Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology

A separate independent Department of Ancient Indian History & Archaeology was established in 1956 with Prof. C. D. CHATTERJI as its founder Head. He was a great Pali scholar and made very important contribution in the field of Asokan History in particular and epigraphy, numismatics in general. He was honoured in 1982 by the Sri Lanka Government, University of Vidyodaya Pirivena, Colombo by the conferring the degree of TEPITAKA-BHARTI-ESSARACHARIYA, the highest academic degree awarded to any foreigner by the University. He was succeeded by Dr. R. K. DIXIT whose contribution to the history of Chandella dynasty is monumental. He was succeeded by Prof. B. N. PURI, Prof. B. N. SRIVASTAVA, Prof. K.K.THAPLYAL, Prof. S. N. MISHRA, Prof. S. M. MISHRA S. N. KAPUR and Prof. D.P TEWARI.

Prof. A.B.L. AWASTHI, a Reader in the Department was appointed as Professor at the University of Sagar, M. P. Dr. S. D. SINGH another Reader in the Department was appointed as Professor at the Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. Again he was appointed as professor at Vikram University, Ujjain. Later on he joined the University of Queensland in Australia. Prof. RAMASHRAYA AVASTHI of this Department is an authority in the field of Iconography. Prof. A. LAL’s main contribution and interest is in Buddhist Studies. He also became the Vive-Chancellor of Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia University.