I research on histories of visualisation, social histories of archaeology and ancient civilizations, the making of archaeological heritage and national cultures, and methodologies of material culture studies. I am trained in field archaeology and apart from teaching South Asian history and archaeology, have a long professional backgound in curatorship, through management of historical photographic archives and archaeological collections. My research focuses on shifts and transformations of notions of evidence and issues of historiography––unil now through enquiries into the histories of archaeology, photography, museums, collections and archives. My book Artefacts of History (SAGE, 2015) engages with aspects of the historiography of Indian archaeology, and the edited volume The Marshall Albums: Photography and Archaeology (Mapin/Alkazi Collection of Photography, 2010) is on select histories of the photographic practices of the colonial Archaeological Survey of India. At present, I am writing a book on Objects and Histories (Hachette, New Delhi), which attempts to seek aspects of Indian history through the social lives of select objects. I am also developing research on histories of memories and perceptions with respect to state formation in Sikkim, and on the post-colonial archaeology of cultural heritage in South Asia.

I am interested in supervising Ph.D. students who wish to research on histories of archaeologies and museums, heritage and issues of ethics, historiographies of pre-colonial India and Bronze-Age civilizations, archaeology and the nation, and the Arts of Early India.

Educational Qualifications

• 1990 - Post doctoral research, Dept of Archaeology, University of Cambridge
• 1989 - Ph.D. Archaeology, Deccan College, University of Poona
• 1985 - M.A. Ancient Indian History Culture and Archaeology, Deccan College, University of Poona
• 1983 - B.A. History (Hons.) Lady Sri Ram College, University of Delhi

Work Experience

• 01/16 – Present Associate Professor, Shiv Nadar University, U.P.
• 04/15 - 03/16 Tagore Scholar, National Museum, New Delhi
• 03/11 - 05/13 Research Associate, Digital Archives (ECLAP) and Redevelopment project, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge
• 09/10 - 12/10 Visiting Faculty, Dept. of History, School of Oriental and African Studies, London
• 09/05 - 08/09 University Lecturer (Unestablished post), South Asian History, Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Cambridge
• 09/97 - 08/05 Research Curator, Photographic Collections, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge
• 04/95 - 04/96 Curatorial and Exhibition Assistant, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge
• 04/94 - 04/95 Curatorial Assistant, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
• 01/93 - 04/94 Assistant Staff, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge
• 01/92 - 06/92 Guest Lecturer, Lady Sri Ram College, University of Delhi
• 12/89 - 07/90 Assistant Arts Officer, British Council Division, New Delhi

Teaching & Research Interests:

Histories of Archaeology, The archaeology of South Asia and Early India, Art and Architecture of Pre-colonial India, Historiography, Visual Histories, Materiality, Museum Studies, Cultural Heritage and Ethics, Archaeology and Nationalism

Research Areas

Visuality, Translations and Writing