Dr. Yukteshwar Kumar, a distinguished sinologist and Senior Academic, currently serves as the Course Director of the Chinese stream at the University of Bath. Beyond his academic contributions, Dr. Kumar has made history as the first Asian Deputy Mayor of Bath, showcasing his dedication to bringing about meaningful change. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being the first individual of Indian heritage elected as a councillor in the city of Bath, UK.
With over 31 years of experience in the Higher Education field, including at Tianjin, Beijing, Changsha, Santiniketan, Delhi University, and JNU in India, Dr. Kumar is a recognized expert on China affairs. He has been a Nehru Fellow at Peking University and has received numerous awards, scholarships, and honors. Fluent in Chinese, English, Hindi, and Bengali, he recently translated a book from Chinese into English, Hindi, and Bengali. Dr. Kumar has actively contributed to electronic and print media, authoring numerous articles, book chapters, and research papers.
In recognition of his influential contributions, Dr. Yukteshwar Kumar was chosen as the most influential person in the city by the Bath Chronicle in 2020. His impact extends to philanthropy, as evidenced by the establishment of a library in his name in Bihar in November 2023.