Professor Nandini Das has been named the winner of the prestigious History Award at the Eastern Eye Arts, Culture, and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) 2025, in recognition of her groundbreaking book Courting India: England, Mughal India, and the Origins of Empire. The richly researched work explores the first English embassy to India between 1614 and 1619 and has garnered critical acclaim for its nuanced portrayal of early cross-cultural diplomacy. The book was previously awarded the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding and was named Book of the Year by Spectator, Prospect, and History Today.
Professor Das is currently Professor of Early Modern English Literature and Culture at the University of Oxford and a Tutorial Fellow at Exeter College. Her academic journey began at Jadavpur University in India, after which she was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at University College, Oxford. She went on to complete her doctorate at Trinity College, Cambridge, establishing herself as one of the foremost scholars in her field.
Her research focuses on Renaissance literature, travel, migration, and early modern cross-cultural encounters. She has published extensively, including the influential Renaissance Romance: The Transformation of English Prose Fiction, 1570–1620 and co-editing The Cambridge History of Travel Writing. Through her scholarship, Professor Das continues to challenge Eurocentric narratives, bringing to light the complexities of global interactions in the early modern period.
Beyond her academic contributions, Professor Das plays a significant role in shaping research policy in the UK. She serves on several national and international committees addressing key areas such as research assessment, Open Access, equity and inclusion, and research integrity. A BBC New Generation Thinker, she is also a familiar voice and face on British television and radio, where she shares insights from her research with wider audiences.
Professor Das’s ACTAs recognition celebrates not only her individual achievements but also the importance of rigorous, inclusive, and globally minded historical scholarship.
