Dipesh Chakrabarty

Dipesh Chakrabarty is the Lawrence A. Kimpton Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, with appointments in History, South Asian Languages and Civilizations, and the College. He serves as a Faculty Fellow at the Chicago Center for Contemporary Theory and holds courtesy appointments in the Law School and resource faculty roles in Comparative Literature, English, and Cinema and Media Studies.

• Education:
  • BSc (Physics) from Presidency College, University of Calcutta
  • Diploma in Management (equivalent to MBA) from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
  • PhD in History from Australian National University (1984)

Chakrabarty’s research spans modern South Asian history, postcolonial theory, globalization, and climate change’s historical implications. His work interrogates how climate crises challenge traditional historical frameworks and demand interdisciplinary approaches.

His recent publications emphasize planetary humanities, the Anthropocene, and the intersection of climate and capitalism. He has received numerous accolades, including the European Essay Prize, honorary doctorates from the University of London and École Normale Supérieure, and fellowships from prestigious academies.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Prix Européen de l’Essai (2023)
  • DLitt. (Honoris Causa), University of London (2010)
  • Honorary Doctorate, University of Antwerp (2011)
  • Toynbee Foundation Prize (2014)
  • Tagore Memorial Prize (2019)
  • Jadunath Sarkar Medal (2021)

He has delivered pivotal lectures globally, including the Smuts Memorial Lectures (2025) and Tanner Lectures (2015). His edited works include Subaltern Studies and Cosmopolitanism, shaping discourse in postcolonial and global history.