معرفی
Sheldon Pollock is the Arvind Raghunathan Professor of South Asian Studies in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS) at Columbia University. Previously, he held the William B. Ransford Professorship at Columbia (2005–2011) and served as the George V. Bobrinskoy Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago (1989–2005). His academic background includes:
- B.A. in Classics (Greek), Harvard University, magna cum laude (1971)
- M.A. in Sanskrit and Indian Studies, Harvard University (1973)
- Ph.D. in Sanskrit and Indian Studies, Harvard University (1975)
Pollock's research bridges Sanskrit philology, Indian intellectual and literary history, and comparative global thought. His work critically examines power dynamics in premodern knowledge systems, aesthetics (rasa theory), and the evolution of cosmopolitan languages. He pioneers critical philology, exploring how texts shape cultural authority across civilizations.
His publications emphasize transcultural methodologies, with recent articles analyzing classical libraries, philological freedom, and South Asian knowledge frameworks. Trends include revitalizing philology for contemporary critique and deconstructing Eurocentric intellectual histories.
Major Awards:
- Distinguished Achievement Award (Mellon Foundation, 2008)
- President's Certificate of Honour for Sanskrit (India, 2009)
- Padma Shri for distinguished service in letters (India, 2010)
- Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2014)
Pollock directs groundbreaking projects: Murty Classical Library of India (Harvard Press), SARIT (digital Indology), and edited series like South Asia across the Disciplines. He has led international initiatives including Sanskrit Knowledge Systems on the Eve of Colonialism.
