Gita Pai

Gita Pai is a Professor of History and Director of the International & Global Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Her scholarship examines South Asian history through lenses of colonialism, gender, religion, and material culture.

Her research analyzes colonial and postcolonial transformations in South Asia, focusing particularly on cultural heritage, religious practices, and political history. Recent work investigates representations in visual culture and intersections between mythology and political activism.

Publications demonstrate her interdisciplinary approach, spanning art history, media studies, and cultural anthropology. Her 2025 work examines mythological archetypes in nationalist movements, while 2024 publications analyze tourism media and pandemic narratives.

Professor Pai has received multiple honors including the ALANA's Phenomenal Womxn's Award (2019, 2024) and a Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship. She has contributed to international documentary projects on sacred spaces and maintains active research collaborations with South Asian institutions.