Kevin McGrath

Kevin McGrath serves as an Associate of the Department of South Asian Studies at Harvard University and Poet in Residence at Harvard's Lowell House, establishing himself as a leading authority on the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. His scholarly contributions include eight major works on the epic: "The Sanskrit Hero" (2004), "Stri" (2009), "Jaya" (2011), "Heroic Krsna" (2013), "Arjuna Pandava" (2016), "Raja Yudhisthira" (2017), "Bhisma Devavrata" (2018), and "Vyasa Redux" (2019). McGrath combines academic research with field studies in the Kacch of Western Gujarat, where he examines kinship patterns, landscape relationships, and migration dynamics. His work uniquely bridges ancient literary analysis with contemporary anthropological research, particularly focusing on heroic figures in Bronze Age preliterate and premonetary cultures. As a poet, he has published several collections including "Eroica," "Supernature," "Windward," "Eros," and "Song of the Republic," demonstrating his ability to merge scholarly insight with creative expression. His memoir "In the Kacch" provides personal insights into his fieldwork experiences, reflecting his comprehensive approach to understanding both ancient texts and living traditions