Mahasenasiri Riches of Indian Archaeological and Cultural Studies : A Felicitation Volume in Honour of Dr. I. K. Sarma (Set of 2 Vol.)

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The present volumes provide a panoramic view of Indian Historical studies covering Archaeology, Art & Architecture, Epigraphy, Numismatics, Iconography, Religion & Philosophy, Social and economic History.

The papers in the two volumes add significant insights to our understanding of the various facets of Indian History, Culture and Archaeology. I am sure this book will attract the scholars, students and laymen alike.

Contributors: Robert G. Bednarik; Jagat Pati Joshi; Prof. Adiga Sundara; Prof. M.D.N. Sahi; Dr. R.P. Sharma; J. Manuel; Dr. Krishna Kumar; Prof. Brajesh Krishna; Dr. Sila Tripati; Dr. A.S. Gaur; Dr. Sundaresh; Dr. Alok Tripathi; Dr. C. Margabandhu; Dr. (Mrs.) Shantisri Banerji; Dr. Niharika Srivastava; Dr. G.C. Chauley; Prof. S. Rama Krishna Pasipaty; Dr. Ajit Kumar; Dr. B. Sashisekharan; Dr. B. Raghunatha Rao; R. Krishnaiah; Sh. Nayan Anand Chakraborty; Dr. D.N. Dimri; Dr. Sangeeta Chakraborty; Dr. P.D. Balaji; Prof. K. Seshadri; Dr. B. Subrahmanyam; Prof. (Dr.) Swarankamal Bhowmik; Dr. K. Padmanabha; C.B. Patil; Dr. Milan Kumar Chauley; Dr. K. Rama; K.V. Rao; Dr. Sanjib Kumar Singh; Dr. V. Meena Kumari; Dr. Viraj Shah; Dr. R.C. Agrawala; Prof. Raju Kalidos; Dr. S.V. Padigar; Dr. Onkar Chauhan; Dr. G. Jawaharlal; Dr. (Mrs.) Haripriya Rangarajan; Dr. K.M. Suresh; Dr. K. Suryanarayana; S.V. Venkateshaiah; J. Varaprasada Rao; M.V. Visweswara; Dr. M.S. Ramachandra Rao; Mrs. J. Amara Jyothi; Dr. Swoyambhu Dhar Tuladhar; Dr. A. Rose Mary; Prof. R. Nath; Dr. B.R. Mani; Dr. M.D. Sampath; Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy; Dr. Bharati K. Shelat; Dr. P.V.P. Sastry; Dr. G. Kamalakar; Prof. Dr. (Mrs.) Sukla Das; Dr. D.N. . Lielukhine; Dr. Rasesh Jamindar; Dr. C.A. Padmanabha Sastry; Dr. NS. Ramachandra Murthy; Prof V.K. Raman; Dr. Chithra Madhavan; Dr. Brahmananda Deshpande; Dr. H.M. Nagaraja Rao; Dr. N. Havalaiah; Dr. A. Satyanarayana; Dr. D. Raja Reddy; Dr. Beena Sarasan; Prashant P. Kulakarni; Dr. S.C. Dhupate; Dr. Shankar Goyal; Prof. Devendra Handa; Dr. S. Suresh; Dr. M. Ilyas Quddusi; Dr. S.V.P. Halakatti; Prof. M. Krishna Kumari; Shri M.C. Joshi; Dr. Hampa Nagaraiajaiah; Dr. Kamala Hampana; Dr. M.V. Ramkumar Ratnam; Sri B. Vidyadhara Rao; Dr. E. Siva Nagi Reddy, Stapathi; Dr. K. Kusuma Bai; Prof. P. Chenna Reddy; Dr. Siddheswiar Jena; Dr. C.M. Agrawal; Dr. Shitala Prasad Pandey.

Prof. Peddarapu Chenna Reddy (1959) got his Ph.D Degree from S.V. University, Tirupati in 1988. Dr. Reddy has to his credit more than 53 research papers published in National and International Journals, Felicitation and Commemorative volumes. He is the life member of various Professional organizations. He is the Joint Secretary of South Indian History Congress and Andhra Pradesh History Congress. He was the Vice President of South Indian History Congress, District Chairman and President of Lions Club International (324 D3), Vice President Indian Red Cross Society, Srisailam. 18 M. Phil's and 2 Ph.D. Degrees were awarded under his guidance. He is an active Social and academic worker and is instrumental in establishing in Government Degree College and Dr. Ambedkar Open University Study Centre in the Srisailam Project for the poor, dalit and tribal people.

He received several felicitations, and awards such as Global Telugus Glory Award (1995); Sahiti Saraswati Siripi Anjaneyulu State award (1999); Best Teacher Award by Bandaru Sarojini Devi Memorial Foundation (2000). Moreover, his Bio-data was published in Who is who in the World and V.I.P's of A.P. International (1995-96)
. He has published Guilds in Medieval Andhra Desa. He is now editing a series of felicitation volumes in honor of distinguished Indologists, Archaeologists, Anthropologists, Historians, Art Historians and Folklorists of India. The Series is entitled, Indological Studies in the New Millennium. The first volume in this series is the felicitation volume of Prof. Birudu Raju Rama Raju the Father of South Indian Folkloristic, Folklore in the New Millennium, New Delhi 2004. Second volume is Prof. P.V.P. Sastry, famous Epigraphist Festschrift, entitled Brahmasri: Researches in Archaeology, History & Culture in The New Millennium, Delhi, 2004. Third book is "Recent Trends in Historical Studies" (Festschrift to Professor Ravula Soma Reddy) New Delhi, 2005. Fourth Book is the present one. Fifth Volume is "Soundarya Shri: Archaeological Studies in the New Millennium" (Festschrift to Prof. Anantha Adiga Sundara) (in press). Sixth Volume is Krishnabhinandana: Archaeological, Historical and Cultural Studies (Felicitation Volume Dedicated to Dr. V.V.K. Krishna Sastry),' New Delhi, 2005. Seventh Volume is Readings in Society and Religion of Medieval South India, New Delhi, 2005. Eighth Vol. is Raja Vijayam : Spectrum of Historical Studies in The New Millennium (Festschrift to Prof. K. Rajayyan), New Delhi, 2005. Ninth Vol. is "Exploring The Mind of Ancient Man" (Festschrift to Robert G Bednarik), New Delhi, 2005.

He is now Dean and Head of the Dept., School of History, Culture and Archaeology, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Srisailam Campus, Andhra Pradesh and Secretary of College Planning and Development Council, Government Degree College, Srisailam Project.

The life and career of Dr. Inguva Karthikeya Sarma, in whose honour this festschrifts being presented, stands as the best testimony to the fact that through sheer dint of merit, hard work and perseverance one can rise to great heights. Here is a man who built his own academic and professional career Dr. Sarma, took his postgraduate (University first) and doctoral degree from the Universities of Nagpur and Poona respectively, with Ancient Indian History and Archaeology as his specialisation. He then completed 'Diploma in Archaeology' course from the School of Archaeology, New Delhi. Thus equipped with a thorough theoretical knowledge, Dr. Sarma began his professional career as a field Archaeologist, by participating in the famous Nagarjunakonda excavation under the guidance of the illustrious personality of Prof. Rayaprolu Subrahmanyam. It is here Dr. Sarma began developing his skills and interest in Salvage Archaeology.

Dr. Sarma joined the Archaeological Survey of India in 1958 as Technical Assistant and improved his professional skills by participating in many major excavations such as Nagarjunakonda (AP), Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Pauni (Maharashtra), Paiyampalli (Tamilnadu) and Surkotada (Gujarat). During his stint as Technical Assistant in Archaeological Survey of India he completed 'village to village survey of antiquarian remains in the districts of Kurnool, Cuddapah and Anantapur, which threw a flood of light into the unknown recesses of proto historic Andhra Pradesh.

He became Deputy Superintending Archaeologist in 1973 and during this period conducted significant excavations at Gudimallam, Amaravathi, Guntupalli, and Pedavegi and published detailed reports immediately after the excavations are over.

His most significant contribution to Salvage Archaeology in Andhra Pradesh was the completion of two major projects: 1. Antiquarian remains in the submersible areas of Srisailam in the districts of Kurnool and Mahaboobnagar, 2. Submersible remains under the Mylavaram dan in district Cuddapah. He successfully completed these two monumental projects, which involved systematic excavation of major sites, physical transplantation of temples and establishment of site and district museums. His transplantation of Kudali Sangameswaram and Papanasi group of temples in the Krishna valley testify to his zeal for meticulous planning and scientific approach in Salvage Archaeology. This project also provided significant insights into the ritual paraphernalia involved in the consecration of a temple.

During his tenure as Superintending Archaeologist and as the head of the temple survey project, Southern region, Madras (1978-83) he completed another major project on the Architectural Survey of Temples of Gangas of Karnataka As Director (Archaeology) of Archaeological Survey of India between 1987-93 he was in charge of many major conservation projects, museums and implementation of world heritage programmes. Dr Sarma's professional career in Archaeological Survey of India as Technical Assistant, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist and finally Director, amply testify to his phenomenal contributions to various branches of knowledge as Field Archaeologist, Conservationist, Excavator, Historian, Art Specialist, Numismatist, Marine archaeologist and Scientist etc. He represents perhaps the last generation of scholars in Archaeological Survey of India who gave utmost importance to timely publication of reports as also to precision in planning and execution of archaeological work, be it field oriented, excavations or conservation

Dr. Sarma's contribution extended beyond the boundaries of Archaeological Survey of India and his credentials as an academician received wide recognition. He served in various capacities as General President, Sectional President and Chairperson in the academic organizations such as Archaeological Society of India, Numismatic Society of India, Place Names Society of India, Epigraphical Society of India, A P History Congress etc. He was the regional Coordinator for the preparation of Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology and Convener of the Expert Advisory Committee on the Export of Non antiquities in the State Governments of Kerala and Tamilnadu.

He is associated with special teaching assignments and examinerships in the Universities of antiquita Nagpur, Bhopal, Nagarjuna, Osmania, Madras, Poona and Punjab, Karnatak University, Dharwad, Bharatiyar University, Coimbatore, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi I am happy to learn that Dr. Sarma was also closely associated with Telugu University, Srisailam Campus where he delivered Guest lectures on various topics ranging from Religion to Conservation of Antiquities benefiting the students and faculty there. He was also one of the members of the Board of Studies of our School at Srisailam.

Dr. Sarma's expertise won acclaims from the academic and professional circles across the boundaries of India and he ably represented the Indian Scholarship in various International Conferences/Symposia. He visited several countries on their invitation such as China, Nepal, Italy, England and Norway. He studied the Buddhist monuments and sites in China under the Indo China Cultural exchange programme and published his monumental work Buddhist Monuments in China and South East Asia'.

After a long career in Archaeological Survey of India spanning nearly years, his area of activity again shifted to his native state, when he took up the Directorship of Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad, in which capacity he served till his retirement in 1997. Under his stewardship Salarjung Museum prospered with the edition of New Galleries and through organization of several Seminars/ Conferences/Symposia on various branches of Conservations, Museology, Art History etc.