Deborah Sutton

Professor Deborah Sutton is Professor in Modern South Asian History at Lancaster University's Department of History within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She teaches undergraduate courses including 'Histories of Violence: How Imperialism Made the Modern World', 'Gandhi and the End of Empire in India', and specialized modules on monuments and antiquities in imperial India.

Her research examines cultural and political history of modern South Asia, with current projects exploring colonial interpretations of Hindu temples and digital preservation of Delhi's physical heritage. She leads the development of cultural heritage applications including Delhi Partition City and Karachi City using the safarnama software tool.

Professor Sutton's publications focus on British imperial engagement with South Asian religious and material culture, particularly examining how colonial authorities interpreted and managed Hindu temples as both religious sites and historical artifacts.

She directs multiple research projects including 'AI-Driven Standardization of British Colonial South Indian Place Names', 'Eco-Technologies, Landscape Adaptation and Sustainable Desert Futures', and 'The Metro and the Infraworld of Delhi's Cultural Heritage'.