Burjor Avari | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1938 (age 86–87) |
| Died | 2019 Manchester |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Main interests | South Asian history |
| Notable works |
|
Burjor Avari (1938–2019) was a teacher ofSouth Asian history at theManchester Metropolitan University. He received anMBE in recognition of his work in multicultural education.
Avari was born to aZorastrianParsi family inNavsari, India in 1938 and spent his childhood inKenya andZanzibar. He graduated in history from theUniversity of Manchester and obtained teacher training from theOxford University's Institute of Education.[1][2]
Avari taught history in Kenyan and British schools from 1962 to 1984. He became the team leader for developing multicultural education in the schools ofTameside in 1984. In 1988, he was appointed as a principal lecturer atManchester Metropolitan University, where he coordinated multicultural education and taught Indian history. He was awarded the title ofMBE in 1988 for his work in multicultural education.[1][3]
Avari retired in 2003 and subsequently held the position of Honorary Research Fellow at the Manchester Metropolitan University.[4]
Books
Articles
India: The Ancient Past
Bhikhu Parekh called Avari'sIndia: The Ancient Past a balanced and well-researched book with lucid exposition.[1] Klaus Karttunen, while noting that Avari is not a professional historian, acknowledged that he used accounts by good historians for his sources and, when the sources were in disagreement, displayed sound judgement in describing them.[5] Muhammad Mughal ofDurham University also noted that Avari's account was based on the work of well-known historians. He termed Avari's approach to the Indian subcontinent as "holistic", tracing the history of the subcontinent through the geography of regions and culture. Mughal also credited Avari for successfully eliminating the perception that India has been isolated from the rest of the world by describing the intercultural communication that has left a mark on India's cultural patterns.[5][6]
Islamic Civilization in South Asia
Francis Robinson of Royal Holloway calledIslamic Civilization in South Asia a story extremely well told, stating that, working in heavily contested areas of history, Avari provided a well-balanced exposition.[4] Muhammad Mughal welcomed Avari's attempts to explore Muslim history in South Asia. He called his approach "innovative, comprehensive and unique in style". He pointed out that the book sheds light on the peace-loving and multicultural aspects of South Asian Muslims, which are often overlooked in political rhetoric.[7]
