Dr. M.S.Nagaraja Rao had a distinguished career as an Archaeologist and Culture Administrator and has carved for himself a permanent niche in the chosen field of Archacology. He started his career in the Department of Archaeology, Mysore in 1956 as an Epigraphist, from where he went to the Archacological Survey of India, as an Exploration Assistant, in 1957. What distinguished Dr. Rao in his career, is that he headed both the organisations, where he began his career. In 1972, he returned to the State Department as the full time Director of Archaeology. From here he went to Delhi, as the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India in 1984, a distinction, which he is the only South Indian to achieve. He served both the institutions eminently, as the profile published here shows. What is amazing is the fact that inspite of a busy career, administering these organisations, he has found it possible to conduct research and publish so much, contributing to solve many problems in archaeology and history of our country. Publish or Perish' is what Dr. D.C. Pavate, Vice-Chancellor said to have told the academics of Karnatak University. Dr. Rao has taken this advice seriously, which has helped him to rise to the highest position in his chosen field. Even the select research writings of his, published here show that he is an 'all rounder' in Archaeology.
The Directorate of Archacology & Museums has taken a decision to publish research writings of eminent scholars of Karnataka under the 'Chandrika' series, and has already published the writings of Dr. Seshadri, 'Seshachandrika. We are happy to present this second volume in the series to the scholarly world, containing the writings of Dr. Nagaraja Rao, so that his research contributions are available in one place. We are grateful to Dr. Rao for making available copies of his writings.
We are thankful to Dr. K.V.Ramesh, a distinguished colleague of Dr. Rao for writing the Foreword. We are also grateful to Sri. L.K.Srinivasan a close friend, class-mate, and colleague of Nagaraja Rao, for a lucid profile of Dr. Rao. We are thankful to Shri T.S. Gangadhar who has rendered valuable assistance in the compilation of the volume. Thanks are also due to Sri. Balaraja Naidu for preparing additionally required photographs. Our thanks are due to Kum. Hemalatha of DTP, Comptek Computer Systems, Mysore for her efficient composing. We are grateful to Dr. V.Prakash, Director, CFTRI, Mysore for graciously accepting the printing of this book. Sri. K.A.Ranganath, Head, FOSTIS, and Sri. S.Umesh, Technical Officer, Printing, have shown their proverbial zeal in bringing out this volume. They have been ably assisted by Sriyuths G. Venkateshan and C.N.Janardhana in the printing. To all of them our grateful thanks.
We hope that this volume will receive the attention it deserves by studies and scholars.
The present volume represents a part collection of the writings of Dr. M.S.Nagaraja Rao on archacology and allied subjects. Archaeologists the world over know only too well the extremely busy and work-oriented schedule of programmes which Dr. Rao had set for himself both during his long tenure as Director of Archacology and Museums in the State of Karnataka as well as during the three momentous years (1984-1987) when he effectively presided over the archacological affairs of the whole of India as Director General, Archaeological Survey of India. Those who know Dr. Rao well and intimately also know that his lasting contributions and achievements as an archacological policy-maker and executor would by themselves be enough for establishing his claims to greatness as an archaeologist. Hence, his learned writings on different aspects of the subject constitute a welcome bonus to the world of scholars. It is indeed surprising that, in the midst of implementing all the hectic programmes he had thoughtfully formulated for the betterment of the archaeological scenario in Karnataka and, even more importantly, in the whole of India, and in some neighbouring countries to boot, he found time to write, and write so well at that, on many different subjects of archaeology.
In all the four decades of my close contacts with specialists in archaeology-oriented subjects, I have often felt, and continue to feel to this day, that we have in Dr. Nagaraja Rao the very epitome of the "complete archaeologist' such completeness surpassing the bounds of his native state of Karnataka and of India. We find in him, as reflected in his impressive and, on many fronts, unequalled record as an administrator of archaeological & cultural matters and in his writings included in the present volume, a remarkably lucid blend of the explorer (e.g. Tungabhadra valley, Dharwar District, Tekkalakota), the excavator (c.g. Sanganakallu, Tekkalakota, Hallur, Komaranahalli, Vijayanagar), the conservator (e.g. Angkor Wat in Cambodia), the museologist (c.g. District Museums in Karnataka, the Mysore Palace as a museum, etc.), the expert on art and architecture (e.g. on the Ashtamātrikas, the Saptänägas, the sculptured panels from Tambur, Kirātārjuniyam in Indian art, Rashtrakūta temples at Sirivāļa, etc.) and the epigraphist and numismatist (c.g. Jamalagama grant, Honnavar Plates, etc. and Roman and Byzantine gold coins). His constant concern for the proper preservation of archaeological remains of all descriptions is reflected not only by his practical approach to that problem during the periods when he held the highest positions available for an archaeologist both at the State and national levels, but also in his writings on the subject, which are but the direct results of his field-experiences.
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)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist