A Spectrum of Modern Warfare

Shri A.K. Sharma is an archaeologist of repute. He is internationally known for his original contributions in the field of archaeology and anthropology. During thirty three years of his hectic career, in different capacities in the Archaeological Survey of India he explored and excavated a number of sites throughout the length and breadth of the country, particularly in remote and inaccessible areas of North-East India, Jammu Kashmir and Lakshadweep. To his credit goes the discovery and excavation of the biggest Stone Age site Anangpur, near Delhi, the biggest prehistoric cave of Kachagad in Maharashtra, the sprawling nucleus megalithic site in Chhattisgarh, unique Neolithic site of Gufkral in Kashmir Valley, early historic sites of Sekta in Manipur and Vadagokugiri in Garo Hills of Meghalaya. He is also known for the discovery of horse bones of domesticated horse in Harappan context which have been internationally acknowledged and has changed the whole theory about Aryans and Vaidic period. He worked at Kalibangan excavation from 1961 to 1969. He has to his credit more than 50 published research papers on anthropology, archaeozoology, prehistory and other aspects of archaeology. Presently he is working as Senior Fellow of Indian Council of Historical Research on his project “Megaliths of Chhattisgarh including Bastar:. He is also directing the excavations at Mansar near Nagpur.

He took his doctorate (Ph.d) in Botany, precisely Lichenology (a branch of botany).  During early years (precisely seven) of his professional career he taught botany to degree classes.  Later, he joined National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, one among the chain of laboratories of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.  For the first two years he worked on higher plants but later he switched over to the field of lichenology, which he switched over to the field of lichenology, which he remained stuck to, till his retirement from job.  He then worked as the Principal Investigator of five years research project carried out at National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property.  Lucknow and funded by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi.  Its objective was to study the harmful effect of lichen growth on the surface of Indian monuments and to suggest curative measures in this regard.  Beyond his professional career, he developed interest in the study of Indology, especially the ancient period of Indian history.  Literature on ancient Indian history, mythology, religion, scriptures, ancient Indian thoughts (philosophy and science) and archaeology provided him (a botanist) sufficient plant related matter that has resulted in the production of this book.