Prof. Ramanath Mishra conferred with Dr. Wakankar National Award
Bhopal : Well-known archaeologist Prof. Ramanath Mishra was conferred with the prestigious Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar National Award of Madhya Pradesh goverment for the year 2014-15 on behalf of Culture Minister Sushri Usha Thakur, at his residence in Lucknow today. Minister Sushri Thakur and Principal Secretary Culture Shri Shivshekhar Shukla took part in the award ceremony which was conducted online from Indore and Bhopal respectively. Archaeological Officer Dr. Ramesh Yadav presented Prof. Mishra with an amount of Rs 2 lakh and a citation on behalf of the culture minister.
Sushri Thakur said that we have to confer the national honour online instead of a grand event due to Covid. Archaeological history is the identity and pride of any nation. It is very important to be kept in such an inspiring form before the next generation. She expressed the hope that Madhya Pradesh will continue to benefit from the archaeological knowledge and guidance of Prof. Mishra.
While bowing to the land of Madhya Pradesh, Prof. Ramanath Mishra, said that from the year 1959, the opportunity that he got to teach in Sagar was an inspiration in the work of art and archaeology. He said that there is still a vast archaeological heritage in Madhya Pradesh, for which efforts are needed to uncover it. He said that I am greatful to the land of Madhya Pradesh, which gave recognition to my work.
Dr. Ramanath Mishra has a Master’s degree in Ancient Indian History and Archaeology from Banaras Hindu University and a Ph.D. on “Yaksha Cult and Iconography” from Dr. Harisingh Gaur University, Sagar. in 1968. He served as an Assistant Professor from 1959 to 1976 at Dr. Harisingh Gaur University and as a Reader and Professor at Jiwaji University, Gwalior from the year 1976 to 1985. After serving in Allahabad University in the year 1985-86, Prof. Mishra again served as Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaelogical Studies Department of Jiwaji University from 1986 to 2001. He then served as a Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla. As many as 108 research papers and nine books of Prof. Mishra have been published. Prof. Mishra has presented special lectures in many national and international research seminars. The Government of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh gave him the National Honour and Recommendation Award respectively for his book Bharatiya Murtikala.
Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar National Award is given by the state government to honour and encourage national level outstanding talent in the field of archaeological conservation and archaeological culture. Born in Neemuch, Dr. Wakankar had discovered the World Heritage Smarak Samuh Bhimbetka in 1957. He also made very important contributions in archaeological excavations like Manoti, Indragarh, Kayatha, Dangwara, Runija etc. Padmashri Dr. Wakankar, a life member of the Archaeological Council of India and the Indian Society for Pre and Protohistoric and Quaternary Studies, organized exhibitions based on rock paintings with lectures in the US and Europe. Dr. Wakankar, who held the post of Director Excavation in the Department of Culture and Archaeology, placed Bhimbetka rock paintings on the world map.