The field of Indian archaeology and heritage studies has come a long way since the time of Sir Alexander Cunningham (1814-1893 CE) pioneering British archaeologist and founder of the Archaeological Survey of India. He played a crucial role in systematically documenting India's historical sites, inscriptions, and ancient monuments, particularly bringing to light the lesser known Buddhist heritage of sites such as Sarnath and Sanchi of the early historic period. The year 2024-2025 is also a great milestone for Indian archacology as it also celebrates the centenary of the discovery of the Indus Valley civilisation which pushed back the antiquity of the Indian subcontinent still further by a few millennia into the Bronze Age. John Marshall, then Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in a watershed article on September 20, 1924, in The Illustrated London News heralded the discovery of the "civilisation of the Indus Valley' in his writeup 'First Light on a Long-forgotten civilisation: New discoveries of an unknown prehistoric past".
Since then, Indian archaeology has made significant strides in several directions with remarkable progress in the 75 years since independence. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and other organisations have conducted extensive excavations, uncovered new sites which have added immeasurably to the understanding of the past. It has been revealed that the expanse of the Bronze Age Indus Valley sites extended well into the north-western Indian regions with sites like Dholavira (Harappan civilization), and Rakhigarhi (Indus Valley), with intriguing Chalcolithic sites such as Sinauli in the Ganges Doab and Ahar. In Southern India as well, the antiquity has been pushed back with earlier dates for Neolithic and Iron Age sites and early urbanization at sites in Tamil Nadu such as Mayiladumparai, Keeladi, Sivagalai and Adichanallur and elsewhere in southern Indian. Conservation efforts have preserved UNESCO World Heritage sites including preserving and uncovering rare murals such as at Ajanta-Ellora, Brhadiswara, Hampi and Lepakshi.
Advances in technology, including satellite imaging and DNA analysis, have enhanced research. Greater insights have been obtained into material culture through archaeomaterials and archaeometallurgical researches. Such achievements have deepened our understanding of India's ancient past, reinforcing its cultural and historical legacy on the global stage. However, there has been more scope in the fields of historical and medieval archaeology towards bringing to light, aspects of tangible heritage and material culture which also have a lot of connections to living heritage. In that sense, this volume addresses an important lacuna covering as it does several new such findings. It is indeed befitting in this respect that the volume felicitates the contributions, as K.K. Muhammed, who is not only one of India's most renowned archaeologists but also a great humanist. I congratulate the dynamic editors of the volume Dr. Githa U Badikillaya and Dr. O.P. Pandey for this landmark achievement that has been brought out with engaging papers by 33 authors.
Mr. K.K. Muhammed has made landmark contributions in the field of historical and medieval archaeology as well as restoration and preservation of monumental heritage. A momentous discovery was of the stupa of King Ajatashatru at Rajgir, Bihar believed to enshrine the mortal remains of Lord Buddha with finds of a relic casket. Muhammed is well known for the phenomenal restoration of the 11th CE legacy of Gurjara Pratihara temples of the spectacular Bateshwar Complex of 200 temples that were devastated in an earthquake near Morena in Madhya Pradesh. This was no small feat as the site, ensconced amidst the ravines of the Chambal River, was also the hideout of dreaded dacoits. His bold approach of active restoration rather than only passive conservation was also validated with ASI adopting restoration as an acceptable conservation method. The breadth of his scholarship is astounding being at ease discussing the nuances of Mughal art and architecture, as with Sanskrit Shilpasastra treatises.
Mr. K.K. Muhammed's eclectic and open-minded approach in working on archaeology of religious architecture cutting across different faiths is especially noteworthy. I had the privilege of availing his guidance as a young Ph.D. scholar back in 1990, when he was Deputy Superintending Archaeologist in the Chennai Circle. He encouraged me in my research on archaeo metallurgical investigation on metal artefacts from southern India. He also shared his fascinating work and photographs relating to the identification of Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, where the visionary 16th century Mughal emperor Akbar declared the formulation of a composite, syncretic religion, the Din-E-ilahi. This remarkable house of worship was set up to learn about different religions with debates between scholars of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Zoroashtrianism and atheists. Although the location had not been ascertained, Mr. Muhammed traced the remnants of platforms and walls that matched a painting from Akbarnama showing Christian missionaries from Spain. He also found evidence of a Christian chapel at Fatehpur Sikri. It was inspiring to hear him evoke these finds in his office in the stately ambience of Fort Saint George and his erudition left a deep impression.
He has used his capital as a cultural ambassador towards conciliatory and humane approaches, much needed in an increasingly volatile world, as also seen in his efforts to educate children of itinerant labourers who restored the monument of Humayun's tomb. His contributions were recognized with numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padmashri award. My husband Digvijay, our daughter Lasya and I also had the privilege of interacting with him, his gracious wife Mrs Rabiya Muhammed and family as co-recipients of Padmashri in Archaeology in 2019; and we were struck by how lightly he wore his laurels in his gracious and accessible way.
Hindu (909)
Agriculture (116)
Ancient (1050)
Archaeology (694)
Architecture (555)
Art & Culture (882)
Biography (651)
Buddhist (545)
Cookery (167)
Emperor & Queen (512)
Islam (239)
Jainism (276)
Literary (869)
Mahatma Gandhi (368)
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