Vijaya Ramaswamy is Professor of Ancient Indian History in Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she teaches economic history and the history of religion. Her area of specialization includes the weaving communities of south India. Professor Ramaswamy's publications include Textiles and Weavers in South India (1985, 2006), Divinity and Deviance: Women in Virasaivism (1996), Walking Naked: Women, Society, Spirituality in South India (1997, 2007), Re-searching Indian Women (2003).