Overview
Akhil Gupta is an Indian-American anthropologist whose academic work has focused on questions of state, bureaucracy, development and globalisation, with particular reference to India. He is associated with cultural anthropology and South Asian studies in the American academy.
Key facts
| Name | Akhil Gupta |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian-American |
| Field | Cultural anthropology |
| Region of study | South Asia, with a focus on India |
Background
Gupta is part of a generation of South Asian-origin scholars who have shaped the anthropological study of India in the United States. His research engages with how the modern state is experienced in everyday life, particularly through interactions between citizens and lower levels of administration.
Academic work
His scholarship has examined themes such as:
- The ethnography of the state and bureaucratic practice in India.
- Rural development, agrarian change and questions of poverty.
- Globalisation, transnationalism and the cultural politics of postcolonial societies.
- Questions of space, place and locality in anthropological theory.
Significance
Gupta is recognised for contributing to anthropological debates that link ethnographic methods with broader theoretical questions about governance and globalisation. His writings are widely cited in syllabi on the anthropology of the state, development studies and South Asian studies.
Related topics
- Anthropology of India
- South Asian Studies
- Cultural Anthropology
- Ethnography of the State
- Indian diaspora in the United States
References
- Wikidata entry: Q4700737