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
2024, Faculty Summer Grant, Bentley University2022, Outstanding Scholarly Contribution Award, Bentley University2022, Visiting Scholar, Harvard University, History Department2021, Aaron Jackson Award for Best Honors Faculty, Bentley University2019, Bentley Faculty Summer Grant, Bentley University 2018, Faculty Summer Grant, Bentley University2017, FAC grant, Bentley University2016, Faculty Summer Research Grant, Bentley University2015, Visting Scholar, Harvard University, Studies of Women, Gender and Sexuality department2014, Student Research Assistantship, Valente Center 2013, Faculty Summer Research Grant, Bentley University 2012, Student Research Assistantship, Valente Center2011, Bentley Summer Grant2010, 2010 - 2011 Valente Center Faculty Fellowship2010, Bentley Faculty Summer Grant2010, Dean's Fund for International Travel, Bentley University2009, Bentley Faculty Summer Grant, Bentley University2009, Bentley Publication Awards, Bentley University2006, OMS Summer Fellowship, Harvard Divinity School2005, Associate Member, Signet Society, Harvard University2005, Clarendon Fund, Oxford University, 2001 - 20052004, Harvard Film Studies Fellowship2002, American Friends of Christ Church, Oxford Fellowship2002, Beit Fund, Oxford University, 2002 & 2003Publications
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. (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 PressJhala, A. D. (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. 244. London: Pickering and Chatto Press. Reprinted in paperback by Routledge in 2015
Book Chapters
Jhala, A. D. (2024). Prince and ‘Primitive’: Chakma Raja Bhuvan Mohan Roy on the Crossroads of India, Burma and Britain In Robert Aldrich, Cindy McCreery and Falko Schnicke, (Eds.) Global Royal Families: Cultures of Transnational Monarchy in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Oxford: Oxford University PressJhala, A. D. (2018). Imperial Cosmopolitanism, Royal Patronage, and Zenana Courts In , (Eds.) Peacock in the Desert: the Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India. Houston: Museum of Fine Arts Houston/Yale University PressJhala, A. D. (2017). Introduction In , (Eds.) 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 In , (Eds.) 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 In Tulasi Srinivas, Krishnendu Ray, (Eds.) 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 In , (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Women in Islamic Civilizations. BrillJhala, A. D. (2009). From Zenana to Cinema: The Impact of Royal Aesthetics on Bollywood Film In Moti Gokulsing, (Eds.) Popular Culture in a globalised India. New York: RoutledgeJhala, A. D. (2009). Made for Maharanis: Aesthetics of Courtly Women in Colonial Princely India In Maureen Goggin, Beth Tobin, (Eds.) 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 In Towheed, Shafquat, (Eds.) New Readings in the Literature of British India, c.1780-1947. Stuttgart: ibidem-VerlagJhala, A. D. (). Indian Princes, Parliament and Presidential Power: The Concord of Princes (1967-71) In Miles Taylor and Christopher Ridgway, (Eds.) The British Aristocracy and the Modern World: Essays for David Cannadine. British Academy/Liverpool University Press Forthcoming.
Book Reviews
Jhala, A. D. (2024). [Review of the book 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). [Review of the book Founding an Empire on India's North-Eastern Frontiers, 1790-1840: Climate, Commerce, Polity ]. South Asian History and Culture. Jhala, A. D. (2015). [Review of the book Forgotten Friends: Monks, Marriages and Memories of Northeast India ]. South Asian History and Culture. Jhala, A. D. (2012). [Review of the book Harem Histories: Envisioning Places and Living Spaces ]. Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History Review. Jhala, A. D. (2006). [Review of the book Domesticity and Power in the Early Mughal World ]. The Journal of the American Oriental Society. Jhala, A. D. (2006). [Review of the book Maharanis: The Lives and Times of Three Generations of Indian Princesse ]. Journal of the Oxford University History Society. Jhala, A. D. (2004). [Review of the book Hindu Kingship and Polity in Precolonial India ]. Journal of the Oxford University History Society. Jhala, A. D. (2004). [Review of the book Indian Princes and their States ]. Journal of the Oxford University History Society.
Conference Papers
Jhala, A. D. (2013). Buddhism: Reading the Marginalized History of the Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in BangladeshAlliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability, Columbia University, Historical Justice and Memory: Questions of Rights and Accountability in Contemporary Society Conference.
Other(s)
Jhala, A. D. (2018). Imperial Cosmopolitanism, Royal Patronage, and Zenana CourtsCrossroads: The Museum of Fine Arts Magazine. 11 5 – 11. 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 Choi, S., Souvannaseng, P., Jhala, A. D. (2024). “Development and the Environment: Mekong Delta, Madagascar, and the Chittagong Hills” Presented at the Valente Center, History and GLS Departments Arts and Sciences Social Science Faculty Research Series Adamian Academic Center 3rd floor classroom Jhala, A. D. (2021). “Indian princes, Parliament and presidential power: the Concord of Princes (1967-71)” Presented at the Großbritannien-Zentrum/Centre for British Studies, Humboldt-Universität 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 theMaterial 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 Zenan” Presented at the College at Brockport, State University of New York New York Conference on Asian Studies Jhala, A. D. (2010). “‘Home and the World’: Cosmopolitan, Transnational Identities of Courtly Indian Women in the Zenana” Presented at the10th 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 theImmigration 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 Service
Department Service
Other for Major/Minors Fair 2023 - 2023Committee Member for American Business and Economic History Tenure Track Search Committee 2021 - 2022Admitted Student Day Open House - 2022Undergraduate Academic Programs Fair - 2019Major/Minors Open House for Accepted Students - 2019Panelist for “Religion and the Workplace” Panel for the Spiritual Life Center - 2018Departmental Representative for Majors/Minors Fair for Prospective Students - 2018Departmental Representative for Majors/Minors Open House for Accepted Students - 2018Other for Majors/Minors Open House for Accepted Students - 2017Departmental Representative for Majors/Minors Fair for Prospective Students - 2014Departmental Representative for Major/Minors Fair 2012 - 2012Departmental Representative for Major/Minors Open House - 2011University Service
Committee Member for Teaching and Scholarly Affairs Committee 2023 - PresentCommittee Member for Interfolio Focus Group 2024 - 2024Table Captain for A&S Faculty Retreat 2023 - 2023Committee Member for A&S Summer Working Group for TF4.0 2020 - 2021Committee Member for Teaching and Scholarly Activities Committee 2018 - 2020Committee Member for Bentley Research Council 2017 - 2020Committee Member for Dean of Arts and Sciences Search Committee 2017 - 2018Committee Member for Faculty Evaluation Procedures Committee 2016 - 2018University Senate 2016 - 2018Board Member for Valente Center 2014 - 2015Senator for University Senate 2011 - 2015Committee Member for Faculty Evaluation Procedures Committee 2011 - 2015Committee Member for Research Committee 2010 - 2011Professional Service
Editorial Review Board Member for South Asian History and Culture 2010 - PresentReviewer, Book for Journal of Asian Studies 2022 - 2024Reviewer, Journal Article for Asian Ethnicity 2023 - 2023Reviewer, Journal Article for Gender and History 2023 - 2023Reviewer, Journal Article for Modern Asian Studies 2023 - 2023Reviewer, Journal Article for South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies 2023 - 2023Reviewer, Journal Article for AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples - 2022Reviewer, Journal Article for Gender and History 2020 - 2022Reviewer, Journal Article for Food and Foodways 2020 - 2020Reviewer, Journal Article for Modern Asian Studies 2020 - 2020Reviewer, Journal Article for Gender & History 2019 - 2020Reviewer, Journal Article for Modern Asian Studies 2018 - 2019Reviewer, Journal Article for Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History Review 2017 - 2017Reviewer, Journal Article for Modern Asian Studies 2015 - 2016Reviewer, Journal Article for Food and Foodways - 2015Manuscript Reviewer for Gastronomica - 2014Reviewer, Journal Article for South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies 2013 - 2013Reviewer, Journal Article for Asian Ethnicity 2012 - 2012Reviewer, Book for Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History Review 2012 - 2012Reviewer, Book for Oxford University Press (Pakistan) 2012 - 2012Reviewer, Book for I. B. Tauris Publishers 2011 - 2011Examiner for an undergraduate senior honors thesis for US Naval Academy, Annapolis 2011 - 2011Reviewer, Book for The Journal of the American Oriental Society 2006 - 2006
