Who were the first Indians to study at Harvard over a century ago?

The Kosambi family, including Dharmanand, Manik, and Damodar Kosambi, were among the earliest Indians to study and teach at Harvard between 1910 and 1932.

What historical achievement did Manik Kosambi accomplish at Harvard?

Manik Kosambi became the first Indian woman to graduate from Radcliffe College in 1922, earning a degree in philosophy.

How did Damodar Kosambi impact the study of Indian history?

Damodar Kosambi revolutionized Indian historiography by applying scientific methods, statistics, and Marxist analysis to ancient Indian texts and archaeological evidence.

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Kosambi Family: Pioneering Indians at Harvard 100 Years Ago

4 Jan

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Summary

The Kosambis were among the earliest Indians at Harvard between 1910-1932.
Manik Kosambi was the first Indian woman to graduate from Radcliffe College.
Damodar Kosambi became a renowned intellectual applying scientific methods to history.

Kosambi Family: Pioneering Indians at Harvard 100 Years Ago

More than a century ago, the Kosambi family achieved significant milestones at Harvard University, becoming some of the earliest Indians to study and teach there. Dharmanand Kosambi, a respected scholar, worked as an Assistant in Indic Philology in the 1910s and produced a critical edition of a foundational Buddhist text for the Harvard Oriental Series. His academic work contributed to introducing rigorous Asian textual scholarship to Western academia.

In 1922, Dharmanand's daughter, Manik Kosambi, achieved a historic feat by becoming the first Indian woman to graduate from Radcliffe College with honors in philosophy. This accomplishment challenged stereotypes and opened doors for Indian women in higher education. Her brother, Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi, a prodigy in mathematics, graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1929. His interdisciplinary education shaped his future revolutionary approach to Indian history.