Ashoka Professor Seema Alavi Wins the Monsoon Book Prize in Political Economy

Dr Seema Alavi, Professor of History, Ashoka University has been awarded the prestigious Monsoon Book Prize in Political Economy. Dr Alavi received this honour as a recognition for her extraordinary work in the book Muslim Cosmopolitanism in the Age of Empire, which explores the interconnected histories of the Indian Ocean region, shedding light on the cultural, political, and economic dynamics that shaped its legacy.

The book stood out for its originality, accessibility, and profound exploration of Muslim cosmopolitanism within the imperial context. The committee commended Dr Alavi’s work for enriching Indian Ocean studies and promoting a nuanced understanding of the region’s living heritage.

“I  am both thrilled and humbled to receive the prestigious Monsoon Award for my book that showcases the interconnected history of the Indian Ocean world with the spotlight on Indian Muslim men of learning who straddled its vast canvas. I am happy that the book’s focus on Delhi, Istanbul, Mecca and Cairo as global hotspots around which world history should be written has been recognised. As has been its message to write global history in non-Eurocentric ways.” – Dr Seema Alavi. 

The Monsoon Book Prizes is hosted by Georgia State University and sponsored by the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech). Along with the prestigious title, the award includes a $4,000 cash prize and an invitation to present her research at the awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia, in April 2025.

The book had earlier won an Honourable Mention in the 2016 Albert Hourani Award by the Middle East Studies Association, USA, for bringing South Asian Studies into conversation with the history of the Middle East. 

Dr Alavi’s accomplishment inspires young scholars to explore uncharted territories in historical research and contribute to building a more interconnected world.