Audrey Truschke

Audrey Truschke is a Professor of South Asian History at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey.12 She is a historian specializing in the cultural, imperial, and intellectual history of early modern and modern India (c. 1500-present).5

Education and Career

Truschke received her Ph.D. from Columbia University in 2012.5 Prior to that, she earned her bachelor's degree in religious studies from the University of Chicago in 2004.4 After completing her doctorate, she held postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Cambridge (2012-2013) and Stanford University (2013-2016).4 She joined Rutgers University as an assistant professor in 2015 and was promoted to associate professor in 2020.4

Research and Publications

Truschke is the author of three acclaimed books:

1. "Culture of Encounters: Sanskrit at the Mughal Court" (2016)
2. "Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India's Most Controversial King" (2017)
3. "The Language of History: Sanskrit Narratives of Indo-Muslim Rule" (2021)23

She is currently working on her fourth book, "India: 5,000 Years of History on the Subcontinent," which is set to be published by Princeton University Press in June 2025.2

Awards and Recognition

Truschke has received several awards for her work, including:

• The John F. Richards Prize in South Asian History from the American Historical Association (2017)
• Rutgers Board of Trustees Research Fellowship for Scholarly Excellence (2020)
• National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholars Fellowship (2021)5

Areas of Expertise

Her research focuses on:

• Inter-community relations in medieval South Asia, especially during the Mughal Empire
• The cultural and political roles of Sanskrit in Islamic Mughal courts
• Historical reassessments of controversial figures in South Asian history
• Cross-cultural exchanges and imperial power in South Asia45

Public Engagement and Controversy

Truschke is known for her active public engagement on issues related to South Asian history and contemporary politics. She has been a vocal critic of Hindu nationalism and has faced controversy and harassment from right-wing groups who accuse her of having prejudiced views on Hinduism.4 Despite these challenges, she continues to be an advocate for academic freedom and a voice against sexism and Islamophobia.2