Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report 1902-3 to 1937-38 (Set of 29 Bindings and Index)

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Intensive archaeological investigations in India commenced with the appointment of General Alexander Cunningham as Director General of Archaeology in the year 1862. With the appointment of John Marshall as Director General of Archaeology in 1902 and the active support of the enthusiastic Viceroy Lord Curzon the situation was bound to change. Marshall taking the cue from a lamenting letter in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society launched the publication of an "Annual" embodying the activities of the Archaeological Survey, so that nobody need wait for the research to be completed to bring out a report. Instead, yearly publication of progress of research was made known to the public so that others also may pursue their own line by research.

Thus the scope of these Annual reports of the Archaeological Survey of India in Marshall's own words "is to be coexistive with the current archaeological operation, the contents will relate first and principally conservation, secondly, to exploration and research and lastly epigraphy. Any fear that the Archaeological Survey of India will relegate to the background the activities other than conservation is dispelled by Marshall by upholding Curzon's ideals viz. "exploration and study of purely Indian remains in the probing of archaic mounds in the excavation of old Indian cities and in the copying and reading of ancient inscriptions..."

Thus the survey is to dig and discover, classify reproduce and describe the copy and decipher cherish and conserve.

This ideal was carried out and reported in his annual reports by Marshall.

The annual report is divided into. three main headings namely (1) Conservation of ancient monuments and remains (2) Exploration and research (3) Epigraphy. Thus the section on Conservation includes a brief summary of the maintenance work carried out to the various monuments in different regions of the country besides special informative and detailed articles on the repair and conservation of specific monuments. Likewise Exploration and Excavation part would deal in general the work executed in the various parts of the country. Apart from this specific articles on topics of interest are included. Epigraphy is also treated in a similar manner. The Annual Reports are profusely illustrated with drawings plans, elevations and sections besides photographs. Notes on administrative matters and performances are included.

The series beginning from 1902 runs through 1937 with unremitting regularity excepting for four years 1930-1934. All the reports are edited by the then serving Director General. However, the combined Report for 1930-34 was edited by Mr. Fabri, a specialist in Indology.

True to the high ideas and ideals set forth in the first issue the 'Annual has been an indispensable tool for any researcher-be he a conservator, excavator or epigraphist or anyone interested in Indian culture. For the subjects covered, the articles published and evidence interpreted are so vast, varied, informative and educative that no scholar can afford to ignore. The illustrations-drawings and photographs are unique in quality and quantity. They are not available any more. Two indices ane by Kaye (for 1902-16 issues) and the other by Hargreaves, covering upto 1929, bound together are a valuable additions.

The present reissue of these Annual Reports of the Archaeological Survey of India by Messrs Swati Publications, with the kind permission of the Government of India is really a boon to Indologists. Bound in attractive and uniform bindings these Reports would be a pride possession.

When, more than two years ago, Mr. Kaye generously consented to undertake the indexing of the first fourteen volumes of my Annual Reports, I well remember congratulating myself on my good luck in securing the services of so excellent a scholar for the task. Had I then realised the vast amount of patient and exacting labour which he was destined to put into it. I might well have hesitated before becoming a party to the sacrifice that it has demanded of him. For, however necessary or however valuable this index may be, i cannot but feel a sense of guilt in having suffered Mr. Kaye to divert his exceptional talents from the studies which he has made so peculiarly his own to a work as uninviting as this indexing of official Reports. Some other. less gifted than he, might perhaps have been found willing to charge himself with this task; but there is no one else who could do what Mr. Kaye has been doing for the history of Indian mathematics and astronomy.

**Content and Sample Pages**