When I look back, I can see some of the events that shaped Indian Archaeology in the last century. The first half of the century is rightly termed as the era of Marshall and Wheeler. Joining of Sir John Marshall as the Director General in the Survey, in 1902, was the beginning of a new era in the Indian Archaeology. His principles on archaeological conservation guided all of us in the Survey throughout the century, and are still relevant.
The first decade also witnessed many other important events like publication of Annual Reports of the Director General, which presented the works and research activities carried out by the Survey, creation of a separate branch for epigraphically research and enactment of Ancient Monuments Preservation Act in 1904 which provided legislative powers for the protection of monuments and archaeological sites and remains. In 1906, the Survey was placed on a permanent and improved footing.
Discovery of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in 1921-22 and subsequent excavations pushed the Indian History two thousand years back. With the establishment of Exploration Branch, explorations and excavations were given due attention.
R.E.M. Wheeler, who became Director General in 1944, laid special emphasis on exploration, excavation techniques and the problem related to chronology. He introduced the system of per iodization by stratification technique of excavation and improved the system of reporting and publishing. It had a great impact on Indian Archaeology, which can be felt till date.
After independence in 1947, we lost both the most famous sites in Indus Civilization. Archaeological explorations by the Indian Archaeologists resulted in the discovery of a large number of Harappan sites in the country. Loosing Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa created such an intense emphasis on Harappan Archaeology that the study of archaeological remains of other periods was not given much attention.
India has vast treasures of epigraphic records in the form of inscriptions, copper plates and numerous ancient manuscripts. Our epigraphists have collected thousands of inscriptions and deciphered them, which helped in rewriting the history. I am deeply concerned about the subject and appreciate the work being done by the dedicated teams.
In 1945 conservation was also brought under the purview of Survey. Enactment of the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Declaration of National Importance) Act in 1951 added a large number of monuments under central protection. It increased Survey's activities many fold. According to the need of the hour the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act was enacted in 1958, which as on date, is the main Act for the preservation of ancient monument and archaeological sites and remains of national importance. Other legislative actions in the form of Acts and amendments to them provided necessary powers to protect our cultural heritage.
Coming back to the publication of JAR, the first issue was published as "Report of the Director General of Archaeology in India on the occasion of the tenth meeting of Central Advisory Board of Archaeology, 1954". It was a good beginning and till 1960-61 it published regularly. From the 1961-62 issue, it started getting delayed, which unfortunately, could not be covered up despite the best efforts by successive Directors General, in the last quarter of the century.
Though I am happy to present the first issue of this century but I am also aware of the long delay of five years. This delay occurring for last 45 years in publication of this Annual speaks for itself. Excavation is the prime activity in archaeology. A glance on any Review makes it clear as it covers the most part of the publication. But I feel sorry to note about delay in writing and printing of excavation reports. A number of archaeological sites are excavated every year but their report, which are an integral part of the excavation, are not written. I feel that any excavation remains incomplete unless its results are published and made available to the scholars and to the public in the form of a detailed report. It was Wheeler who pointed out that excavation without a report is destruction.
During my interaction with scholars, some scholars shared my view that the reports published in the Review may be taken as reports published. We have discussed the issue time and again and have made it adequately clear to all those who have such erroneous view that the brief information included in the JAR is only the review of various activities and not the report. I am of the view that every work in the field of archaeology, exploration, excavation or conservation needs to have a report.
I remember the first Director General of the Survey, A. Cunningham, whose monumental work in 24 volumes was reports on explorations carried out by him in different parts of the country. In this century, if we review that tradition, it would be a great service to the subject.
Book's Contents and Sample Pages
Hindu (935)
Agriculture (118)
Ancient (1085)
Archaeology (754)
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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