Dharma Kumar
Encyclopedia
Dharma Kumar was an India
n economic historian
, noted for her work on the fiscal history of India. Her Ph.D at Cambridge on the fiscal history of South India
was awarded the Ellen MacArthur Prize, and was published as Land and Caste in South India (Cambridge University Press, 1965).
She is noted for the position that many of the social structures of agrarian India, particularly the large class of landless labourers, pre-dated the British era
. This view opposed the marxist historical view then prevalent in India, that the class of agricultural labourers had been formed as a result of British exploitation in the nineteenth century
Brahmin family, her father K. Venkataraman was one of India's leading chemists, and was the director of the National Chemical Laboratory
.
After a childhood in Lahore
where her father was professor, Dharma Kumar did her bachelor's in Economics from Elphinstone College
, Mumbai
. She then went to Cambridge (Newnham College) for her Master's in Economics.
Shortly after Indian independence, Dharma, returned from Cambridge in 1948, and joined the Reserve Bank of India
. In 1951, she married Lovraj Kumar, India's first Rhodes scholar. Lovraj was a graduate of chemistry from Cambridge and was then working for Burmah-Shell in Mumbai. He would subsequently become a senior bureaucrat, serving as secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum
for many years.
After the birth of a daughter, however, Dharma felt the urge to return to academics and she went back to Cambridge for her Ph.D. in the area of economic history.
After returning to India, she worked briefly at the Indian Council for World Affairs and University of Delhi
's
Institute for Economic Growth. In 1966,
she joined the Delhi School of Economics
. She also worked on India's early economic policy, along with P. C. Mahalanobis
and Pitamber Pant.
In the late 1970s she and Tapan Raychaudhuri
were general editors for the Cambridge economic history of India, volume 2 of which, covering the colonial and modern India, she edited along with Meghnad Desai. She was also one of the founding members of the academic journal, Indian Economic and Social History Review
, which she edited for more than thirty years. The journal brought out a memorial volume in her honour in 2002, edited by Sanjay Subrahmanyam
.
She was also active in the arts and the literary life of Delhi, and is portrayed in Vikram Seth
's A suitable boy as the character professor Ila Chattopadhyay. She was also associated with the avant-garde magazine Civil Lines
.
Dharma retired from the DSE in 1993. The very next year, her husband, who had retired as Secretary, Ministry of Steel, died. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1998, and underwentt an unsuccessful operation, and died in late 2001.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n economic historian
Economic history
Economic history is the study of economies or economic phenomena in the past. Analysis in economic history is undertaken using a combination of historical methods, statistical methods and by applying economic theory to historical situations and institutions...
, noted for her work on the fiscal history of India. Her Ph.D at Cambridge on the fiscal history of South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
was awarded the Ellen MacArthur Prize, and was published as Land and Caste in South India (Cambridge University Press, 1965).
She is noted for the position that many of the social structures of agrarian India, particularly the large class of landless labourers, pre-dated the British era
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
. This view opposed the marxist historical view then prevalent in India, that the class of agricultural labourers had been formed as a result of British exploitation in the nineteenth century
Life
Born in a progressive TamilTamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Brahmin family, her father K. Venkataraman was one of India's leading chemists, and was the director of the National Chemical Laboratory
National Chemical Laboratory
The National Chemical Laboratory is an Indian government laboratory based in Pune, in western India.Popularly known as NCL, a constituent member of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research India, it was established in 1950. There are approximately 200 scientific staff working here...
.
After a childhood in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
where her father was professor, Dharma Kumar did her bachelor's in Economics from Elphinstone College
Elphinstone College
Elphinstone College is an institution of higher education affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Established in 1856, it is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Mumbai. It was exalted as a prestigious seat of learning during the British Raj and is generally observed for its vibrant alumni...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. She then went to Cambridge (Newnham College) for her Master's in Economics.
Shortly after Indian independence, Dharma, returned from Cambridge in 1948, and joined the Reserve Bank of India
Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India is the central banking institution of India and controls the monetary policy of the rupee as well as US$300.21 billion of currency reserves. The institution was established on 1 April 1935 during the British Raj in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of...
. In 1951, she married Lovraj Kumar, India's first Rhodes scholar. Lovraj was a graduate of chemistry from Cambridge and was then working for Burmah-Shell in Mumbai. He would subsequently become a senior bureaucrat, serving as secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (India)
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is a ministry of the Government of India. It is responsible for the exploration, production, refining, distribution, marketing, import, export, and conservation of petroleum, natural gas, petroleum products, and liquified natural gas in India.The ministry...
for many years.
After the birth of a daughter, however, Dharma felt the urge to return to academics and she went back to Cambridge for her Ph.D. in the area of economic history.
After returning to India, she worked briefly at the Indian Council for World Affairs and University of Delhi
University of Delhi
The University of Delhi is a central university situated in Delhi, India and is funded by Government of India. Established in 1922, it offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari is the Chancellor of the university...
's
Institute for Economic Growth. In 1966,
she joined the Delhi School of Economics
Delhi School of Economics
Delhi School of Economics , commonly referred to as DSE or D School, is a centre of post graduate learning of the University of Delhi. The centre is situated in the university's North Campus in Maurice Nagar, and is surrounded by a host of other prestigious academic institutions of the country...
. She also worked on India's early economic policy, along with P. C. Mahalanobis
and Pitamber Pant.
In the late 1970s she and Tapan Raychaudhuri
Tapan Raychaudhuri
Tapan Raychaudhuri is an Indian historian specialising in British Indian history, Indian economic history and the History of Bengal.-Background:...
were general editors for the Cambridge economic history of India, volume 2 of which, covering the colonial and modern India, she edited along with Meghnad Desai. She was also one of the founding members of the academic journal, Indian Economic and Social History Review
Indian Economic and Social History Review
The Indian Economic and Social History Review is an academic journal of Indian economic history. It is published by Sage Publications. The founding editor-in-chief was Tapan Raychaudhuri, who was succeeded by Dharma Kumar. The current editors-in-chief are Sunil Kumar and Sanjay Subrahmanyam....
, which she edited for more than thirty years. The journal brought out a memorial volume in her honour in 2002, edited by Sanjay Subrahmanyam
Sanjay Subrahmanyam
Sanjay Subrahmanyam is the holder of Navin and Pratima Doshi Chair of Indian History at UCLA which he joined in 2004.-Biography:...
.
She was also active in the arts and the literary life of Delhi, and is portrayed in Vikram Seth
Vikram Seth
Vikram Seth is an Indian poet, novelist, travel writer, librettist, children's writer, biographer and memoirist.-Early life:Vikram Seth was born on 20 June 1952 to Leila and Prem Seth in Calcutta...
's A suitable boy as the character professor Ila Chattopadhyay. She was also associated with the avant-garde magazine Civil Lines
Civil Lines
Civil Lines is a term used for residential areas originally built by the British Raj for its senior officers. The Civil Lines, Delhi is a subdivision of North Delhi District in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India and noted residential areas in Delhi. It is one of the 12 zones under the...
.
Dharma retired from the DSE in 1993. The very next year, her husband, who had retired as Secretary, Ministry of Steel, died. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1998, and underwentt an unsuccessful operation, and died in late 2001.