Professor Shireen Moosvi is a distinguished Indian historian celebrated for her pioneering work on the economic history of India, particularly the Mughal Empire. Her scholarship is characterised by a commitment to secular, evidence-based interpretations that rigorously challenge communal and politically motivated narratives. By meticulously analysing primary sources, including imperial revenue records, contemporary travel accounts, and demographic data, she has reconstructed a nuanced picture of India’s pre-colonial past. Professor Moosvi’s research focuses on critical themes like taxation, trade networks, agrarian systems, historical demography, and the role of gender. A hallmark of her methodology is the integration of Marxist historical perspectives with quantitative analysis, a combination that has brought new depth and precision to the study of the Mughal economy.
Her professional career was anchored at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), where she served on the faculty for over four decades, retiring as the senior-most professor in the Department of History. During her tenure, she held key leadership roles, including Chairman of the Department and Secretary of the Aligarh Historians Society. In these capacities, she was instrumental in fostering a climate of scientific historical inquiry and organising influential academic forums. Mentored by the eminent historian Professor Irfan Habib, she has been a central figure in the “Aligarh school” of historiography, collaborating with peers to advance inclusive and data-driven historical understanding.
Professor Moosvi’s influence extends globally and nationally. She has been recognised with prestigious international appointments, including a Senior Fulbright Fellowship in the United States and a Resident Fellowship at the Bellagio Centre in Italy, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation. In India, her expertise has been sought by national institutions; she served for three terms on the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology and has held the highest leadership positions within the Indian History Congress, including Sectional President, General President, and Vice President. She also co-edits the SAGE journal Studies in People’s History.
Her body of published work is both extensive and impactful. Her seminal book, Economy of the Mughal Empire, c. 1595: A Statistical Study, is a landmark achievement that provides a comprehensive quantitative analysis of Mughal agriculture, trade, and population based on a critical reading of the Ain-i-Akbari. In People, Taxation, and Trade in Mughal India, she expanded on these themes using new sources to examine revenues, prices, and social issues. Her scholarship also extends into the colonial period through edited volumes such as Agrarian Poverty in Colonial Uttar Pradesh and Facets of the Great Revolt 1857. Her numerous accolades, including the National Career Award from the University Grants Commission, underscore her significant and lasting legacy in the field of Indian history.