A. Yuval Noah Harari
B. William Dalrymple
C. Shashi Tharoor
D. Ramachandra Guha

The book “The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World” won historian William Dalrymple the 2026 Mark Lynton History Prize. The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University and the Columbia Journalism School gave the $10,000 prize.

The book’s combination of “literary grace, commitment to serious research and social concern” was acknowledged by the prize committee. The citation of the judges described it as a “perspective-shifting book that places India at the centre of ancient Asian history,” pointing out that following Dalrymple, “it will be difficult to discuss the Silk Road connecting China and the West without also considering the importance of the Golden Road, which spread India’s influence west and east through trade, religion, and math”.