Manu S. Pillai is a renowned Indian historian and writer celebrated for making Indian history both accessible and intellectually compelling. Known for his distinctive narrative voice, he brings the grandeur, complexity, and contradictions of India’s past to life through deeply researched, engagingly written works.

He made a powerful debut with The Ivory Throne, which explored the life of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi and the Travancore royal family. The book won several awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar. His subsequent titles like Rebel Sultans, The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin, False Allies, and Gods, Guns & Missionaries have further established him as one of the most important voices in contemporary Indian historical writing.

Educated in Pune and London, Manu holds a PhD in history and has also served as a researcher, political staffer, and columnist. His essays often address themes such as identity, nationalism, and historical memory, challenging simplistic narratives and encouraging nuanced perspectives on India’s past. Through his storytelling, Manu S. Pillai connects the past to the present, making history not just informative, but essential for understanding today’s India.