Ruby Lal

Ruby Lal is a distinguished Professor at Emory University, specializing in the history of South Asia with a focus on the Mughal Empire, gender studies, and comparative imperial histories. She holds a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford and degrees from the University of Delhi and Lady Shri Ram College. Her work challenges traditional narratives by centering women’s agency and archival reinterpretation.

Education:

• D.Phil., Modern History, University of Oxford, England
• M.Phil., History, University of Delhi, India
• M.A., History, University of Delhi, India
• B.A., History, Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, India

Research Interests: Her groundbreaking studies explore the Mughal Empire’s socio-cultural dynamics, particularly through the lens of gender. She has revitalized scholarship on figures like Nur Jahan and Gulbadan Begum, challenging stereotypes of Mughal women as passive figures. Her work integrates feminist theory with meticulous archival research, offering new perspectives on power, mobility, and cultural exchange in early modern Islamic societies.

Awards and Recognition:

• Finalist for the James Tait Black Prize in Biography (2025)
• Finalist for the Georgia Author of the Year Award (2024 and 2019)
• Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize (2018)
• Acclaimed in major publications including The Guardian, Telegraph, and Kirkus Reviews

Advising and Grants: While specific grants are not detailed, her prolific publications and frequent media features indicate sustained scholarly engagement. No formal student advisees are listed in the provided texts.

Labs/Teams: No dedicated research team or lab is mentioned, though her work likely involves collaborations with historians and archival institutions globally.