Irish, Indian historians share humanities prize
December 03, 2008 18:21 EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Irish historian Peter R. L. Brown and Indian historian Romila Thapar have been chosen as co-recipients of the $1 million John W. Kluge Prize, a Library of Congress achievement award for the study of humanities.

Brown and Thapar were named Wednesday for work providing a broader understanding of human development in past cultures.

Brown, a 73-year-old Princeton University professor, was recognized for work on the transition between classical and modern civilizations.

Thapar, a 77-year-old emeritus professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, was honored for work showing Indian civilization as more pluralistic than was widely accepted.

They will receive the award Dec. 10 at the Library of Congress and share the prize money.