Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India (Set of 31 Books)

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The idea of writing out the chronology of the Haihaya kings of Tripuri was suggested to me in May 1919 by Major B. D. Basu, IMB. (Retired) of Allahabad, at present, the Head of the Papini Office and the Editor of the Series of Sanskrit Texts published by that Institution. Major Basu pointed out to me that practically no investigations had been carried out in the whole of the Rewa State since the retirement of Sir Alexander Cunningham. Acting on the suggestion I applied to the late Mr. P. B. Warburton, L.C.8., then Political Agent, Baghelkhand Agency, and with his help succeeded in revising and exploring all the important Archaeological sites in the Rewa State situated in the northern and southern Parganas. I found it impossible to visit the antiquities in the forest-covered tracts lying to the east of this State, but I am deeply grateful for the help received from Mr. P. B. Warburton, and his successor in the Baghelkhand Political Agency, Major E. J. Colvin, L.A. In the Rewa State my programme was mapped out for me by Dewan Bahadur Pandit Janaki Prasad, M.A., LL.B., who had served for a long time under the late Maharaja Venkata Ramana Singh Bahadur, as his Private Secretary, and who was work ing as Home Member of the Council of Regency of the Rewa State in 1920. Pandit Janaki Prasad's intimate knowledge of the State is unrivalled, and with his help I was able to discover three unknown dated inscriptions of the Haihaya chiefs, which have helped materially in the construction of the chronology of that dynasty. I am also very greatly indebted to Rai Bahadur B. N. Zutshi, President of the Council of Regency of the Rewa State in April, 1920, for help in various directions connected with my investigations. Finally I am indebted to Sir John Marshall, Kt., C.I.E., Litt. D., F.S.A., for permission to reproduce the text of four of the unpublished inscriptions which are being published in the Epigraphia Indica separately.

It is indeed a great pleasure to me to be able to include in the series of Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India, a work embodying the report of the British Expedition to the Swat Valley and northern Afghanistan in the summer of 1938. This Expedition was supported by several Societies in England and led by Professor Barger of the University of Bristol and Mr. Wright of the Indian Section of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and, let me hope, is the fore runner of many similar expeditions, indicative of Britain's newly awakened scientific interest in Indian studies. Archaeology in India has such a wide range and limitless scope that it is bound to provide ample material to generation of scholars. It was with a view to open the field of work to non-official workers, whether from India or outside, that an amendment of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act was passed by the Legislature in 1933. The only Expedition from outside which has since taken advantage of the new conditions was an American one sponsored by the collaboration of the Boston Museum and the Institute of Indie and Iranian studies which itself represents the concentrated effort of all American Societies interested in India. Unfortunately the work begun under the experienced leadership of Dr. Mackay was discontinued after the first season's work mainly for financial reasons. It is time that Britain, the only European country vitally interested in India, took lead in the matter and successfully organized Indian studies and conducted exploration and excavation activities in India. Over two decades ago the Royal Asiatic Society of London perceiving the great importance of Nalanda in the history of later Buddhism urged on the Department the necessity of excavating the ruined stūpas and monasteries. What is more, they made a special grant, which enabled the Department to initiate the work, which has been continued thereafter from the Department's own resources. In the new conditions, regular expeditions organized on lines similar to Mr. Barger's Expedition who may count on receiving every help and collaboration from the Archaeological Survey, may undertake special investigations, which are sure to redound to the credit of British Oriental scholarship.

The admirable collection of drawings reproduced in this memoir were prepared nearly thirty years ago under the direction of the late Edmund Smith for the most part by draughtsmen whose names were not recorded on them Mr. Smith had intended to publish them himself and to that and had prepared notes, which consisted chiefly of rather lengthy descriptions of the buildings illustrated. As these seemed superfluous with such excellent drawings to refer to, the notes have not been printed in extensor, though they have been largely utilized in the accompanying text.

The four monuments to which these drawings relate are all in the United Provinces, Badaun being in the District of that name, Lalitpur and Irich in the Jhansi District, and Kalpi in the Jalaun District. They are all somewhat off the beaten track and little known, but are none the less of interest to those concerned with the Medieval Art of India. All, without exception, are Protected Monuments under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, and the last named is preserved and looked after by the Archaeological Department. I am indebted to Maulvi Ashfaq Ali for his translation of the inscriptions at the Badaun Mosque and to Maulvi Muhammad Ashraf Husain, Munshi in my office, for the translation of the Irich inscription.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages