Arthur Basham (1914-86) was one of the world's foremost scholars of ancient Indian culture and religion. His account of the origins and development of classical Hinduism compiled and expanded posthumously, represents a lifetime of sturdy and reflection on the subject.

The late A.L. Basham, a distinguished scholar of South Asia, was the author of many books, among them The Wonder That Was India, and The History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas.
Kenneth G. Zysk, a former student of Basham's, is Assistant Professor of Near Eastern Languages and Literature at New York University. His books include Asceticism and Healing in Ancient India (Oxford, 1991) and Religious Healing in the Veda (1985).