Ancient Indian History with specialization in the Archaeology of Buddhism

Ph.D. History Department, Delhi University, 2019

M.Phil. (only coursework) History Department, Delhi University, 2007*

M.A. Hindu College, Delhi University, 2006

BA (Hons.) Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University, 2004

Certificate and Diploma in Sanskrit, St. Stephen’s College, 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively

*Selection as University Teaching Assistant (UTA) in the History Department, Delhi University in 2007 for four years necessitated promotion to do a Ph.D. thesis directly instead of an M.Phil. dissertation.

• Assistant Professor (Permanent) , 09-02-2023 to Present , Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Delhi University
• Assistant Professor (Adhoc) , 26-07-2016 to 07-02-2023 , Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Delhi University
• Assistant Professor (Adhoc) , 05-02-2014 to 23-09-2015 , Zakir Hussain Delhi College, Delhi University
• University Teaching Assistant , 07-06-2007 to 06-06-2011 , History Department, Delhi University

Semester I: History of India from the Earliest Times up to 300 CE

Semester II: History of India, 300 CE to 1200 CE

Semester I: History of India (from the beginning to 4th Century BCE)

Semester II: History of India (from 300 BCE to 750 CE)

Semester I: Ancient Societies

Semester II: Medieval Societies: Global Perspectives

Semester III: History of India-III (c.750-1200)

Semester IV: An Introduction to Archaeology

Semester III: History of India-III (c.750-1200)

Semester VI: Environmental Issues in India

Semester V: Women in Indian History (NC)

Semester V: History of United States of America (c. 1776-1945)

1-Convenor, Debate and Discussion Society (DADS), 2024-25 to 2027-28, SGTB Khalsa College

2-Member, Viksit Bharat Ambassador Club, SGTB Khalsa College

3-Member, BA Programme Committee, SGTB Khalsa College

4-Member, Corporate Social Responsibility, SGTB Khalsa College

5-Member, Calendar Committee, SGTB Khalsa College

6-Member, extended committee of Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), SGTB Khalsa College, 2019-20 and 2020-21

7-Member, Annual Day Prize Distribution Function, SGTB Khalsa College, 2021-22

8-Member, Admission Committee, SGTB Khalsa College, 2017-2024

9-Member, Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) related to National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), SGTB Khalsa College, 2022-23

10-Joint Secretary, Researchers’ Association for the Study of Korea (RASK)*, 2007

11-President, Researchers’ Association for the Study of Korea (RASK), 2008

*Researchers’ Association for the Study of Korea (RASK) ― an informal academic association which organizes annual international interdisciplinary seminars in India in collaboration with premier Indian universities like University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Central University of Jharkhand.

1-Presented a paper titled “Archaeological Organizations in East Asia with Special Reference to Japan and Korea” in a two-day international seminar on “Indo-Korea Relations Under Act East Policy: Issues and Challenges” organized by Researchers’ Association for the Study of Korea (RASK) in collaboration with the Centre for East Asian Studies, SIS, JNU on 8th and 9th November, 2019.

2-Presented a paper titled “A Comparative Study of Issues Confronting Archaeologies of South Korea and India” in a two-day international seminar (via Webinar) on “Challenges and Future Prospects Under Act East Policy in India and New Southern Policy in South Korea” organized by Researchers’ Association for the Study of Korea (RASK) in collaboration with the Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi on 6th and 7th November, 2020.

3-Invited as Resource Person in a Faculty Development Programme (FDP) as part of First Sikh History Congress to speak on “Conservation of Sikh Architectural Heritage: Issues and Concerns”. The FDP was organized by Guru Angad Dev Teaching Learning Centre (GADTLC) in association with SGTB Khalsa College from 5th-10th January, 2023.

4-Invited by the Department of Foreign Languages, Jamia Millia Islamia and the Academy of Korean Studies to deliver a keynote address in a workshop on “Student Workshop on Korean History: Understanding Korean History through Indian Perspectives” on 21-02-2023.

5-Presented a paper titled “Royal Women and Political Power in Ancient India and Early Korea” in a two-day international seminar on “India-South Korea Ties: Exploring Linkages Through History, Values, and Interests” organized by Researchers’ Association for the Study of Korea (RASK) in collaboration with Jamia Millia Islamia on 11th and 12th November, 2022.

6-Member, organizing committee, First Sikh History Congress organized from 5th-7th January, 2023.

1-Kumar, Tarun. 2008. Development of Archaeology in India and Korea: A Comparative Historiographical Perspective, in Sushila Narsimhan and Kim Do Young (ed.) India and Korea: Bridging the Gaps. New Delhi, Manak.

2-Kumar, Tarun. 2014. Antiquity, Interaction and Accommodation of Buddhism in Ancient Korea, in Sushila Narsimhan and Kim Do Young (ed.) Growing Synergy Between India and Korea. New Delhi, Manak.

3-Kumar, Tarun. 2015. Corruption in Administration: Evaluating the Kautilyan Antecedents, in Arvind Gupta, P.K. Gautam and Saurabh Mishra (ed.) Indigenous Historical Knowledge: Kautilya and His Vocabulary. New Delhi, Pentagon Press.

4-Kumar, Tarun. 2016. Comparative Survey of Subsistence Strategies of Megalithic Cultures in the Indian Subcontinent and the Korean Peninsula, in Sushila Narsimhan and Kim Do Young (ed.) Evolving Indo-Korea Relations: Perspectives on South Asia.  New Delhi, Manak. (ISBN: 9789378314193)

5-Kumar, Tarun. 2017. The Curious Case of Bodhisiri: Understanding Lay Patronage to Buddhism in the Early Historic Nagarjunakonda Valley, in Central Indian Journal of Historical and Archaeological Research, 6 (21), pp. 1-5. (ISSN: 2277-4157)

6-Kumar, Tarun. 2018. Development Imperatives and the Practice of Archaeology: A Case Study of India and South Korea, in Sushila Narsimhan and Kim Do Young (ed.) Act East: Transitions in India’s Engagement with South Korea.(ISBN: 9789378314636)

7-Kumar, Tarun. 2020. A Comparative Study of Approach to Rescue Excavations and Future Directions of Archaeology in South Korea and India, in Sushila Narsimhan and Kim Do Young (ed.) Understanding South Korea: Perspectives From India, New Delhi: Manak. (ISBN: 9789378314902)

1-Topper, BA Honours, 3rd Year, Sri Venkateswara Colllege

2-Bhasin Memorial Prize for topper, MA (Previous), Hindu College

3-Topper in MA (Overall), Delhi University (North Campus)

4-Appointed as University Teaching Assistantship (UTA) in the History Department for four years (2007-11) by the Selection Committee, Delhi University.   

1-Indian History Congress (Annual Member)

2-Researchers' Association for the Study of Korea (Core Member, Executive)

1-One-Month Online National Faculty Induction Programme/Orientation Course organized by GAD-TLC, SGTB Khalsa College, DU (Delhi) under the aegis of (PMMMNMTT) of Ministry of Education, Govt. of India from 25th February to 27th March 2023.

2-Online Two-Week Interdisciplinary Refresher Course on the Theme “Revisiting Kautilya’s Arthashastra” organized by TLC, Ramanujan College, DU (Delhi), under the aegis of (PMMMNMTT) of Ministry of Education, Govt. of India 6th December 20th December 2023.

3-Participated in a Two-Day Faculty Empowerment Workshop on Basic ICT Tools held at Guru Angad Dev Teaching Learning Centre of MHRD, SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, 13-14 July, 2018.

4-Participated in One Day National Seminar cum Workshop on e-CONTENT, MOOCs (SWAYAM) and ARPIT, jointly organised by All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and Guru Angad Dev Teaching Learning Centre of MHRD at SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi on 31-08-2019.

5-Participated in a workshop on Early Historical Thought in Eurasian Context held in the University of Chicago Centre in Delhi, 13-9-2019.

6-Participated in a Symposium via Webinar on The Arthasastra: New Directions in Research organized by Vivekanand International Foundation on 6 August, 2020.

7-Participated in One Day Workshop on Korean History titled “Introduction to Korean History in India” organized by the Department of Foreign Languages, Jamia Millia Islamia (Delhi) in collaboration with the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) on 21st February, 2023.

8-Participated in One Day Workshop on “Assistive and Accessible Reading Materials for Visually Impaired Students” organized by the History Department, SGTB Khalsa College on 27th March 2023.