Numismatica Indica- Festschrift to Prof. D. Raja Reddy

It is a festschrift presented to Dr. D. Raja Reddy, a reputed Neurosurgeon and Numismatist. The Volume contains a wide range of articles on coins and coinage of 'India right from the beginning till to the recent times such as the punch marked coins and the coins of the PreSatavahana, Satavahana, Sangam, lkshvaku, Vakataka, Chalukya, Alupa, Pallava, Kakatiya, Vijayanagara, Delhi Sultanate, Mughal, Maratha, Sikh, . Awadh and the British along with the Literary evidences on the coins and coinage of India. A galaxy of scholars in Numismatics representing all the states of India have contributed articles in honour of Dr. D. Raja Reddy, a versatile Numismatist and a Historian. The spirit of the book lies in its continuity of history of coinage and the Change over a period of time that made the life of the people comfortable.

Prof. Pedarapu Chenna Reddy (Born in 1959) received his Post Graduate Degree in History from S. K. University, Anantapur in 1984. He was awarded M. Phil in 1986, Ph. D. in History in 1988 and P. G. Diploma in Epigraphy from S. V. University, Tirupati in 1988. He also did a P. G. Diploma Course in Travel and Tourism Management from Andhra University, Waltair in 2001. He took Master of Tourism Management Degree from Madurai Kamaraj University in 2007. His book Guilds in Medieval Andhra Desa was widely acclaimed by the academicians and students alike. Dr. Reddy has to his credit more than 25 Books and 75 research papers on various aspects of archaeology, ancient, medieval and modem History published in National and International Journals, Felicitation and Commemoration volumes. He is life member of Rock Art Society of India, Indian History Congress, South Indian History Congress, A. P. History Congress, Telangana History Congress, Hyderabad Historical Society, Andhra Pradesh Sociological Society, Epigraphical Society of India, Numismatic society of South India, Andhra Pradesh Jaanapada Sahitya Parishat, Pilgrimage Society of India, Folklore Society of South Indian Languages, Indian Red Cross Society, Chaitanya Kavita Vedika, Institute of Asian Studies, World Telugu Federation, Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Indian Association for the Study of conservation of Cultural Property, Museums Association of India, National Museum Institute, Common Wealth Nations Association of Museums, Indian Folklore Congress, Institute of Historical Studies, National Advisory Committee in Mahatma Gandhi National Institute of Research and Social Action. He is member, Board of studies, at Osmania. University, Kakatiya University, Dravidian University, Andhra University, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Acharya Nagarjuna University and also member in technical committee in the Development of Sir Ronald Ross Memorial Museum, Osmania University, Kondavidu Development Committee, Museum Advisory Committee for Island Museum at Nagarjuna Konda, Heritage Tourism Projects (GHMC), Expert advisory Committee (ASI), Governing Body of Chitramayi, State Gallery of Art, Silpasandhya Vedika, A.P. Biodiversity Board of Traditional Knowledge, Co-ordination committee (YAT&C), Conservation and Preservation of the cultural Heritage of AR, State Level Implementation Committee (ASI), Heritage Conservation Committee (HMDA), High Level Committee for 500 Year of Coronation of Sri Krishnadeva Rayalu, Steering Committee of Kakatiya Heritage Project, Greater Visakha Urban Development Authority and expert member in Promotion and Strengthening of local and regional Museums, a National Body of Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. He has attended the annual sessions of various professional bodies and presented many research papers. He was elected as the Vice President, South Indian History Congress, during 2001-2003. He is an active Social worker and educationist. He is the Founder Secretary and was instrumental in establishing in Government Degree College, Dr. Ambedkar Open University Study Centre and Founder Director of 21 st Century Gurukulam in the Srisailam Tribal Area for the poor, dalit and tribal people. He served as Secretary, College Planning and Development Council, Govt.Degree College, Srisailam. He served as Joint Secretary, Andhra Pradesh History Congress and Vice-President, South Indian History Congress during 2006-2008.

He received several felicitations and awards such as Gloilal Telugus Glory Award (1995); Sahiti Saraswati Sripi Anjaneyulu State Award (1999); Best Teacher Award by Badanu Sarojini Devi Memorial Foundation (2000). Eminent Educationist Award (2008); Puratatva Vibhushana Award (2009) and Dr. Y S Rajasekhar Reddy Memorial Award (2010). His Bio-data was published in V. I. Ps of A. P. International (1995-96).

He has edited a series of felicitation volumes in honor of distinguished Indologists, Archaeologists, Anthropologists, Historians, Art Historians and Folklorists of India and Abroad. He has guided 23 M.Phil and 5 Ph.D. scholars till date.

Prof. P. Chenna Reddy, who served as Chairman, Board of Studies and Dean and Head, Dept. of Epigraphy & Written Records, School of History, Culture &Archaeology; Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Andhra Pradesh is holding the post of Director, Dept.of Archaeology & Museums, Govt.of Andhra Pradesh since 2008. He is appointed as a Competent Authority for implementation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 forAndhra Pradesh.

"Many people loose their health and happiness trying to accumulate money and that makes it the most expensive things on Earth-Michael hevy".

'When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is'-Oscar Wilde.

Money is the most important commodity in any person's life. Money is a commodity of immense significance and it has control on most aspects of human existence. India has a hoary past of currency. The Janapadas, the Magadha Empire, the Mauryas, Satavahanas, Sungas, Kushans, Ikshvakus, Vishnukundins, Vakatakas, Guptas, Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas, Chandellas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagara Kings, Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Qutb Shahis, Bahmanis, Marathas, Sikhs, the British East India Company and Princely States of India have had their own mints and issued coins in different shapes and on variety of metals until the paper currency was launched. Metal, even today is used to mint coins. Coins have such a great legacy. Not surprisingly, numismatics has emerged as a major area of research.

The Archaeological Survey of India is the premier organization to explore the antiquities among which coins are also included. The Archaeological Survey of India, State Departments of Archaeology & Museums and some reputed research organizations have collected, studied, displayed and published extensively on the history of coinage in India.

Among the individuals who dedicated themselves to the study of coins include P. L. Gupta, B. N. Mukherjee, Ajay Mitra Shastri & others. Dr. D. Raja Reddy also belongs to this group. Professionally he is a Neurosurgeon and served as the Director, Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad. He has a passion towards collecting, studying and publishing coins. He is credited with discovery of Pre-Satavahana coins from Kotilingala from Telangana region. It changed the known history of Early Andhra Pradesh. I take this opportunity to congratulate him for his total commitment to the discipline of numismatics.

The festschrift brought out in honour of such a distinguished numismatist is a laudable venture. It contains articles contributed by more than 47 scholars and is a worthwhile tribute to the scholarship of Dr. Raja Reddy. I congratulate all the scholars who have contributed to the volume. I thank Prof. P. Chenna Reddy for ably editing the book. Despite his official preoccupations as Director, Department of Archaeology & Museums, Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Chenna Reddy found time to contact scholars and collect articles for the festschrift. I appreciate his attempt in honouring the senior scholars in a befitting manner. I hope this book recrives appreciations from discerning readers.

**Contents and Sample Pages**