Dr Maria Misra is Associate Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford. Her writing and research is on the politics, culture and economics of 19th and 20th century imperialism and colonialism, focussed particularly on India and South Asia. Her current research centres on the Buddhist resurgence in Sri Lanka. 

Dr Misra has appeared in many TV and radio history documentaries, and on BBC's Question Time as an expert in Indian and South Asian affairs. She has written on issues of contemporary history and current affairs for Prospect, the New Stateman, the Guardian, The Times and the Financial Times. She is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Global History.