Courting India: England, Mughal India, and the Origins of Empire" by Nandini Das has won the 11th British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding. In this groundbreaking debut, Das provides a fresh perspective on the early 17th-century encounter between the first English ambassador, Sir Thomas Roe, and India.
The book transcends Eurocentric narratives, offering a balanced and engaging account of the cultural collision, ambitions, misunderstandings, and biases that unfolded during this pivotal pre-colonial period.
By drawing on diverse sources, including literature, the memoirs of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Sir Thomas Roe's journals, and East India Company archives, Das presents a vivid account of history from both sides.
Professor Charles Tripp, the Chair of the Book Prize judging panel, praised the book for its immediacy and its portrayal of early British-Indian interactions, highlighting the challenges and occasional humorous exchanges. It underlines the value of international diplomacy and the cultural complexities that persist today.
Professor Julia Black, President of the British Academy, commended the book's contribution to global cultural understanding and the importance of well-told stories in bridging cultural divides.
Nandini Das will receive a £25,000 prize, while the shortlisted writers will each receive £1,000. "Courting India" triumphed over a shortlist that included books on diverse topics.
The British Academy Book Prize, previously known as the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize, was established in 2013 to honour non-fiction works that enhance public understanding of world cultures and their interactions.
The 2022 winner, "When Women Kill" by Alia Trabucco Zerán, has since been adapted into a feature film scheduled for release in 2024.
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