Austin Peay State University history professor wins international leadership award

Austin Peay State University (APSU)

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University (APSU) history professor Dr. Somaditya Banerjee will travel to London in mid-May to receive the Mahatma Gandhi Leadership Award.

The Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Welfare Society of India will present Banerjee the award May 20th, 2019 at the House of Commons during the NRI World Congress.

The award recognizes 25 of about 25 million non-resident Indians for outstanding service, achievement and contributions.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” Banerjee said. “Making a career switch from physics to history has transformed me as an individual and a leader in my profession. I feel this is an encouraging sign for the discipline of humanities and its future prospects.”

Banerjee is assistant professor in the APSU Department of History and Philosophy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics, three master’s degrees (two in physics and one in the history of science) and a doctorate in history. His research interests are in modern South Asian history, the history of science and intellectual and cultural history.

He’s under contract with Routledge for a book manuscript examining the making of modern physics in colonial India.

Banerjee is the faculty adviser for Phi Alpha Theta, which recently won its 10th straight Nels A. Cleven Award for Best Chapter of the Year.

Learn More

• For more about the Austin Peay Department of History and Philosophy, visit www.apsu.edu/history-and-philosophy.
• For more about Banerjee, visit https://www.apsu.edu/history-and-philosophy/faculty/banerjee.php.
• For more about APSU’s Phi Alpha Theta chapter, go to www.apsu.edu/history-and-philosophy/pat.php.
• For more about the NRI Welfare Society of India, visit www.nriwelfaresocietyindia.com.