Peshawar University teacher honoured with Ashoka Award in London

PESHAWAR: Prof. Gul Rahim Khan has been awarded the prestigious Oriental Numismatic Society (ONS) Ashoka Prize 2025 in London for the best paper published in the journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society (JONS) during 2025.

This distinguished international recognition celebrates his outstanding scholarly contribution through the research paper titled “Attribution of Coins to the Queens of the Utpala Dynasty of Medieval Kashmir (JONS 260).”

Speaking to Dawn regarding the international recognition, Mr. Rahim Khan emphasised the broader historical weight of ancient coinage in understanding the region’s past. “Numismatics is not merely about studying old coins or rare metals; coins are metallic documents that offer authentic evidence where written chronicles fall silent,” Dr. Gul Rahim said. “Attributing these specific coins to the queens of the Utpala Dynasty helps us re-examine the socio-political status, governance and powerful agency of female rulers in medieval Kashmir, which has often been overlooked in conventional historical narratives.”

A prominent figure in South Asian archaeology, Prof. Gul Rahim Khan has dedicated over three decades to higher education, archaeological exploration and academic leadership. Over the course of his distinguished career, he rose to become a senior Professor in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Peshawar. He earned his doctorate specialising in ancient coinage and advanced his research through international academic engagements including research work associated with the British Museum in London and initiatives supported by the Smithsonian Institution.

Throughout his prolific academic journey, Prof. Gul Rahim Khan has contributed significantly to decoding ancient monetary systems and trade routes across Gandhara and neighboring regions. His extensive publications serve as crucial reference material for researchers worldwide. Beyond his published papers, his multi-year excavations at the historic Hayatabad site in Peshawar brought to light early urban industrial complexes, further cementing Peshawar’s importance on the global archaeological map.

Reflecting on the future of archaeological research in Pakistan, he told Dawn, “Pakistan’s rich soil holds invaluable chapters of world heritage. International honors like the Ashoka Prize demonstrate that our academic research meets global standards, but we must continue training young scholars to preserve and decipher this heritage using modern scientific methodologies.”

The award stands as a testament to his commitment to numismatics.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026 ...