A prominent scholar of Asia in the studies of South India
Noboru Karashima
Prof. Emeritus, University of Tokyo
Prof. Emeritus, University of Tokyo
Professor Noboru Karashima, former Professor of Indian Studies at the University of Tokyo, who, in the last three decades has made valuable contributions to historical research in South India, especially the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagara eras, from roughly the eighth to the 16th centuries.
Karashima was the first scholar to initiate computerised analysis of Indian epigraphical data as seen in his work, A Concordance of the Names in the Chola Inscriptions (1973), and the broad multi-disciplinary study of South Indian's agrarian community as seen in his work Study of Village Communities in Indian History (1976).
His early articles addressed the regional emergence of early South Indian agrarian communities that culminated in the Chola era as seen in his work South Indian History and Society — Studies from Inscriptions A.D. 850-1800 (1984).
Later in his career Karashima extended his interest to the transitions in South Indian society that were concurrent with the era of Vijayanagar rule as seen in his work Towards a New Formation: South Indian Society Under Vijayanagar Rule (1992). Most recently Karashima turned his attention to the historical data on the Indian communities that were in contact with South East Asia (Historical Dimensions of State and Society in S.E. Asia, (1992).
From the above, one can see the long and abiding interest that he has been taking in the South Indian historical and cultural studies and also initiating analytical approach based on hard data derived from intensive study of a vast number of inscriptions.
In honour of his significant services, he was elected president of the Epigraphical Society of India in 1985 and president of the International Association in Tamil Research for 1989-95 and president of the Historical Society of Japan, 1993.
To him also goes the credit of popularising South Indian studies in Japan by initiating many of his students to the field and also arrange for the exchange of scholars and holding seminars.
Even after retirement from the University of Tokyo, he is keeping himself active by undertaking new project studies, the latest being on India's relations with South-East Asia.