Raipur Circle - Archaeological Survey of India

REPORT ON 150 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
ORGANIZED BY RAIPUR CIRCLE, RAIPUR
Archaeological Survey of India Raipur Circle, Raipur organized the inaugural function of
the 150 th Anniversary Celebration of Archaeological Survey of India in circle level on 24 th Jan.
2012 at 6:30 PM in Hotel Babylon International, Mana Road,
Raipur. Shri Brijmohan
Agrawal, Hon’ble minister
of Culture & Tourism
inaugurated the function by
lighting the auspicious
lamp. On this august
occasion Cunningham
memorial lecture was
delivered by Prof.
Maheshwari Prasad Deptt.
of Ancient Indian History
& Culture, Banaras Hindu
University. The function
was graced by the presence
of hon’ble Chief Guest Shri Brijmohan Agrawal Minister, Culture & Tourism, Govt.
Chhattisgarh , Guest of honour Shri Manohar Pandey, Secretary Culture & Archaeology , Govt.
of Chhattisgarh and many more dignitaries, professionals, academicians and students of different
organizations. Dr. B.R. Mani, Additional Director General, Archaeological Survey of India,
presided over the session convened by Shri S.B.Ota Regional Director, Central region, Bhopal,
Archaeological Survey of India.
Dr. Praveen Kumar
Mishra, Superintending
Archaeologist, Archaeological
Survey of India, Raipur Circle
while delivering his welcome
speech, apprised the scholars
and dignitaries on the
multifaceted achievements of
ASI during its marathon 150
yrs of history. This was
followed by the much awaited
happening of the function.

In this eventful evening under the colorful lights of hotel Babylon International doyen of
Archaeologists and Conservators irrespective of state or central services who have rendered their
valuable services to
archaeology especially in
Chhattisgarh were honoured
with medallion, memento
and Prasathipatra by the
hon’ble minister Shri
Brijmohan Agrawal.
Besides, the past officials
and staff of Archaeological
Survey of India namely Shri
A.K.Sharma, Narayan Vyas
, C.L.N.Shastri ,Shri
M.R.Chaturbidani and others
were honoured on the
occasion by Dr. B.R. Mani, Additional Director General, A.S.I by offering shawl and memento.
‘Samsmriti’, a booklet on protected monuments of Chhattisgarh was also released on the
occasion by the chief guest.
Convener of the celebration Shri S.B.Ota Regional Director, Central region, once again
welcomed the luminaries. He told such celebrations are being taken place all over the central
region particularly at Bhopal, Lucknow, Nagpur, and Indore. He emphasized on the
archaeological wealth of the region and promised pay all necessary help to scholars who are
doing their researches in the field.
Secretary Culture &
Archaeology, Govt. of
Chhattisgarh Sri Pandey
congratulated the
Archaeological Survey of
India for successfully
completing 150 years of
dedicated service and
expressed his happiness and
told it is great to be a part of
the grand celebration of the
ASI which is preserving the
glorious past of our nation for
the future generation.

In his address Sri Agrawal louded the contribution of A.S.I. in India and abroad which
was established in Dec. 1861 with the formal appointment of Alexander Cunningham as the
Director General of Archaeology in India. He told that the requirement of the time is to join
hands together be it the central govt. agency, state govt. agency or the common man. He
emphasized the need to develop these heritage sites in archaeological perspectives instead of a
tourist destination. He congratulated the Raipur Circle office for its unbelievable growth within a
short span of time under the astute leadership of Dr. Praveen Kumar Mishra. Speaking on Sirpur
he told that the government is leaving no stone unturned for its inclusion in the list of World
Heritage monuments. For the overall growth of archaeological researches in the state he
promised to work together with archaeological Survey of India.
Dr. B.R. Mani,
Additional Director General,
representing for the Director
General, ASI congratulated all
on the occasion and told that
Archaeological Survey of India
being the premier agency for
the archaeological works in
India has been discharging its
efficient service to the field.
Further he told that these
priceless antiquarian remains
are the property of the entire
mankind and it is the
responsibility of every citizen of the nation to discharge their selfless duty for the cause of
cultural properties.
The celebration anchored by Dr. Rajiv Dwivedi, Asstt. Superintending Archaeologist was
accomplished with the vote of thanks articulated by Shri Krishna Chandra Srivastava, Deputy
Superintending Archaeologist of Raipur Circle. A cultural programme including Puratattva Geet
Karma Nritya and Pandvani was an additional attraction of the programme.