Professor Rachel Dwyer awarded an honorary D. ...

16 April 2020

I am delighted to announce that Professor Rachel Dwyer has been awarded an honorary D.Litt by the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne for her contribution to the study of Indian culture and cinema. The investiture ceremony will take place in November.

I want to add a personal note to this celebratory news. I first came to SOAS in 1996 to learn Gujarati with Rachel. Her hand was the first I had ever seen writing a non-European script. It was an exhilarating rush, and, although I was not the best of her students, the world has never been the same for me again.

Rachel has been a figure of tremendous importance for SOAS over the years, one of our best-known scholars, keen networker and passionate advocate. In South Asia and North America when asked where I work, the response is usually ‘ah, so then you must know Rachel’. Rare abilities with language and film and ten books underpin her academic reputation; at dinner, unforgiving wit, conversational grace and generous hospitality have led to a huge collection of friends and admirers.

Recent ill-health has slowed her down, but a much-deserved honorary doctorate and warm best wishes from all at SSAI and SOAS will hopefully bring some cheer in these challenging times.

Edward Simpson on behalf of SSAI Colleagues and Members