David Gilmartin

David Gilmartin is a Professor of History at North Carolina State University, affiliated with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. His research focuses on modern South Asian history, particularly the intersection of British imperialism, environmental history, and the evolution of political institutions. He holds a Ph.D. in South Asian History from the University of California, Berkeley (1979), following degrees from the University of California, Berkeley (M.A., 1972) and the University of Michigan (B.A., 1971).

His work explores colonial and postcolonial legal frameworks, the Indus River Basin's role in political dynamics, and India's electoral systems. Notable publications include Blood and Water: The Indus River Basin in Modern History (2015) and South Asian Sovereignty: The Conundrum of Worldly Power (2020). Current projects investigate India’s electoral institutions and the legacy of partition.

Gilmartin teaches courses on South Asian history, imperialism, and world history. He is affiliated with the Department of History’s Legal and Environmental subfields and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives on Middle East Studies.