Delhi University has always been a beacon of knowledge, thanks to its exceptional faculties who have taught and are still teaching, making the space of DU equally important and intellectual. Many legendary educators have walked its halls, leaving an indelible mark. These five faculty members, which I shall be presenting here were known for their profound scholarship, inspiring teaching, and immense influence, shaping countless minds and contributing significantly to their respective fields. Let’s see how many do you recognise. Shall we?
Amartya Sen
The nobel laureate and economist, Amartya Sen, was a faculty member of DSE. Born in 1933, he is an Indian economist and philosopher. A Nobel laureate in economics, taught at the Delhi School of Economics (part of Delhi University) in his early career. He is renowned for his work in welfare economics and social choice theory. He won the 1998 Nobel Memorial Prize. His work also focuses on development poverty, famine, and human capabilities, significantly influencing global development policy.
Bhisham Sahni
A beloved Hindi writer, made a profound impact with his novel Tamas, a powerful portrayal of India’s Partition that also won him the Sahitya Akademi Award. He also taught in the university, where he shared his passion for literature with students. A renowned Hindi writer and playwright, taught English literature at Delhi College (now Zakir Husain College), which is part of the University of Delhi, from 1952 until his retirement in 1980. His work deeply resonated, earning him national honors like the Padma Bhushan. His brother, Balraj Sahni was a well known actor of early cinemas.
M. N. Srinivas
A renowned personality in sociology, M. N. Srinivas was a towering figure in Indian sociology, famed for his pioneering concepts like “Sanskritization” and “Dominant Caste” which transformed how we understand social change in India. He headed the Department of Sociology at the Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University, where he fostered a intellectual academic environment. His profound insights and achievements in his field also earned him the Padma Bhushan.
Kaushik Basu
Kaushik Basu, a brilliant economist who profoundly impacted global policy as the Chief Economist of the World Bank. His ideas on development and game theory are highly influential, earning him India’s Padma Bhushan. Earlier, he was a professor at the Delhi School of Economics, where he founded the Centre for Development Economics. You can access various economics material by purchasing at a low cost from bookwithuva platform.
Susheela Kaushik
Susheela Kaushik was a true trailblazer, shaping the field of Women’s Studies in India. As the founder-director of the Women Studies & Development Centre (WSDC) at Delhi University, a key institution, she helped legitimize and advance gender research. Her profound work on women’s political participation and rights left an enduring national impact. She taught Political Science at DU.
Delhi University’s legacy is profoundly shaped by its exceptional faculty. These five renowned professors—Amartya Sen, Bhisham Sahni, Kaushik Basu, M.N. Srinivas, and Susheela Kaushik—represent the intellectual dynamism that has flourished within the halls of Delhi University. It also represents the flourishing and educational culture of Delhi University.
From Nobel Prizes and global policy leadership to pioneering new academic fields and reshaping national discourse, their contributions transcend the classroom, leaving an indelible mark on both Indian and international thought. Their presence underscores DU’s enduring role as a crucible of brilliant minds and transformative ideas. Now that you have read one more interesting chapter about the university, consider more such interesting articles on your friendly website, bookwithuva. Moreover, you can also access the papers and study materials along with novels and stationery from our website at an effectively low cost.
