Rajat Kanta Ray is a historian of South Asian history, specializing in Modern Indian history.

Background

He is the son of Kumud Kanta Ray, ICS who was a Home Secretary of West Bengal in the 1960s. His grandfather, Kamakshya Ray, a contemporary of Rathindranath Tagore, was one of the first four students of Patha Bhavana of Santiniketan.

Education

He completed his schooling at Ballygunge Government High School, Calcutta, and his B.A. (Honours) in History at Presidency College, Calcutta where he was a student of Ashin Dasgupta. He then completed his Ph.D. under the supervision of Anil Seal at the University of Cambridge.

Career

He was an assistant professor of history at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. From 1975-1982 he was reader and then from 1982-2006 he was the professor and head of the Department of History at Presidency College, Calcutta. He is one of the longest serving professors of the college. From 2006 to 2011, he was the Upacharya of Visva Bharati. He is now emeritus professor of history at Presidency University, Calcutta.

Books

Articles