Ram Sharan Sharma

Ram Sharan Sharma Biography

Ram Sharan Sharma was an Indian historian who has written 115 books published in 15 languages. He served as the head of the department at Patna University and Delhi University and the University of Toronto. He served as the senior fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.

He was born on 26^th November 1919 at Barauni in Begusarai in Bihar. As he was very poor he had to struggle to get his education. He did part time jobs to complete his education. He has associations with great leaders and social thinkers and reformers that his mental horizon widened.

He completed his matriculation in 1937 and joined Patna College to continue his studies. He continued his education there until he finished his postgraduate course. He obtained his doctorate degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies. He worked as a teacher in Ara and Bhagalpur and then he joined Patna College in 1946.

From the year 1958 to 1973 he served as the head of the Department of History. From 1973 to 1978 he served as the professor and Dean of the History Department at Delhi University. He was able to get the Jawaharlal Fellowship in 1969.

He founded the Indian Council of Historical Research in 1971 and from 1972 to 1977 he served as the Chairperson of the institution. From 1973 to 1978, he served as the deputy chairman of International Association for Study of Central Asia of UNESCO.

He served as the member of UGC and as the visiting professor of History in University of Toronto and as the President of Indian History Congress in 1975. He received Jawaharlal Nehru Award in 1989.

He worked as the Fellow of the Indian Council of Historical Research from 1988 to 1991. He received Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade Award in 2002 for his contribution to Indian history. He obtained D. Litt from The University of Burdwan.

Some of his works are Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India, Sudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order Down to Circa A D 600, Looking for the Aryans, Urban Decay in India c. 300 – c. 1000, Perspectives in Social and Economic History of Ancient India, etc. He died on 20^th August 2011. 

Published: N/A

Updated: May 07, 2012