Pune: Indian Archaeology Giants Honored in Deccan College Birth Centenary Seminar

Mubarak Ansari
Yerwada, 2nd December 2023: The Deccan College Past Students’ Association (DCPSA) and Department of Archaeology at Deccan College jointly organized a one-day seminar on 1st December to remember the contributions of four of its distinguished alumni to Indian archaeology on the occasion of their birth centenaries.

Professors R. V. Joshi (1920 – 1997), B. Subbarao (1921 – 1962), S. B. Deo (1923 – 1996) and Dr. Z. D. Ansari (1923 – 1998) were students of the legendary archaeologist Padmabhushan H. D. Sankalia.

All of them won international recognition and their research contributions enriched Indian archaeology in many significant ways. As popular teachers they in turn inspired many batches of students who rose to eminent positions in the university or government departments of archaeology.

In his key paper, Dr. G.B. Deglurkar, former President of Deccan College, highlighted Prof. Deo’s path-breaking research in Jainism, art and architecture, and other branches of ancient Indian Culture. His excavations at Chandoli, Songaon, Naikund, Mahurjhari and many other sites in Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha greatly enlarged our understanding of burial customs and agricultural and pastoral practices of Copper and Iron Age communities of the Deccan region.

During his tenure (1979 – 1985) as the Director, deemed university proposal was made to the UGC, state government approved staff pension scheme and archaeology building expansion took place with new science laboratories. During a short interlude of eight years (1966 – 1974) Prof. Deo developed Archaeology Department of Nagpur University into an active centre of research and teaching.

Professor K. Paddayya, Emeritus Professor and Former Director, Deccan College, recalled Prof. R. V. Joshi’s pioneering research in environmental archaeology and prehistory. As Head (1957 – 1972) of Prehistory Branch of Archaeological Survey of India with Nagpur as headquarters, he discovered many important prehistoric sites in Himachal Pradesh, Nepal, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha and excvated Adamgarh and other sites in the Narmada valley. As the first professor of prehistory at Deccan College (1972 – 1983), he initiated prehistoric investigations in Marathwada and Konkan region. He also succesfully carried out science-based UGC-sponsored research projects dealing with chemical studies of archaeological deposits and animal bones from excavations.

In his presentation, Prof. V. H. Sonawane of M.S. University in Vadodara explained how Prof. B. Subbarao, after obtaining doctorate degree from Deccan College in 1949, joined M.S. University and founded the Department of Archaeology. In a short period of just 12 years he developed the department much to the envy of Deccan College into a multidisciplinary centre for teaching and research. His premature death in 1962 was a loss to Indian archaeology but his book PERSONALITY OF INDIA (1956) is still widely used for teaching and research in India and outside.

In her presentation Prof. Shahida Ansari, Head of Department of AIHC and Archaeology at Deccan College, told the gathering about the unique contributions made by Dr. Z.D. Ansari to field archaeology in India and the vital role played by him in the Deccan College excavations at Nevasa, Navdatoli, Ahar, Tekkalakota, Sangankallu, Kayatha and Inamgaon from 1945 to 1982. Dr. Ansari trained more than 15 batches of M.A. students in various aspects of field archaeology.

About 20 senior scholars from various parts of the country also participated in the seminar and gave their reminiscences/estimates of Professor Joshi, Subbarao, Deo and Dr. Ansari as researchers and teachers and of their leadership qualities and humanist attributes.

The seminar sessions were chaired by Prof. Pramod Kumar Pandey, Vice Chancellor of Deccan College (Deemed to be University). Prof. Shahida Ansari and Dr. Satish Naik, Secretary of DCPSA welcomed the gathering. The proceedings were compered by Dr. Satish Naik and concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Abhijit Dandekar.