Eminent Tamil scholar Noboru Karashima passes away

November 27, 2015

Distinguished Tamil scholar and historian of South India and South Asia, Noboru Karashima from Japan passed away in Tokyo. He was 82.
His research has rewritten the economic and social history of medieval South India and had published number of writings on them. He also had played a critical role in developing Indo-Japan cultural ties.

About Noboru Karashima

Noboru Karashima was Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo and Taisho University.
Key contributions: His use of statistical techniques to distil information from a mass of inscriptions was his seminal contribution to South Indian history.
Organisations: He was instrumental in setting up the International Association of Tamil Research (IATR) and was its president from 1989 to 2010.
He was the principal organiser of the 8th World Tamil Conference in Thanjavur in 1995. He also was the president of the Japan Association for South Asian Studies from 1996 to 2000.
Publications: He has written numerous books on South Indian History. They are Kingship in Indian history, Towards a New Formation: South Indian Society under Vijayanagar Rule, A concordance of the names in Chola inscriptions, History and society in South India and Ancient to Medieval: South Indian Society in Transition.
Awards and Honours: He is recipient of the Padma Shri (2013) for his contributions in building India-Japan ties. Also was awarded with Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize (1995), Japan Academy Prize (2003).