Kapil Kapoor, Scholar and Professor
Scholar and Professor

Kapil Kapoor

Born 17 November 1940 · verify

Editor-in-Chief of the 11-Volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism published in 2012.

Kapil Kapoor is an Indian scholar of History linguistics and literature and an authority on Indian intellectual traditions. He is former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and served as professor at the Centre for Linguistics and English, and at the Centre for Sanskrit Studies there before retiring in 2005. He is Editor-in-Chief of the 11-Volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism published by Rupa & Co. in 2012.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Kapil Kapoor supervised 41 PhD and 36 MPhil scholars over his 52-year teaching career, a remarkable mentorship record in Indian linguistics and literary studies.

The Story

1
🌟 Born in Amritsar in 1940, Kapil Kapoor's family relocated to Phagwara after Partition, setting a backdrop of displacement that colored his early years and scholarly pursuits.
2
From 1962 to 1971, Kapoor taught at Delhi University before moving to Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1972, where he shaped linguistic and literary studies for over three decades.
3As Dean of the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies at JNU (1996–1999), and later as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (1999–2002), he influenced university governance during pivotal years of academic expansion.
4📚 Kapoor edited the monumental 11-volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism published in 2012, a rare scholarly feat encapsulating centuries of Indian intellectual traditions.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Shri

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Kapil Kapoor delivered a lecture in the UK House of Lords in 2008 on ‘Democracy and Polity’, highlighting Indian philosophical perspectives to a British political audience.

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Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Kapil Kapoor at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I receiving the Padma Bhushan award in New Delhi (2023)
Kapil Kapoor at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I receiving the Padma Bhushan award in New Delhi (2023)
2023

🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Born in Amritsar, Punjab
Kapil Kapoor was born in Amritsar, Punjab Province, India; his family later moved to Phagwara after Partition.
1940
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Career
Started teaching at Delhi University
Kapoor began his academic career as a teacher at Delhi University, holding positions until 1971.
1962
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Career
Joined Jawaharlal Nehru University
Kapoor became Professor of English at JNU’s Centre for Linguistics and English and concurrently at the Centre for Sanskrit Studies.
1972
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Career
Became Dean at JNU
Served as Dean of the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies at JNU until 1999.
1996
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Career
Appointed Rector (Pro-Vice-Chancellor) at JNU
Held the position of Pro-Vice-Chancellor from 1999 to 2002, overseeing academic administration.
1999
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Career
Retired from JNU
Kapoor retired after 33 years at JNU but continued active academic and editorial work.
2005
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Publication
Published Encyclopedia of Hinduism
Edited and released the 11-volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism through Rupa & Co.
2012
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Career
Became Chairperson of IIAS Shimla
Appointed chairperson of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, guiding research on Indian intellectual traditions.
2018
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Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Received the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, recognizing his contributions to education and scholarship.
2023
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He was Editor-in-Chief of the UNESCO-sponsored Encyclopaedia of Indian Poetics, a project under publication, linking global cultural heritage with Indian literary theory.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Kapoor's family originally hailed from Lyallpur (now in Pakistan) before resettling in Kapurthala district, reflecting the upheavals of Partition on personal histories of Indian scholars.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 2010, the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthana Nyasa honored Kapoor specifically for his contributions to Indian education, a detail often overshadowed by his academic output.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Indian Knowlegde System - Prof. Kapil Kapoor
More from this archive
Indian Knowlegde System - Prof. Kapil Kapoor
01
Indian Knowlegde System - Prof. Kapil Kapoor
Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Ka Dharm Aur Bharat ke Liye Balidaan | Prof. Kapil Kapoor
02
Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Ka Dharm Aur Bharat ke Liye Balidaan | Prof. Kapil Kapoor
Brahmin Ka Dharm Aur Humara Dayitv | Prof. Kapil Kapoor | Sangam Talks
03
Brahmin Ka Dharm Aur Humara Dayitv | Prof. Kapil Kapoor | Sangam Talks

🌱 What changed because of them

Kapil Kapoor's editorial work on the Encyclopedia of Hinduism created an unprecedented scholarly resource that continues to inform academic and public understanding of Indian traditions. His efforts at JNU helped institutionalize Sanskrit and Indic studies, bridging classical knowledge with modern research. Additionally, his role in shaping language policy influenced how India approaches multilingual education and preservation of classical languages.

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