Bio
Angma Jhala is a historian of modern South Asia. Her scholarship focuses on several different areas: histories of the environment, indigenous borderlands, material culture, and women, law and politics. She is the author of three books: An Endangered History: Indigeneity, Religion and Politics on the Borders of India, Burma and Bangladesh (Oxford University Press, 2019), Royal Patronage, Power and Aesthetics in Princely India (2011) and Courtly Indian Women in Late Imperial India (2008). She has published her research in leading journals and edited volumes in South Asian studies, including the Indian Economic and Social History Review, Modern Asian Studies, South Asian Studies and South Asian History and Culture, among others. She is currently embarking upon a new research project addressing hydropower, international development and Cold War geopolitics in mid-twentieth century South Asia.
Professor Jhala has also served as a consultant to the Museum of Fine Art Houston's 2018 exhibition Peacock in the Desert: the Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India which subsequently travelled to the Seattle Art Museum and the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, and edited a collection of essays which accompanied the exhibition.
Awards and Honors
2025 Faculty Summer Grant, Bentley University2024 Faculty Summer Grant, Bentley UniversityVisiting Scholar, Harvard University, History DepartmentOutstanding Scholarly Contribution Award, Bentley UniversityAaron Jackson Award for Best Honors Faculty, Bentley UniversityBentley Faculty Summer Grant, Bentley UniversityFaculty Summer Grant, Bentley UniversityFAC grant, Bentley UniversityFaculty Summer Research Grant, Bentley UniversityVisting Scholar, Harvard University, Studies of Women, Gender and Sexuality departmentStudent Research Assistantship, Valente CenterFaculty Summer Research Grant, Bentley UniversityStudent Research Assistantship, Valente CenterBentley Summer Grant2010 - 2011 Valente Center Faculty FellowshipBentley Faculty Summer GrantDean's Fund for International Travel, Bentley UniversityBentley Faculty Summer Grant, Bentley UniversityBentley Publication Awards, Bentley UniversityOMS Summer Fellowship, Harvard Divinity SchoolAssociate Member, Signet Society, Harvard UniversityClarendon Fund, Oxford University, 2001 - 2005Harvard Film Studies FellowshipAmerican Friends of Christ Church, Oxford FellowshipBeit Fund, Oxford University, 2002 & 2003Scholarly Contributions and Creative Productions
Journal Articles
Jhala, A. D. (2023). Dam(n)ing the Hills: Indigeneity, American aid and Cold War Politics in the Kaptai Dam, East Pakistan, 1957-1964. Modern Asian Studies, (57) 1 70-99. (Link)Jhala, A. D. (2022). Farming and Eating in an Indigenous Asian Borderland: Histories of Botany, Agriculture and Food in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, East Bengal. Global Food History, (8) 1 34-55. Jhala, A. D. (2019). The Indian Princely States and Their Rulers. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Asian History Jhala, A. D. (2018). Imperial Cosmopolitanism, Royal Patronage, and Zenana Courts. Crossroads: The Museum of Fine Arts Houston Magazine 11 5 – 11. Jhala, A. D. (2017). The scandalous case of the Rani of Lathi: female regency, princely politics and sexual impropriety in 1920s colonial India. South Asian Studies, (33) 2 149-164. Jhala, A. D. (2015). 'Home and the World': Cosmopolitan, Transnational Identities of Courtly Indian Women in the Late Imperial Zenana. Modern Asian Studies, (Volume 49) Number 6 1704-1731. Jhala, A. D. (2013). Daughters of the Hills: legacies of colonialism, nationalism and religious communalism in the Chakma Raj family, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bengal c. 1900 – 1972. South Asian History and Culture, (4) 1 107-125. Jhala, A. D. (2011). Shifting the gaze: colonial and postcolonial portraits of the zenana in Hindi and Euro-American cinema. South Asian Popular Culture, (9) 3 259-271. Jhala, A. D. (2010). The Jodhpur Regency: princely education, politics and gender in postcolonial India. South Asian History and Culture, (1) 3 378–396. Jhala, A. D. (2009). The Malabar Hill Murder Trial of 1925: sovereignty, law and sexual politics in colonial princely India. The Indian Economic and Social History Review, (46) 3 373-400. Books
Jhala, A. D. (2019). An Endangered History: Indigeneity, Religion and Politics on the Borders of India, Burma and Bangladesh Delhi: Oxford University Press Jhala, A. D. (Ed.) (2018). Peacock in the Desert: the Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India Houston: Museum of Fine Arts Houston/ Yale University PressJhala, A. D. (2011). Royal Patronage, Power and Aesthetics in Princely India 250. London: Pickering and Chatto, Empire in Perspectives Series. Reprinted in paperback by Routledge in 2015Jhala, A. D. (2008). Courtly Indian Women in Late Imperial India London: Pickering and Chatto Press. Reprinted in paperback by Routledge in 2015Book Chapters
Jhala, A. D. (2025). Indian Princes, Parliament and Presidential Power: The Concord of Princes (1967-71) The British Aristocracy and the Modern World. British Academy/Liverpool University PressJhala, A. D. (2024). Prince and Primitive: Chakma Raja Bhuvan Mohan Roy on the Crossroads of India, Burma and Britain Global Royal Families. Oxford University PressJhala, A. D. (2018). Imperial Cosmopolitanism, Royal Patronage, and Zenana Courts Peacock in the Desert: the Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India. Houston: Museum of Fine Arts Houston/Yale University PressJhala, A. D. (2017). Introduction Genealogy, Archive, Image: Interpreting Dynastic History in western India, c.1090-2016. Berlin: De Gruyter PressJhala, A. D. (2017). Rani Jijima, Soldier, Statesman, Financier: a Rajput queen in mid-eighteenth century western India Genealogy, Archive, Image: Interpreting Dynastic History in western India, c.1090-2016. Berlin: De Gruyter PressJhala, A. D. (2012). Cosmopolitan Kitchens: Cooking for Princely Zenanas in Late Colonial India Curried Cultures: Globalization, Food and South Asia. Berkeley/Los Angeles: University of California PressJhala, A. D. (2011). From pardah to silver screen: representations of the Muslim courtesan in Hindi Cinema Encyclopedia of Women in Islamic Civilizations. BrillJhala, A. D. (2009). From Zenana to Cinema: The Impact of Royal Aesthetics on Bollywood Film Popular Culture in a globalised India. New York: RoutledgeJhala, A. D. (2009). Made for Maharanis: Aesthetics of Courtly Women in Colonial Princely India Material Women, 1750- 1950: Consuming Desires and Consuming Objects. Farnham: AshgateJhala, A. D. (2007). Memoirs of Maharanis: The Politics of Marriage, Companionship and Love in Late Colonial Princely India New Readings in the Literature of British India, c.1780-1947. Stuttgart: ibidem-VerlagAbstract
Other Scholarly Work
Jhala, A. D. (2013). Buddhism: Reading the Marginalized History of the Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability, Columbia University, (Historical Justice and Memory: Questions of Rights and Accountability in Contemporary Society Conference) .Jhala, A. D. The Kaptai dam, East Pakistan, Hydropower and the Cold War. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Asian History (In Progress).Presentations
Jhala, A. D. (2024). “The Kaptai Dam, c. 1957-1964: Histories of Environment and Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts” Presented at the History Department, Global Studies Department and the Valente Center Development and the Environment: Infrastructures at Risk Research Talk Bentley University Jhala, A. D. (2021). “Indian princes, Parliament and presidential power: the Concord of Princes (1967-71)” Presented at the Gro√übritannien-Zentrum/Centre for British Studies, Humboldt-Universit√§t zu Berlin The British Aristocracy and the Modern World, 30th Anniversary Conference via Zoom Jhala, A. D. (2019). “An Endangered History: Colonial Knowledge, Indigeneity and the India/Burma border” Presented at the Dartmouth College New England Association for Asian Studies conferenceJhala, A. D. (2017). “Colonial Archive of a Tribal Borderland: At the Crossroads of India, Bangladesh and Burma” Presented at the Boston College, 2017 New England Association for Asian Studies conference Boston, MA Jhala, A. D. (2014). “How Changing Standards of Beauty Across Time and Culture Impact the Global Beauty Industry” Presented at the Women's Center, Bentley University Invited Brown Bag Talk Waltham, MA Jhala, A. D. (2013). “Buddhism: Reading the Marginalized History of the Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh” Presented at the Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability, Columbia University Historical Justice and Memory: Questions of Rights and Accountability in Contemporary Society Conference Columbia Law School Jhala, A. D. (2013). “Cosmopolitan collecting: Material culture in the colonial Zenana” Presented at the Gender and History Gender, Imperialism and Global Exchanges Workshop Brown University, Rhode Island Jhala, A. D. (2012). “Entering the Zenana: Histories of Architecture, Interior Design, and Fashion in the Indian Princely States, c. 1900-1947” Presented at the Material Cultures in the Space Between: The Fourteenth Annual Conference of the Space Between Society: Literature and Culture, 1914-1945 Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Jhala, A. D. (2011). “Royal Patronage, Religion and Aesthetics in Princely India: Zenana women as Collectors, Consumers and Patrons” Presented at the Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard Divinity School Hindu Studies Colloquium Cambridge, Massachusetts Jhala, A. D. (2011). “Material Culture in the colonial Zenana” Presented at the Valente Center, Bentley University Valente Center Fellows TalkJhala, A. D. (2010). “Cosmopolitan Collectors: Patronage and Consumption in the Zenana” Presented at the College at Brockport, State University of New York New York Conference on Asian StudiesJhala, A. D. (2010). “'Home and the World‚': Cosmopolitan, Transnational Identities of Courtly Indian Women in the Zenana” Presented at the 10th Annual Conference of the Global Studies Association: Globalization and International Relations Merton College, Oxford University Jhala, A. D. (2010). “Indian princes and ideas of 'Britishness:' The influence of education and aesthetics on creating hybrid colonial identities” Presented at the Immigration and National Identity in British History- Europe, Empire and Commonwealth conference St. Anthony's College, Oxford University Jhala, A. D. (2008). “The prince's education: sovereignty, imperialism and nationalism in royal India” Presented at the Library of Congress and Johns Hopkins University Rajput Maharajas Conference Washington, DC Reviews
Jhala, A. (2025). Book Review of Alexandra Kaloyanides' Baptizing Burma: Religious Change in the Last Buddhist Kingdom. American Historical Review, (130) 4Jhala, A. D. (2024). Carol Ann Boshier's Forgotten Voices of the British Empire: How Knowledge was created and curated in colonial India and Burma . Journal of Asian Studies Jhala, A. D. (2015). Gunnel Cederlof's Founding an Empire on India's North-Eastern Frontiers, 1790-1840: Climate, Commerce, Polity. South Asian History and Culture Jhala, A. D. (2015). Indrani Chatterjee's Forgotten Friends: Monks, Marriages and Memories of Northeast India. South Asian History and Culture Jhala, A. D. (2012). Harem Histories: Envisioning Places and Living Spaces, ed. Marilyn Booth. Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History Review Jhala, A. D. (2006). Ruby Lal's Domesticity and Power in the Early Mughal World. The Journal of the American Oriental Society Jhala, A. D. (2006). Lucy Moore's Maharanis: The Lives and Times of Three Generations of Indian Princesses. Journal of the Oxford University History Society Jhala, A. D. (2004). Norbert Peabody's Hindu Kingship and Polity in Precolonial India. Journal of the Oxford University History Society Jhala, A. D. (2004). Barbara Ramusack's Indian Princes and their States. Journal of the Oxford University History Society Service
Service: Department
Department Representative for Admitted Students' Day 2025-04-05 - 2025-04-05 for Major/Minors Fair 2023-11-05 - 2023-11-05Departmental Representative for Admitted Student Day Open House - 2022-04-09Committee Member for American Business and Economic History Tenure Track Search Committee 2021-01-01 - 2022-12-31Departmental Representative for Undergraduate Academic Programs Fair - 2019-10-23Departmental Representative for Major/Minors Open House for Accepted Students - 2019-04-13Panelist for “Religion and the Workplace” Panel for the Spiritual Life Center - 2018-11-06Departmental Representative for Majors/Minors Fair for Prospective Students - 2018-09-30Departmental Representative for Majors/Minors Open House for Accepted Students - 2018-04-14Faculty Representative for Majors/Minors Open House for Accepted Students - 2017-04-08Departmental Representative for Majors/Minors Fair for Prospective Students - 2014-09-28Departmental Representative for Major/Minors Fair 2012-09-30 - 2012-12-31Departmental Representative for Major/Minors Open House - 2011-10-02Service: Public
Consultant/Catalogue Editor for Museum of Fine Arts Houston 2013-01-01 - 2018-12-31Keynote Speaker for Primary Source 2011-02-10 - 2011-12-31Service: Professional
Book Reviewer for American Historical Review 2024-09-17 - 2025-12-30Manuscript Reviewer for South Asia: Journal of South Asia Studies - PresentManuscript Reviewer for Modern Asian Studies - PresentManuscript Reviewer for Gender and History - Present for Asian Ethnicity - PresentReviewer for Journal of Asian Studies 2022-01-01 - 2024-12-31Manuscript Reviewer for AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, - Present for Journal of Asian Studies - PresentManuscript Reviewer for Gender and History - PresentManuscript Reviewer for Food and Foodways - PresentManuscript Reviewer for Modern Asian Studies - PresentManuscript Reviewer for Modern Asian Studies - PresentManuscript Reviewer for Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History - PresentManuscript Reviewer for Food and Foodways - PresentManuscript Reviewer for Modern Asian Studies - Present for Gastronomica - PresentManuscript Reviewer for South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies 2013 - 2013Manuscript Reviewer for Asian Ethnicity 2013 - 2013Manuscript Reviewer for Oxford University Press 2012 - 2012Manuscript Reviewer for I.B. Tauris publishers 2011 - 2011Book Reviewer for Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History 2011 - 2012Examiner for an undergraduate senior honors thesis for US Naval Academy, Annapolis 2011-01-01 - 2011-12-31Editorial Review Board Member for South Asian History and Culture 2010-01-01 - PresentBook Reviewer for The Journal of the American Oriental Society - PresentService: University
Senate Member for University Senate 2025 - 2028Committee Member for Faculty Evaluation and Procedures Committee 2025 - 2028Committee Member for Teaching and Scholarly Activities Committee - PresentTable Captain for A&S Faculty Retreat 2023-11-03 - 2023-11-03Committee Member for Interfolio Focus Group - PresentCommittee Member for A&S Summer Working Group for TF4.0 - PresentCommittee Member for Teaching and Scholarly Activities Committee - PresentCommittee Member for Bentley Research Council - PresentCommittee Member for Dean of Arts and Sciences Search Committee - PresentCommittee Member for Faculty Evaluation Procedures Committee - Present for University Senate - PresentBoard Member for Valente Center - PresentSenator for University Senate - PresentCommittee Member for Faculty Evaluation Procedures Committee - PresentCommittee Member for Research Committee - Present
