Remembering Stalwarts: Biographical Sketches of Scholars from Archaeological Survey of India

Dr. Buddha Rashmi Mani, born 17 April 1955 (Gunhill, Mussoorie) in a family of patriots, academicians, administrators, is presently Director (Archaeology) in the Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi. he has had a meritorious academic record from High School to the University, always standing first class first. He got his Master's degree in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from Banaras Hindu University in 1976 and Ph.D. in 1980 on 'Life in the Kushan Age'. He taught the subject in B.H.U. and at Central Institute of Tibetan Higher Studies, Sarnath in between 1978 and 1984 after which he joined the Archaeological Survey of India where he worked in various capacities of Group 'A' service in different circles and branches and directed more than a dozen significant archaeological excavations, such as at Lolkot, Salimgarh fort, Sankisa, Siswania, Kanishkapura, Ambaran and Ayodhya and also conserved a number of monuments in Goa, Maharashtra, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. He has been Director of the Institute of Archaeology (ASI), New Delhi. he has widely travelled and has represented the country in international conferences in Male, Tehran, Leicester, London etc. and has contributed two books, 'The Kushan Civilization' and 'Delhi: Threshold of the Orient' alongwith more than 100 research papers published in national and international journals.

C.B. Patil, Assistant Superintending archaeologist, in the Archaeological Survey of India, is an active field worker and a keen researcher. He has participated in various excavations-Vadagaon-Madhavapur, Hampi National Project, Halebid, Banawali and Banahalli. He was a member of the Indian team that undertook explorations and excavations in Maldive Islands (1987). He also had been to Sevilla (Spain) in connectioin with ‘Expo-92 Universal Exhibition’ in 1992.

Purnima Ray is Assistant Librarian in the Archaeological Survey of India. She has to her credit Vasistha’s Dhanurveda Samhita, an English translation (1991).