the Indo – Scythians, Indo – Parthians and the Yue Zhi - Kushans. He took initiative in organizing an international conference in London on the problem of the date of Kanishka. He has continued working on the history of these people, their movements and interactions in the context of South and Central Asia as is evident from several of his articles and lectures. For the past several years he has been working on a multi-volume project entitled From Kurush (Cyrus) to Kanishka, several volumes of which are in press. Two other areas of A.K.’s interest have been Historiography and Buddhist Studies.
Professor A.K. Narain, was born in 1925 at Gaya in Bihar, India. In 1947 he took a Post Graduate Degree in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from Banaras Hindu University securing the first position in the University and claiming the Dayaram Sahni Gold Medal. He earned his Ph.D. degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University in 1954.
In his long association with his Alma Mater he has held many prestigious academic and administrative positions. He has been the Manindra Chandra Nandi Professor of AIHC & Archaeology; Head of the Department of AIHC & Archaeology; Principal, College of Indology; Dean, Faculty of Arts and Director of Archaeological Excavations and Explorations Programme of the University. In 1971, he became Professor of History and South Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA, where he was also the Chairperson of the Buddhist Studies Program. (http://www.southasia.wisc.edu/newsletter/sasianstudies.html)
In 1987, he decided for an early retirement from UW – Madison, and returned to India to found the Bhikkhu. J. Kashyap Institute of Buddhist and Asian Studies of which he was the first Director. He is Professor Emeritus of History and of Languages and Cultures of Asia at UW-Madison. Professor Narain has been a Visiting Research Associate, School of Oriental and African Studies, London; Visiting Professor, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota; Visiting Professor, Visvabharati, Shantiniketan; Fellow, Institute of Research in Humanities, University of Wisconsin; Fellow, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, Visiting Fellow at Columbia University and New York University.
He is the recipient of many notable awards, and research grants including the Holkar Fellowship, Chakravikrama Gold Medal, Rockefeller Grant, Ford Foundation grant and Guggenheim Fellowship. He is a Life Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society, London and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. He is also an Honorary Member of the International Association of Buddhist studies.
Prof. Narain is also known for his extensive editorial contributions. He edited the following academic journals: (1) Bharati, Research Bulletin of College of Indology, BHU; (2) Puratattva, Bulletin of the Archeological Society of India; (3) Journal of International Association of Buddhist Studies; (4) Journal of Indian Buddhist Studies; (5) The Indian Journal of Asian Studies; (6) Asia Prashant (Journal of The Indian Congress of Asian and Pacific Studies); and (7) The Indian International Journal of Buddhist Studies.
Prof. Narain has published over one hundred articles & reviews on topics related to history, polity, art, archaeology, anthropology, iconography, epigraphy and paleography, numismatics and religion in various national and international journals. Prof. Narain's dedication, commitment and hard work has inspired many of his students in their quest for excellence.(source:http://www.bhu.ac.in/alumni/aknairn.html)
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1971-90 : Professor of History and South Asian Studies.
1966-67 : Visiting Professor of Indian Studies.
1969-71 : Dean, Faculty of Arts (Humanities).
1963-69 : Principal, College of Indology
1960-71 : Manindra Chandra Nandi Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology
1959-71 : Director of Archaeological Excavations and Explorations Programme of Banaras Hindu University.
1960-71 : Director of Wisconsin College-Year-in-India Program.
1953-60 : Reader (Associate Professor) in AIHCA.
1947-53 : Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in AIHCA.
1994-95 : Visiting Fellow at the Columbia University in New York as well as at the New York University, New York.
1984-85 : Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton, USA.
1977 : Visiting Professor at Visvabharati, Shantiniketan, W.B., India
1971 : Visiting Professor, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minn. USA
1959-60 : Research Associate, School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London, London, U.K.