Christophe Jaffrelot is a Professor of Indian Politics and Sociology at the King’s India Institute with a specialization in South Asian studies, particularly focused on India and Pakistan. He holds multiple prestigious positions, including Professor of Indian Politics and Sociology at the King’s India Institute, London, and Research Director at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS). Additionally, he serves as a professor at the Centre d’études et de recherches internationales (CERI) at Sciences Po, Paris, where he has also held the role of Director.
Educationally, Jaffrelot is a graduate of Sciences Po, Paris-I Panthéon-Sorbonne, and the Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO). He earned his doctorate in political science from Sciences Po in 1991 and subsequently received a post-doctoral Habilitation degree, demonstrating his academic rigor and expertise.
Throughout his career, Jaffrelot has made significant contributions to the study of South Asian politics and society. His research spans a wide array of topics including Indian nationalism, Hindu nationalism, caste dynamics in politics, ethnic conflicts, as well as Pakistani nationalism, Islamic fundamentalism, and geopolitical issues concerning Pakistan. His extensive body of work includes numerous publications, editorships of scholarly journals, and advisory roles for institutions such as the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CNRS.
Beyond academia, Jaffrelot is an influential figure in policy circles and media, contributing regularly to publications like The Indian Express and The Caravan. He has received several accolades for his scholarship, including the CNRS Bronze Medal and the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. His deep interest in South Asia was sparked early in his life and has been a driving force behind his impactful career in understanding and analyzing the region’s complex socio-political dynamics.