Rajesh Kharat is Founder Director, School of International Relations and Strategic Studies, University of Mumbai and Dean, Faculty of Humanities, University of Mumbai (on Deputation), and Professor and former Chairperson, Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi. He has an MA in Political Science from the University of Poona, and has completed his M.Phil. and PhD from CSAS, SIS, JNU, New Delhi. He began his teaching career at the University of Mumbai in 1991 and taught at JNU for 30 years. He has published five books and more than 30 research articles in international and national journals and edited volumes on various themes of contemporary South Asia.