Distinguished scholar and global authority on comparative religion, Prof. Arvind Sharma, has been honoured with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, in the category of Literature and Education, recognizing his lifelong academic contributions and cultural scholarship from his base in Canada.
A former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer turned academician, Prof. Sharma has been a faculty member at prestigious institutions around the world and is currently the Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at McGill University, Montreal. With over four decades of teaching and research experience, he is known internationally for his work on Advaita Vedanta, interfaith dialogue, religious pluralism, and women in religion.
Author and editor of more than 50 books, his seminal works—such as Our Religions, Women in World Religions, and Feminism and World Religions—have become essential reading in the study of global faith systems. His efforts have helped foster dialogue between Eastern and Western philosophies and promoted a deeper understanding of Indian spiritual traditions across the globe.
Reacting to the recognition, Prof. Sharma said:
“This honour reaffirms the importance of scholarly bridges between cultures. I am humbled to see my work resonate with readers and researchers across the world.”
Prof. Sharma’s Padma Shri highlights the growing global recognition of India’s intellectual heritage and celebrates his role in deepening cross-cultural understanding through education and literature.
His award not only honours a remarkable career but also symbolizes the enduring power of scholarship to unite diverse traditions through respect, reason, and reflection.
