Asok Nath Parida, retired Professor and Head of the Post Graduate Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha is very much appreciated in the academic world because of his vast academic, research and teaching experience in the field of archaeology and ancient history. A man of noble character, a teacher par excellence, an inspirer of youth, a man of strong determination and practical outlook, he has been always a friend, philosopher and guide to the student community. A renowned scholar. a living symbol of hard work, commitment and dedication, a staunch believer in God, a kind-hearted, generous and true gentleman, an ideal academician, his life will serve as a source of inspiration to others. It is with this fervour and vision that he along with late Prof. K. S. Behera planted and nurtured the sapling of the Post Graduate Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology at Utkal University, Bhubaneswar in the year 1996 and saw it growing and flourishing all these years.
After completing an illustrious academic career of 36 years, he was superannuated from University service in November, 2008. Since then we have been seriously thinking of this dedicated scholar and teacher, and wondering how best we can do to acknowledge his contributions to the cause of teaching and research. When we unanimously decided to bring out this felicitation volume and send circulars for research papers, we received quite overwhelming response from his colleagues, friends, students as well as admirers as they readily agreed to contribute their articles for the proposed volume. We acknowledge our gratitude and thankfulness to all the contributors for their learned articles without which the present volume could not have seen the light of the day. But unfortunately we found it almost impossible to accommodate all the papers and were compelled to shortlist in terms of standard and quality for inclusion in this volume, though it was an unpleasant job. We regret it very much.
While honouring this distinguished scholar, an humble endeavour has been made in this felicitation volume to represent with research papers on the latest trends, developments and current scenario of Indian history, culture and archaeology. The volume is enriched with fifty two research papers and broadly divided into seven sections, ie, Section-A: Excavation, Section-B: Exploration: Section-C: Prehistoric Archaeology; Section-D: Historical Archaeology; Section-E: Epigraphy and Numismatics; Section-F: Art and Architecture; and Section-G: Miscellaneous. The uniqueness and main characteristic feature of this volume lies with all the articles of first three sections and some selected articles of other sections which contain first hand and basic information yielded through systematic and scientific spadework and meticulous field study undertaken by the authors which may serve as primary source materials for reconstruction of indian history and archaeology.
The volume begins with a Special Section containing an illustrated report on the sensational discoveries from archaeological excavations at Sanauli, District Baghpat, UP, contributed by Sanjay Kumar Manjul and Arvin Manjul, the excavators of the site. Sanjay Kumar Manjul and Arvin Manjul are renowned personalities in world archaeology due to their epoch-making discoveries from the archeological excavations at 4 MSR(Binjor) and Sanauli. Their painstaking untiring efforts, systematic field work, microscopic observation, scientific analysis and logical conclusion enabled Indian archaeology to reach in its new heights. Both of them are household names in the country and abroad, and center of media attraction, both electronic and print, because of their world famous rare discoveries. The present informative report focuses upon their unique findings from two seasons (2017-18 and 2018-19) archaeological excavations at Sanauli like coffin burials along with chariots, weapons and other associated grave goods of the warrior communities. The excavations at Sanauli has added new dimensions to chalcolithic culture of Indian subcontinent and has revealed authentic data for fresh evaluation and interpretation of ancient Indian literature like the Vedas, the Mahabharata, etc; reinterpretation of Aryan theory, reassessment of previous excavation of 116 excavated burials at the same site in the year 2005-6 and Harappan burials exposed at various other sites; and cultural affiliation of Copper Hoard and OCP which was an enigma since long.
The Section-A of the volume contains nine thought-provoking comprehensive research papers on recent large scale excavations conducted in different parts of the country and contributed by the Directors of the concerned excavations and/or their team members. All these papers containing first hand primary information are in the shape of excavation reports and include different aspects of an excavated archaeological site like its location, natural setting and environment, stratification, analysis of excavated materials, antiquities, pottery, structures, reports on scientific analysis and dating, chronology and excavator's own observations. The section begins with the fascinating paper on archeological excavations at 4 MSR (Binjor), District Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, also contributed by Sanjay Kumar Manjul and Arvin Manjul, the excavators of the site. The paper is an outcome of their three seasons (2014 to 2017) meticulous field work at 4 MSR (Binjor) which has added new dimensions to Harappan culture. Though a rural settlement, the site was a major industrial center supporting the Harappan trade. The excavation at the site has revealed a continuous cultural sequence from 5 millennium BCE to 2nd millennium BCE, and showcases a gradual transformation from an agrarian to craft oriented society culminating in a full-fledged industrial settlement during Mature Harappan period. The scholarly paper contributed by M. Mahadevaiah, the Director of archaeological excavations at Kurugodu, District Bellary, Karnataka along with his team member N. Veeraraghavan highlights various aspects and findings of their two seasons' (2010-11 and 2011-12) field work at the site. The excavations conducted at the site has yielded a threefold cultural sequence ie., (i) Neolithic culture (c. 2200-1800 BC), (ii) Neo-Chalcolithic culture (c. 1800-1200 BC), and (iii) Iron Age culture (c. 1200-800 BC).
Hindu (935)
Agriculture (118)
Ancient (1086)
Archaeology (753)
Architecture (563)
Art & Culture (910)
Biography (702)
Buddhist (544)
Cookery (167)
Emperor & Queen (565)
Islam (242)
Jainism (307)
Literary (896)
Mahatma Gandhi (372)
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