Sunil Kumar, 1956-2021

William Pinch's picture

Many readers will have received the sad news of the passing of Sunil Kumar, Professor of History at Delhi University. Sunil was 65 years old. He was a brilliant historian of the Delhi Sultanate, a popular and demanding teacher, a devoted mentor to countless graduate students, a tireless and long-serving editor of the Indian Economic and Social History Review, and a gifted athlete (especially on the basketball court). He had recently completed a term as Chair of the History Department at Delhi University and was looking forward to retirement.

Several moving tributes have appeared in the past few days. Among them:

https://thewire.in/history/sunil-kumar-historian-obituary

https://scroll.in/article/984284/sunil-kumar-1956-2021-a-historian-who-was-passionate-abou...

http://permanent-black.blogspot.com/2021/01/four-recollections-of-sunil-kumar.html

http://permanent-black.blogspot.com/2021/01/sunil-kumar-in-memoriam-by-suvir-kaul.html

https://thewire.in/history/sunil-kumar-historian-and-mentor-gone-too-soon

Sunil had a sharp sense of humor and, despite his nickname ("Saddy"), a warming optimism. He is sorely missed.