Dr. Deepak Shimkhada has impeccable academic credentials. He was born in Nepal and trained in Nepal, India, and the United States of America. After earning a B.F.A. degree in painting, and an M.A. in art criticism from the University of Baroda, India, Dr. Shimkhada was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to pursue post-graduate studies in art history in the U.S. Dr. Shimkhada’s academic disciplines span a wide gamut, from painting to art criticism, and from art history to education, and to religion. As a result, he has happily married all those disciplines, as his publications and teaching careers demonstrate. Highly decorated and well-respected in his respective fields, Dr. Shimkhada is a sought-after expert in South Asian art, culture, and religion. He has been a regular guest on History Channel’s popular show Ancient Aliens and Australia’s 72 Dangerous Animals— Asia. Additionally, B.B.C. Radio-London has interviewed him for its Natural History Series.
Dr. Shimkhada has an excellent academic background: Ph.D. Claremont Graduate University, California, 2001; M.A. University of Southern California, California, 1975; M.F.A. University of Baroda, India, 1971; B.F.A. University of Baroda, India, 1968. The well-reputed scholar has obtained a number of grants and fellowships such as the 2018 Chaffey Foundation Grant, Chaffey College, 2008 T.R.C. Mini-Grant, 2007 Irvine Diversity Grant, 2006 T.R.C. Mini-Grant, 2005 Irvine Diversity Grant, 2005 Fitness Grant, 2004 Irvine Diversity Grant, 2003 Fitness Grant, 1989 Council of South Asia Grant, Association for Asian Studies, 1985 Research Grant, Buddhist Association of North America, 1980 Graduate Students Alumni Research Award, Ohio State University, 1978-1979 Junior Research Fellowship, American Institute of Indian Studies, 1974-1977 Tuition Fellowship, University of Chicago, 1972-1974 Fulbright Fellow, U.S. Department of State, 1968-1970 Senior Cultural Fellow, Government of India, 1962-1968 Junior Cultural Fellow, Government of India.
Due to his extraordinary contribution to the field, he has been awarded with several prestigious awards, recognition, and citations: the 2016 Fisher-Adjunct Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Claremont School of Theology, 2008 Distinguished Alumni Service Award, presented by the President of Claremont Graduate University, during its 81st Commencement Ceremony, May 17, 1970, Mention for best entry in painting category from Nepal, in the Triennale of World Contemporary Art, India, 1969 Certificate Award in painting, during the annual juried exhibition of paintings and graphics by Nepal Association of Fine Arts, Kathmandu.
As head of the Himalayan Arts Council, Indic Foundation, Asian Studies on the Pacific Coast, and South Asian Studies Association, Dr. Shimkhada has organized several conferences and seminars. He has presented papers and chaired panels at many of them.
He has served on various professional, national, and international organizations as an office bearer. For example, he was the founding President of the Himalayan Arts Council at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, California; Asian Studies on the Pacific Coast; Indic Foundation; and the South Asian Studies Association. He also curated exhibitions at Pacific Asia Museum; Palos Verdes Art Center; Montgomery Art Gallery, Pomona College; and the Humanities Art Museum, Scripps College.
As an artist, Dr. Shimkhada has exhibited his artworks nationally and internationally. His last one-person show of paintings and graphics was held in Chicago in 1977. He is also the recipient of several national awards and mentions in painting. His works have been sold to many connoisseurs in Asia, Europe, America, and Mexico.
Dr. Shimkhada is the author of Nepal: Nostalgia and Modernity, Marg Publishers, Mumbai, 2011;
The Constant and Changing Faces of the Goddess— Goddess Traditions of Asia (Deepak Shimkhada and Phyllis K. Herman edited), Cambridge Scholars Press, Cambridge, England, 2008;
The Himalayas at the Crossroads: Portrait of a Changing World (edited), Pacific Asia Museum:
Pasadena, California, 1987; Popular Buddhist Mantras in Sanskrit (co-authored with Shih Pei Lai, Mahayana Vihara Press: Taipei), 1985.
Additionally, numerous papers in art journals and several book chapters have been published. He is the author of several edited books, published both in the U.S. and Europe.