Prof. Ashok Modak is Chancellor, Guru Ghasidas Central University, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. Having done M.A first in Economics and later in Political Science, he did his Ph.D. in Soviet studies. Subsequently, he became Reader in the Centre for Soviet Studies of Mumbai University. From 1994 to 2006, Prof. Modak worked as Member of Legislative Council of Maharashtra. After the expiry of his membership of Legislative Council, University of Mumbai invited him to be an Adjunct Professor in the Centre for Central Eurasian Studies. From 2015 to 2020, the Government of India offered him national research professorship. Recipient of several awards including Best Parliamentarian Award, Prof. Modak has written 38 books and more than 200 research papers. He has done research in New Delhi, Moscow, The Hague, London and Dubrovnik in former Yugoslavia.