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Introduction about Directors and List of Commissioners

 

 

  

The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka is the oldest among the departments of Archaeology in Indian States. Though the department was established in January, 1885, by the erstwhile princely Mysore State, by appointing Mr. B Lewis Rice as Director, the archaeological studies had started much earlier. The first publication of the state is related to Epigraphs of the region published in 1879 under the title Mysore Inscriptions. Mr. B Lewis Rice devoted himself primarily to epigraphically studies. He published 9000 inscriptions collected from eight Districts of the princely state of Mysore and the province of Coorg. They were published in 12 volumes under the title Epigraphia Carnatica.

 

 

 

Sri R. Narasimhachar succeeded Mr. B Lewis Rice as Director of Archaeology who collected and published 4000 inscriptions. His well known publications are Epigraphia Carnatica, Volume II, Inscriptions of Sravanabelagola, monographs on the Keshava Temple at Somanathapura, the Keshava Temple at Belur and the Lakshmidevi Temple at Dodda Gaddavalli under the Mysore Archaeological Series termed Architecture and Sculpture in Mysore. He also reported briefly on a large number of monuments in the annual reports of the directorate.

 

 

 

 

He was succeeded by Sri R Shama Sastri as Director. He brought out the translations of Arthasatra of Kautilya both in English and Kannada. Apart from this, he edited and published The Kanthirava Narasaraja Vijayam of Govinda Vaidya.  During his service the survey of the monuments of erstwhile Mysore state became the prime activity of the Department. He published the description of the monuments in the annual reports of the Department known as Mysore Archaeological Reports (MAR). These reports became models of archaeological scholarship and studies in future.

 

 

 

Dr. M.H. Krishna became the Director in 1928. He continued the survey of monuments in Mysore state and the report on the monuments and the illustrations along with the ground plan used to be included in the Annual Report till his retirement. These reports were appreciated all over the world for their quality and contents. Dr. M H Krishna retired from service in 1947, but the Annual Reports continued to be published with vigor. Dr. Krishna’s contributions were not confined only to the survey of the ancient monuments but extended to Numismatics, Epigraphy, Explorations and Excavations of ancient cities like Chandravalli and Brahmagiri. The excavations at these places proved the successive occupation of the region from the Neolithic period to that of the early historical period. i.e., the Satavahana. The efforts of Dr Krishna started a new era in the explorations and excavations of Karnataka archaeological sites. His contribution to the field of publishing of manuscripts was also

 

commendable. He brought to light manuscripts like Hyder Nama, Sukti Sudharnava, Mysuru Samsthanada Doregala Kaifiyattu and published a number of books in Kannada.

 

Sri L.Narasimhachar, (1947-1951), Sri. Narayana Iyengar, (1951-1954) and Prof. K.A. Neelakantashastry, (1954-1956), the successors of Dr. M H Krishna in that order, more or less confined their activities to the preparation and publication of the MAR (Mysore Archaeological Report) and the Epigraphia Carnatica. 

 

Dr. M. Sheshadri, (1956-1972) who was dedicated to archaeological studies and excavated two important archaeological sites, namely, Jadigenahalli of the then Bangalore district and T Narasipura in the Mysore district. Jadigenahalli, a megalithic site, contributed much to understanding of the cultural context of the region. The Neolithic site excavated in the Cauvery valley at T.Narasipura opened a new chapter in understanding the spread and succession of the Neolithic culture in southern Karnataka. It provided much needed classification of the Neolithic culture and the dating of this site became the bench mark of South Indian Neolithic studies. 

 

Dr. M. S. Nagarajarao (1972-84 and 1987-90) also continued the archaeological studies in the directorate and excavated the famous neolithic sites at Halluru in Dharwad district, Tekkalakota and Sanganakallu and the megalithic sites at Tadakanahalli and Komaranahalli. The Halluru excavations provided the earliest date for the use of iron in South India. His HAMPI RESURRECTION PROJECT not only brought laurels to him but highlighted the monuments at Hampi to the world at large which ultimately led to conferment of the World Heritage status to the site. During his tenure he published a brief report on the Progress of Archaeology in Karnataka 1956-1972 in place of the earlier MAR reports. Among the publications of the Directorate during his tenure the most notable are the first two reports, covering the period 1979 to 1984, titled Vijayanagara Progress of Research.

   

The tenure of Dr. A. Sundara, is chiefly noted for the Centenary Celebrations of the Directorate to mark which he organized an International Seminar on the Progress of Archaeology in India with special reference to Karnataka. These papers were subsequently published by the Directorate.

 

During the period of Dr. D.V. Devaraj (1990-91 and 1992-97), Sri Chiranjeev Singh, I.A.S., Sri   M. L. Shivashankar (1997-1999), Dr. M. V.  Krishnappa (1991- 2002), Sri K.R. Ramakrishna (2002- 2004), Dr. R. Gopal, (2004 -2006) Sri H.S. Rathnakar (2006-.2007, Dr. R. Gopal, (2007 -2012) served as Directors and carried out the functions of the Department with the established bench mark of the Directorate.  

 

List of the Directors

 

Sl. No.

Name of the Director

Tenure

1

Mr. B Lewis  Rice, CIE, MRAS,

1885-1906

2

Sri R.Narasimhachar, M.A

1906-1922

3

Sri R.Shamashastry, M.A

1922-1928

4

Dr.M.H.Krishna, M.A., Dlit (London)

1928-1947

5

Sri L.Narasimhachar, M.A

1947-1951

6

Sri Narayana Iyengar, M.A

1951-1954

7

Pro. K.A.Neelakantashastry, M.A

1954-1956

8

Dr.M.Sheshadri, M.A.,Ph.D (London)

1956-1972

9

Dr.M.S.Nagarajarao, M.A. Ph.D (London) Dip.in. Museology (USA)

1972-1984

10

Dr.A.Sundara, M.A, Ph.D, Dip.in.Epi

1984-1987

11

Dr.M.S.Nagarajarao, M.A, Ph.D (London), Dip.in. Museology (USA)

1987-1990

12

Dr.D.V.Devaraj, M.A., Ph.D

1990-1991

13

Sri Chiranjeev Singh, I.A.S

1991-1992

14

Dr.D.V.Devaraj, M.A. Ph.D

1992-1997

15

Sri M.L.Shivashankar, M.A. Dip.in. Arc

1997-1999

16

Dr.M.V.Krishnappa, M.A. Ph.D, Dip.in.Epi

4.2.1991-22.7.2002

17

Sri K.R.Ramakrishna, K.A.S

22.7.2002-24.11.2004

18

Dr.R.Gopal M.A (AH&A), M.A (His), Ph.D Dip.in.Epi

24.11.2004-29.5.2006

19

Sri H.S.Rathnakar, K.A.S

29.5.2006-9.3.2007

20

Dr.R.Gopal, M.A (AH&A), M.A (His), Ph.D Dip.in.Epi

9.3.2007-06.09.2011

21

Dr.H.M Siddanagowdar, M.A(AH&E), Ph.D in Histroy and Archaeology, Dip in Museology (Baroda)

07.09.2011-16.10.2011

22

Dr.R.Gopal, M.A (AH&A), M.A (His), Ph.D, Dip.in.Epi

17.10.2011-03.12.2011

23

Sri H.M Siddanagowdar, M.A (AH&E), Ph.D in Histroy and Archaeology, Dip in Museology (Baroda)

04.12.2011-14.12.2011

24

Dr.R.Gopal, M.A (AH&A), M.A (His), Ph.D Dip.in.Epi

15.12.2011-04.03.2012

 

 

Basically a Research Oriented Department, it undertakes research in the fields of Archaeology, History and Culture. It undertakes the Conservation of Monuments, Antiquities and Art objects in the Museums and use them to impart non-formal education to the student.

 

 

ABOUT HERITAGE

 

The Office of the Commissioner, Archaeology, Museums and Heritage Department has been set up in Mysore and Sri T.M.Vijay Bhaskar, I.A.S has taken over as the Commissioner on 11/2/2004 in the newly created post to identify and implement the Heritage Programmes in Mysore, Srirangapattana, Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur and Kittur to develop these places as Heritage areas.

 

  • The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Mysore was established during 1885.

  • Commissionerate of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, Bangalore was established during 2004.

  • Both were merged as per GO dated 23.2.2012 and the Commissioner was made as the HOD of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, Mysore.

  • Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Terms of Service-1), Bangalore Order No.: DPAR 05 ARB 2018 Date: 12.09.2018 The Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage has been transferred from the Department of Kannada and Cultural to the Administration of Tourism Department. Accordingly, the department is under the purview of the Department of Tourism.

 

List of the Commissioners

 

Sl. No.

Name of the Commissioners

Tenure

1

Smt. Neela Manjunath, K.A.S

05.03.2012 - 21.03.2012

2

Sri K. R. Ramakrishna K.A.S

19.12.2012 - 01.09.2013

3

Sri P. S. Vastrad I.A.S

02.09.2013 - 30.07.2016

4

Dr. C.G.Betsurmath K.A.S

02.09.2013 - 30.07.2016

5

Dr. N. Manjula I.A.S

02.08.2016 - 20.11.2017

6

T. Venkatesh K.A.S

20.11.2017 - 31.07.2020

7

Smt. B.R.Poornima K.A.S

31.07.2020 - 15.07.2022

8

Sri. Devaraju. A, K.A.S

15.07.2022

 

Last Updated: 06-08-2022 11:53 AM Updated By: Admin


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