Rejuvenation of Nagara Temples: (With Special Reference to Yamuna Para Plain) 19th & 20th Century

Besides the sporadic forays made into the realm of contemporary north Indian temples by few authors the above terrain remains more or less unhistoricised, undocumented and underexplored. 'Rejuvenation of Nagara Temples in the 19th and 20th Century (with special reference to Yamuna Par Plain)' aims precisely at this shoal of temples from the region of Delhi to Agra covering a cluster of thirty temples belonging to the previous two centuries. Analysis of art and architectural minutae of the temple edifices has been the prime concern of the work. Moreover regional ramifications, the effects of Dravidian and Orissan artistic and architectural forms, along with foreign influences which have made the Nagara temples truly eclectic too have been looked upon.

For the purpose of micro-study the research has been circumscribed to the past two centuries although the history of temple art and architecture has been traced ever since the onset of the Mauryan Age up to the 18th century navigating through all the modifications, additions and impositions that the Nagara temple was subjected to. Apart from the study of temples the work also explores the various agencies that have affected the temple structures. How temples have functioned as separate economic units in the above time bracket too has received attention in the present work, although it remains largely tangential.

Saranga Batra (b. 1982) has done her high school from Presentation Convent Delhi followed by her Bachelors and Masters (Ancient Indian History) from St.Stephen's College, Delhi University. She has recieved several certifications in History of Art (NMI), Journalism (Manchester), German (NMI) and Computers (NIIT). Her doctoral thesis titled 'Rejuvenation of Nagara Temples in the 19th and 20th Century (with special reference to Yamuna Par Plain) has been accomplished from the Institute of National Museum; under the supervision of Dr.B.R.Mani (Additional Director General, ASI).

Saranga Batra is presently working as an Assistant Professor in Shayama Prasad Mukherjee College (Delhi University) in the Department of History.

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