Bipan Chandra, recipient of the Padma Bhushan, was born in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. He was educated at Forman Christian College, Lahore and at Stanford University, California. He was Professor of Modern History at Jawaharlal Nehru-University (JNU), New Delhi, where he is currently Professor Emeritus. He was honoured as National Professor and was also the Chairperson of the National Book Trust. Professor Chandra authored several books on nationalism, colonialism and communalism in modern India.