Francis Robinson

Francis Robinson is a Professor of History at the Department of History, Royal Holloway, University of London. He specializes in South Asian and Islamic history, with a focus on Muslim communities, religious reform, and colonial/postcolonial dynamics. His work bridges historical analysis with cultural studies, particularly examining the Mughal Empire and modern Islamic movements.

Research interests include the socio-political evolution of South Asia's Muslim populations, the role of religious institutions like madrasas, and identity formation during and after colonial rule. Notable projects include The Indo-Muslim World 700CE to the Present and studies on Maulana Jamaluddin Abdul Wahab's influence on Pakistani identity.

He has supervised 12 PhD students and led 4 major research projects funded by institutions like the Royal Society. His publications span monographs, edited volumes, and encyclopedia entries, emphasizing understudied aspects of South Asian Islamic history.

Through initiatives like Islam in Modern South Asia, he explores religious pluralism and Shia Muslim experiences in Punjab. Current work continues examining grassroots religious revivalism and colonial-era transformations in Islamic traditions.