New Delhi, November 10: For substantial contribution to the field of revisionist history of pre-modern South India, Infosys Science Foundation has selected the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi faculty member Dr. Manu V Devadevan for the Infosys Prize 2019. Dr. Devadevan is an Assistant Professor at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the IIT.
New approach to study of Indian cultural history
The jury’s citation especially mentioned Dr. Devadevan’s book ‘A Pre-History of Hinduism’ stating that it “offers a powerful and refreshing new approach to the study of the cultural history of India, based on his profound knowledge of sources in multiple languages. The book offers a revisionist paradigm for the study of pre-modern India.”
“He critically reinterprets much of the conventional wisdom about the cultural, religious and social history of the Deccan and South India. Dr. Devadevan’s primary research interests include political and economic processes in pre-modern South India, literary practices in South India and the study of ancient inscriptions from the region,” the Foundation said in a statement.
Prize of $ 100,000 to be given
Infosys Science Foundation announced the award on November 7, 2019 at Infosys campus, Bengaluru. It will be presented to Dr. Devadevan on January 7, 2020. The prize includes a pure gold medal, a citation and a prize purse of $ 100,000.
The winners of Infosys Prize 2019 were shortlisted from a total of 196 nominations by a panel of accomplished jurors comprising renowned scholars and professors.
“It is a great honour to be conferred with this prestigious prize. I am humbled. I owe a debt of gratitude to my colleagues, students and staff at IIT Mandi for their constant support and motivation. At the same time, this recognition increases my intellectual responsibilities and makes me reaffirm my commitment to pursue more meaningful research in the years to come,” Dr. Devadevan said accepting this recognition.
Congratulating Dr. Devadevan for this recognition, Prof. Timothy A. Gonsalves, Director, IIT Mandi, said, “This is indeed a remarkable achievement at such an early stage of his career. I wish him many more achievements to come!”
