Sushil Mittal

Dr. Sushil Mittal is a tenured Professor of Religion at James Madison University (JMU), where he has served since 2004. He previously held faculty positions at the University of Florida and Millikin University. He also holds an honorary professorship in Gandhian Studies at GITAM University, India. Mittal earned his B.A. from McGill University, M.A. from Carleton University, and Ph.D. from the Université de Montréal. His research focuses on Hinduism, Gandhian thought, and ethnographic studies of Indian religious and cultural traditions.

He is the founder and editor of two influential journals: the International Journal of Hindu Studies (established 1997) and the International Journal of Gandhi Studies (2012). Mittal created the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence at JMU (2005–2010), which organized conferences, awards, and community programs promoting intercultural dialogue. Notable initiatives include the Mahatma Gandhi Award, granted to figures like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President Jimmy Carter, and a life-sized Gandhi statue gifted to JMU by the Government of India.

Mittal’s scholarship includes seminal works such as The Hindu World (2004), Religions of India (2006), and Surprising Bedfellows: Hindus and Muslims in Medieval and Early Modern India (2003). His teaching emphasizes ethical reasoning in Hinduism and Gandhian principles, blending classroom instruction with experiential learning through internships and study abroad programs. He prioritizes student mentorship, securing grants to support undergraduate research in India and global forums.