McKim Marriott (February 1, 1924 – July 3, 2024) was an American anthropologist who specialized in Indian society.
Despite training as an Indologist, Marriott felt existing Western academic disciplines were inadequate for capturing the essence of Indian culture.
He criticized Western categories which often present obstacles to understanding peoples, and he elaborated alternative models for studying differing cultural realities.
He was celebrated for his dedication to cultural sensitivity and his ability to bridge the gap between Western and Indian perspectives.
A felicitation ceremony at the University of Chicago Smart Museum marked his 90th birthday, where colleagues and former students acknowledged his lasting influence.