Unique Marvels of Ancient Indian Civilization- Bhimbetka and Bhimbetkan Era, Facts from One of the World's Oldest Civilization (Vol-1 Rock & Cave Art Series)

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Till about a year and a half back, Shuvadeep was not known to me. One fine day he called me and expressed his desire to meet me. When we eventually met at Ujjain, he told me that he had purchased and read the book "Unpublished Notes and Papers of Dr. V.S. Wakankar" compiled by me and was keen to know more about Wakankar and his works.

When we interacted, two things struck me. First that he, just like me, was not a student of History and was yet keen to know more about Painted Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, its art forms, evolution of Bhimbetkian Homo sapiens and related topics. Second that a reader could be enthused so much as to go into the depth, get inspired to study a topic and author a book himself. Another appealing thing was his intention to correlate this with civilization, economics and tourism, probably a first attempt with reference to Bhimbetka.

He would frequently call me and ask questions or get some clarifications, though I forewarned him that I am just a compiler and not an expert in this field. 2019- 20 being the birth centenary year of Padmashri V. S. (Haribhau) Wakankar, several people from all over India, contacted me, seeking readymade information or articles and photographs on Haribhau, to publish them in local journals/periodicals. However none of them appeared to be as persistent and committed as Shuvadeep.

In our first meeting itself, he expressed in no uncertain terms that he found the life and work of Dr. V.S. Wakankar remarkable and awe inspiring and intended to write a book.

Now that his book is ready to be published, I am very eager to read it. I sincerely hope that our interactions were of help to him in this endeavor and wish him success and good readership for his book.

I also hope that through this book, "Unique Marvels of Ancient Indian Civilization "Bhimbetka and Bhimbetkan Era Facts from One of the World's Oldest Civilization" the greatness of Mother India, her ancient glory and the achievements of her progeny will be known to more and more people, as was the wish of Dr V. S. Wakankar.

It is said that "Wonders "are created but not made. These elements of Creations, are mostly said about Nature and Natural Phenomena and their creations. Bot. What I saw in Bhimbetka, Rock and Cave Shelters. 40 Km. off Bhopal, M.P., India, on the Way to Ratapani Forest is a wonder, made by us humans. I was on my official trip, then in 2014, in Bhopal, as a part of my Corporate Sojourn, took some time off on a weekend, during my stay there, and I went on to visit Bhimbetka, on being suggested by my colleague and Friend, Mr. Vikramaditya Singh, who was from the State of Madhya Pradesh, where this Bhimbetka is located. We have lost, young and Promising Vikram or Vikky, as Friends, we used to call him lovingly, in 2021. He was infected with Covid and he succumbed to it, in spite of his valiant fight unto last. He was the first one, who guided me to Bhimbetka, said to me, Bro, you will surely, like this place as you take immense interest in history and Archaeology, which I do take and this interest drove me not only to Bhimbetka, but also to write this book, though my field of Studies through my background have been on Economics, Finance and Business Strategy. My eyes, were wonder struck then and later also, during my Field visit for writing this book and I was amazed, by the Art Work Made by people, from that Era, later on 1 Came to know from Researches on Bhimbetka, being done by Legendary, Dr. VS Wakankar, who discovered these caves in 1957, that Humans from Upper Paleolithic Age, almost 40,000 BP, started making Art Works on Walls of Bhimbetka, Caves and Rock Shelters which continued till 1400 AD in the Medieval Age, which ran parallel to other major civilizations of India and there were considerable interrelationships between them. It contained various styles of several images made.