Archaeology of Bhopal Region (An Old and Rare Book)

Bhopal region in the present Madhya Pradesh is surely the paradise of archaeologists and art historians. Till now we were happy and content in discovery and reporting a few rockshelters and caves with prehistoric paintings in Madhya Pradesh. But recent explorations have taken us back to old Stone Age times as witnessed by the extensive excavations carried out in the rock shelters of Bhimbetke. The present book is a regional study of Bhopal taking us through its ups and downs right from. the palaeohistoric times to medieval India based on archaeological, epigraphical, literary and numismatic evidences.

Dr. R.K. Sharma (b. 1932), did his Ph.D. in 1966. He obtained training in field Archaeology in the School of field Archaeology, Govt. of India at the excavation camp, Lothal. Presently he is Principal of Prachya Niketan'-the Centre of Advanced Studies in Indology & Museology, Bhopal.

Dr. Sharma's "Madhya Pradesh Ke Puratativa Ka Sandarbha Granth" published by M.P. Hindi Grantha Academy. He is also Joint Editor of Research journal "Prachya Pratibha" and Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Itihasa Parishad. He is recognised Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Indology and Museology of Bhopal University.

Dr. Rahman Ali (b. 1943), did his Ph.D. in 1970. Dr. Ali underwent training in excavation and explorations of Pre and Proto-historic sites of India under Prof. H.D. Sankalia (1966-73). At present he is lecturer in Prachya Niketan: Centre of Advanced Studies in Indology and Museology.

Dr. Ali is, at the moment, conducting a project on "Islamic Art and Archetecture" under National Associateship Scheme of U.G.S. Many research scholars are working under him.

Looking into the archaeological wealth of our country, the consciousness for archaeological research on local and regional basis is gradually dawning upon scholars working in the field. It is with this aim that the Archaeological Survey of India has now launched a "Village-to-village survey scheme" of the archaeological remains throughout the country. That the archaeological departments of different universities in India are also developing research on similar lines is a happy beginning. The present monograph devoted to the study of the archaeological remains of Bhopal district comprising the tahsils of Hujur and Berasia is a modest attempt in the same direction. This is the beginning of a series of Research monographs which Prachya Niketan proposes to publish in due course.

We have done our best to make this study as up-to-date as possible. Archaeological wealth of the district, which are known or hitherto unknown have been discussed alike. Results of explorations conducted by the staff and students of Prachya Niketan along with the achievements of the Departments of Archaeology, both Central as well as the State together with some of the outstanding discoveries made by local enthusiasts have all been incorporated in the present monograph. Detailed descriptions, fresh interpretations and indentifications have been given wherever required. The total picture that has emergered is, in our opinion, bound to attract scholars to make deeper investigations into the archaeological wealth of the area concerned.

For a long time I have been advocating the necessity of taking up regional and subregional studies, and studies of our towns and cities. How rewarding such a study can be was shown by a study devoted to the archaeology of Ahmadnagar by Professor Pramod Gadre of Ahmadnagar College, as far back as 1970. So when Dr. Rahman Ali, got a Lecturership in Bhopal, 1 advised him to concentrate his attention to Bhopal itself. The region has played a prominant part throughout our long historic past. And now during the last 20 years, it has been found to be exceptionally rich in Stone Age antiquities. So all this has to be brought to the notice of laymen as well as scholars in India and abroad. Dr. R.K. Sharma and Dr. Rahman Ali have made a beginning. The book does not claim to be critical nor exhaustive but just informative. I hope they will follow up with other regional studies.

**Contents and Sample Pages**