Research Expertise and Interest

literary theory, South and Southeast Asian studies, Sanskrit literature, Indian epic studies, and psychoanalytically oriented cultural studies

Research Description

Robert Goldman is professor of the graduate school in the Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies, and the Catherine and William L. Magistretti Distinguished Professor of Sanskrit.  His areas of scholarly interest include Sanskrit literature and literary theory, Indian Epic Studies, and psychoanalytically oriented cultural studies. He has published widely in these areas, authoring several books and dozens of scholarly articles. He is perhaps best known for his work as the Director, General Editor, and a principal translator of a massive and fully annotated translation of the critical edition of the Valmiki Ramayana. His work has been recognized by several awards and fellowships including election as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was awarded the President's Certificate of Honour (International) for Sanskrit by the President of India in 2013 and the World Sanskrit Award by the Indian Council on Cultural Relations in 2017.