Dr. Ankur Barua

Biography

Ankur Barua is a University Senior Lecturer in Hindu Studies at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. He completed his B.Sc. in Physics at St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, followed by Theology and Religious Studies at Cambridge. His research focuses on Vedāntic Hindu philosophical theology and Indo-Islamic styles of sociality, delving into the social structures of Hindu traditions within premodern contexts in South Asia and colonial milieus. Ankur’s work explores multiple ideas of Hindu identity shaped by transnational circuits across India, Britain, Europe, and the USA. He engages in writing historical fiction, with his recent work titled 'Harvest Time' (2023). His academic interests include comparative philosophy of religion, focusing on the theological and socio-political aspects of Hindu–Christian engagements, as well as the intersections between bhakti, yoga, tawḥīd, and taṣawwuf in postcolonial landscapes of South Asia. He teaches courses on Hinduism and Buddhism, including 'Life and Thought in Religious Hinduism' and 'Self Salvation in Indian and Western Thought'.

Research Interests

Courses