Tan Chung
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Tan Chung
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1929|4|18}}
| birth_place = Matubahar, Johore, Malaya
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Scholar, Sino-Indian relations specialist
| nationality =
| notableworks =
| spouse = Huang I-Shu
| children =
| awards = 2010: Padma Bhusan
}}
Tan Chung (born 18 April 1929, in Matubahar, JohorChung Tan (ed.), In the Footsteps of Xuanzang: Tan Yun-shan and India (Gyan Books, 1999; {{ISBN|8121206308}}), p. 4.) is an authority on Chinese history, Sino-Indian relations and cultural exchange. He has been a doyen of Chinese cultural studies in India for nearly half a century.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/08/stories/2008120850870200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103171443/http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/08/stories/2008120850870200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 November 2012 |title=New Delhi News : A doyen of Chinese cultural studies |access-date=2009-02-02 |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |date=8 December 2008}}
Early life
After initial education in China came to Santiniketan in 1955. On completing his Ph D from Visva Bharati University, taught in NDA, Khadakvasla, then joined Delhi University as professor of Chinese and became head of the department of Chinese and Japanese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. His wife, Huang I-Shu, taught Chinese at Delhi University.{{cite web | url = http://ignca.gov.in/divisionss/kalakosa/kalasamalocana/in-the-footsteps-of-xuanzang-tan-yun-shan-and-india/| title = In the Footsteps of Zuangzang: Tan Yun-Shan and India |work=Life sketch of Tan Yun-Shan by Tan Lee | publisher = Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts |access-date = 17 August 2019}}
Career
Tan Chung taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the University of Delhi for many years. His father, Tan Yun-Shan (1898-1983), was the founder of Cheena Bhavana at Santiniketan and a key figure driving Nationalist China's interactions with the Indian freedom movement during the 1930s and 1940s.{{cite journal|last=Tsui|first=B.|title=The Plea for Asia--Tan Yunshan, Pan-Asianism and Sino-Indian Relations|journal=China Report|year=2010|volume=46|issue=4|pages=353–370|doi=10.1177/000944551104600403|s2cid=145420931}} After Tan Chung's retirement from JNU in 1994, he worked as a research professor at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi and currently lives in Chicago, United States. He has been Honorary Director of the ICS/Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi.
A conference in his honor, at the occasion of his 80th birthday, was held in New Delhi in December 2008.{{cite news | url=http://blogs.thehindu.com/delhi/?p=8163 | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu| title=THread - the Hindu Blog }}
Awards
In 2010, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour by the Govt. of India{{cite press release |title=This Year's Padma Awards announced |url=http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=57307 |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs |date=25 January 2010 |access-date=25 January 2010}} and the China-India Friendship Award by the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the same year.{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/karan-singh-turns-down-china-award-72856 |title=Karan Singh turns down China award |date=December 16, 2010 |website=ndtv.com}}
In June 2013, Yunnan Academy of Social Science conferred upon him the honorary Fellowship of the academy.{{cite web | url=http://www.sky.yn.gov.cn/dtxx/ynxx/5719207722844135286 | title=我院授予谭中教授荣誉院士称号 | date=13 June 2013 | publisher=Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences | language=zh | access-date=29 January 2019 }}
In December 2013, Visva-Bharati University conferred Deshikhottama (D.Litt. and the highest honor of the university) upon Professor Tan Chung.
In August 2018, Sage Published his book on understanding China, China: A 5,000-year Odyssey and has received excellent reviews from leading scholars in the world.{{cite book |isbn=978-9352807246|title=China: A 5,000-year Odyssey |last1=Chung |first1=Padma Bhushan Tan |date=31 July 2018 }}
References
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{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–19}}
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Category:Academic staff of Delhi University
Category:People associated with Santiniketan
Category:Academic staff of Jawaharlal Nehru University
Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education
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