Tithi Bhattacharya
Professor Tithi Bhattacharya is recognized for her internationally influential scholarship as a feminist theorist and historian of modern South Asia. Her work on Social Reproduction Theory, has reshaped debates on gender, labor, and inequality and is now used globally across disciplines and in more than 30 languages. Her recent book, Ghostly Past, Capitalist Presence: A Social History of Fear in Colonial Bengal (Duke University Press, 2024), is a groundbreaking study that offers the first sustained analysis of fear in a colonial context. Drawing on overlooked sources such as ghost stories, the book reinterprets how colonial modernity emerged in Bengal through the interaction of indigenous belief systems and European science. The work has received major scholarly recognition, including prizes from the American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association, while also attracting broad public attention through coverage in TIME Magazine, The Telegraph, and the Associated Press. Widely praised for its originality and intellectual ambition, Professor Bhattacharya’s scholarship exemplifies methodological innovation, public engagement, and broad international impact across the humanities and social sciences.
Jonathan Lande
Congratulations to Dr. Jonathan Lande, who just published an article in the Journal of Southern History published, "Manly Occupation," which discusses Black Civil War soldiers' fight to prove their manhood in the occupied South.The article discusses how formerly enslaved soldiers conducted raids against enemy guerrillas, served as guards in prisons holding captured Confederates, and imposed Union authority in conquered southern cities from 1863 to 1867. It demonstrates that, in so doing, they disproved theories used to support their enslavement only months before their enlistment.
Randy Roberts
Congratulations to Distinguished Professor Randy Roberts, who is featured in Purdue Today, highlighting his remarkable career as a scholar, teacher, and collaborator. His collaborative work has extended his scholarship beyond the classroom and played a significant role in establishing sports history as a respected field of academic study.
Randy Roberts
Congratulations to Department of History Professor Randy Roberts on the publication of his newest book, "The Fight of His Life: Joe Louis's Battle for Freedom during World War II" Praised for its vivid storytelling and insight, the book has already received glowing acclaim. As Jonathan Eig, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of King: A Life, writes: “A sharp, hard-hitting, beautifully written account of one of the greatest sports figures in all American history.”
Subodhana Wijeyeratne
Department of History Assistant Professor Subodhana Wijeyeratne recently published his new book: Islands and the Stars: A History of Japan's Space Programs to glowing reviews. This book tells the story of how Japan’s civilian space program developed over the last century, from its early ambitions to the tensions that shaped it. Learn more here.