Irfan Habib: A Titan of Medieval Indian History

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Irfan Habib: A Titan of Medieval Indian History

At 93, Padma Bhushan awardee Professor Irfan Habib still cycles daily to Aligarh Muslim University, embodying passion and discipline. His landmark works—The Agrarian System of Mughal India and An Atlas of the Mughal Empire—revolutionized the study of medieval India.

Born into a family of freedom fighters, he has remained steadfast in defending secularism and historical truth against political distortions. Globally recognized with honors like Oxford’s Honorary Fellowship (2021), Habib continues to inspire generations to pursue history with honesty, rigor, and courage.

— Venkataramanan Ramasethu
August 25, 2025

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