Pushpesh Pant is a celebrated Indian academic, food critic, historian, and author, best known for his expertise in Indian cuisine and cultural history. A retired professor of International Relations at JNU, he has also been a prolific columnist for Forbes, Outlook, and Times of India. His acclaimed works include India: The Cookbook, Lazzatnama, and Classic Cooking of Punjab. He has appeared on popular shows like Raja, Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniyaan and anchored many food and travel documentaries. For his contributions, he has been honored with the Padma Shri (2016) and Honoris Causa D.Litt. (2024).