Unpublisheed Notes and Papers of Dr V. S. Wakankar

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Padmashri Dr. V. S. Wakankar, popularly known as Haribhau, was an eminent archaeologist, art historian, artist, numismatist, litterateur and great rock art expert who put India on the global map of rock art. He was involved in many archaeological exploration and excavation in India and abroad. Dr. Wakankar is also known as Pitamah of rock art studies in India.

The untimely death of Dr. Wakankar in 1988 in Singapor was a great setback for the study and research of Indian art and archaeology. It was decided by the IGNCA to bring out his unpublished works on the occasion of his centenary year.

This present volume is a compilation of the unpublished notes, articles and research papers of Dr. V. S. Wakankar which he has penned down during his lifetime. All these writings are based on his archaeological explorations & excavations at Bhimbetka, Malwa region, Kaytha, etc., cultural and Puranic tradition study, Himalayan study including in the ravines culture study of the Chambal and Narmada rivers, and importantly his contribution in tracing the basin of the now dry Saraswati River, which is said to hold the secrets of much of Indian civilization.

The notes and papers published in the present volume highlight the immense potential that Indian culture had in unraveling the mysteries of the past. Most of his views expressed in the volume are appropriate and hold good promise in terms of recent trends in cultural research in India. This beautifully illustrated volumes aim to boost and promote original research. It will certainly contribute to rectify and enhance our vision of India culture.

Prof. Bansi Lal Malla, an Art Historian with specialisation in Indian art and culture studies is presently working as HoD, Adi Drishya Department of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi. He has obtained his Master's degree in History from Kashmir University, Master's degree in Museology and Ph.D. in History of Arts from the Banaras Hindu University.

Prof. Malla is the author of The Sculptures of Kashmir, Vaisnava Art and Iconography of Kaslunir, Trees in Indian Art, Mythology and Folklore, Cosmology and Cosmic Interpretations: Shaiva Thought and Art of Kashmir, Glimpses of India-China Rock Art, Glorious Bhimbetka: A Catalogue Based on IGNCA's Dr. Yshodhar Mathpal Collection; Rock Art Studies: Concept, Methodology Context, Documentation and Conservation Vol. I (ed.), Rock Art Studies: Interpretation through Multidisciplinary Approaches Vol. II (ed.), Conservation of Rock Art (ed.), The World of Rock Art: An Overview of the Five Continents (ed.), Global rock Art (ed.), Rock Art of India: Suitable Dating Techniques (ed.), Cultural Ecology: Prehistoric and Ethno-archaeological Context of Rock Art in North-Eastern and Other Indian States (ed.) and Understanding Rock Art of India-China: Rock Art of India, Vol. I (ed.) and Understanding Rock Art of India-China: Rock Art of China, Vol. II (ed., in press), Rock Art Heritage of North East India (ed.), Theoretical and Cognitive Aspects of Rock Art (ed.); Rock Art of Andhra Pradesh: A New Synthesis (General ed.), Silent Rock's and Eloquent Testimony: Rock Art Heritage of Odisha (General ed.), राजस्थान की शैलचित्र कला (मुख्य संपादक) Besides a number of research articles published in reputed professional journals, he has also participated in many national and international conferences/workshops both in India and abroad. Prof. Malla has widely travelled in India, France, Italy, Iran, and China in connection with his field studies and conferences. His area of interest is both classical and vernacular traditions. He has been associated With IGNCA-UNESCO-UNDP project on Village India i.e. "Identification and Enhancement of India's Cultural Heritage: An Internal Necessity for the Management of Development".

Currently, Prof. Malla is engaged in documentation, ecological conservation and ethno- archaeological study and survey of Indian Rock Art; and also in Himalayan Studies.

It is now almost 30 years since the demise of the world-famous archaeologist, numismatist and artist Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar in 1988. His death was sudden and unexpected. He was in Singapore to attend a conference, where a massive cardiac arrest snatched him from us. So sudden was his death and so devastating, that his family members as well as students and well-wishers, peers and followers were all stunned.

The "Wakankar Shodh Sansthan" was founded under the aegis of the "Wakankar Bharati Sanskriti Anveshan Nyas' at Ujjain to pursue his dreams. Lack of expertise and guidance in this area deterred the Nyas from fulfilling Dr. Wakankar's wishes of continued research and studies in the fields of archaeology, Pre and Protohistory. One of the listed goals of the Nyas is publishing books/articles/papers on Indian history.

2019-20 was the birth centenary of this gigantic personality. Trustees of the Nyas felt that this was an opportune time to publish some of his works from several notings, handwritten manuscripts and typed articles lying in its premises.

This was a daunting task. Firstly, none of the trustees had any expertise in this field. Secondly, most of his then associates and co-workers, who could have guided the others, had also departed for their heavenly abodes. Still with fervour and dedication I have attempted to type out what I found as his notes to create this compilation. I faced a lot of difficulties in deciphering his notings and it is quite likely that I may have erred in understanding and reproducing his thoughts and words.

While some notings appeared to be presentations made for certain seminars or conferences, others are observations and theories propounded by him. I am also not 100 percent sure whether all of these were unpublished or some were partially published from time to time or delivered at different forums. Further, readers are requested to read them with a clear understanding that these are dated 30 years or more ago and that a lot of research and publications might have been done by others during this time.

At times, there were missing links and statements which I have tried to fill to the best of my ability or I have left them as they were.

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Wakankar Bharti Sanskriti Anveshan Nyas (WBSAN) have decided to bring out a volume based on Dr. V. S. Wakankar's unpublished writings on the occasion of his centenary celebrations. The volume covers different aspects of Indian art, archaeology and culture. The main focus is on the archaeology of Malwa region. Dr. Dileep Wakankar, Hon. Secretary, Wakankar Bharati Sanskrit Anveshan Nyas, Ujjain, has put up a great effort in compiling this volume.

Dr. V.S. Wakankar (Haribhau) was an eminent personality, litterateur and rock art expert who put India on the global map of rock art; he was also a archaeologist, numismatist, artist and social worker. He inherited art from his forefathers. His family's tryst with history and archaeology goes back to several generations. Haribhau is also known as father of rock art studies in India.

It gives me pleasure in presenting Volume 22" under IGNCA's Rock Art Series. I congratulate HoD & Project Director, Prof. Bansi Lal Malla (Editor) and his team at the Adi Drishya Department for their concerted efforts in bringing out this publication. I trust that this publication will achieve the objective of enhancing and promoting art, archaeological and cultural studies not only among scholars but also the general public at large.

The Adi Drishya Department of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) manifests its academic and research work in its publications, international and national seminars, conferences, exhibitions, lecture series and digital and physical databases. This volume on based on the unpublished notes, articles and research papers of Dr. V. S. Wakankar has been brought out under the aegies of its Rock Art Publication Series. It is the 22 volume under this series. The present volume is a compilation of the unpublished writings of Dr. V. S. Wakankar which he has penned down during his lifetime. Dr. Wakankar made enormous contributions in the field of archaeology and art studies. He was involved in many archaeological surveys and explorations including in the ravines of the Chambal and Narmada rivers, as well as tracing the basin of the now dry Saraswati River, which is said to hold the secrets of much of Indian civilization. It was a daunting task to arrange all the unpublished material under one head as it includes his notings, observations and theories and presentations made in several conference or seminars.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages