V. S. Wakankar

Vishnu Shridhar Wakanakar
Born	(1919-05-04)4 May 1919 Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh
Died	3 April 1988(1988-04-03) (aged 68) Singapore
Education	G. D. (Art), M. A. and Ph. D.
Known for	Discovering the Bhimbetka rock caves.
Awards	Padmashree in 1975

Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar (4 May 1919 – 3 April 1988) was an Indian archeologist.

In 1957 Wakankar discovered the Bhimbetka rock caves.^[1] In 1970 UNESCO inscribed the Bhimbetka rock caves as a World Heritage Site. The Bhimbetka rock caves exhibit the earliest traces of human life in India.

He established the Wakankar Indological/ Cultural Research Trust in Ujjain, India. In 1975, he was awarded the Padmashree award, one of India's highest civilian honors.

Life sketch of late Padmashree Dr Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar

Born on 4 May 1919 at Neemuch (M. P.) Education: G. D. (Art), M. A. and Ph. D.

Director: Bharati Kala Bhavan, Rock Art Research Center

Founder President: Wakankar Bharati Sanskriti Anveshan Nyas

1963: Dorabjee Tata Trust Scholarship for education in France

1961-63: French government Scholarship for Research in Sorbornne, France

1966: Invitation from U.S.A. for studies in Rock Arts

1975: Recipient of "Padmashree"

1981: Presentation of paper at Capo de Ponte – Italy

1984: Exhibition on "India’s contribution to the World" in USA

1984: Studies in Mayan and Aztec civilization in USA

Published more than 6 books and 400 publications

Lectured at more than 16 places abroad

Activities of Wakankar Shodh Sansthan

Rock arts

Dr V. S. Wakankar the "Pitamaha" of Rock Art School in India had carried out extensive work on Rock Art in India and abroad since 1954. In this connection, he studied rock arts in UK, Austria, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Greece, Mexico, Egypt and USA.

With co-workers like Dr. Surendrakumar Arya, Dr. (Mrs.) Daljit Khare, Dr. Girish Chandra Sharma, Dr. Narayan Vyas, Dr. Giriraj, Mr. Kailash Pande, Mr. Pancholiji, Dr. Jitendradutta Tripathi, Dr. (Mrs.) Bharati Shrotri, Dr. Dubey as well as Mr. U. N. Mishra, Mr. Lothar Banke, Mr. Irwin Mayer, Mr. Robert Brooks, Dr V. S. Wakankar, did extensive research in the field of Rock Arts.

Dr. Wakankar discovered and studied more than 4000 rock caves in India and also discovered rock shelter paintings in Europe and America, dating of Indian artists activities date back to 40,000 years ago.

Today "Wakankar Shodh Sansthan" boasts of a private collection of about 7500 sketches of Rock art paintings sketched by none other than Dr. Wakankar himself of which about 4000 are those discovered by Dr. Wakankar himself.

Archeological Surveys

Since 1954, Dr. Wakankar along with his colleagues Mr. Sachidananda Nagdeve, Mr. Muzaffar Qureshi, Mr. Rahim Guttiwala, explored the ravines of Chambal and Narmada rivers and carried out excavations at Maheshwar (1954), Navada Toli (1955), Manoti (1960), Awara (1960), Indragadh (1959), Kayatha (1966), Mandsaur(1974, 1976), Azadnagar(1974), Dangawada (1974, 1982), Verconium Roman site in England (1961) and Incoliev in France (1962), Runija (1980), etc.

Numismatics and Epigraphy

An expert in the field of Numismatics and Epigraphy Dr. Wakankar has collected and studied about 5500 coins ranging from 5th Century B. C. onwards. These are today the pride collection of the "Wakankar Shodh Sansthan".

Dr. Jagannath Dubey, Dr. Murali Reddy, late Mr. Narayan Bhatiji have contributed immensely to this Herculean task of collection and painstaking study. Apart from this, he studied more than 15000 coins at Ujjain.

Similarly, ranging from 2nd Century B. C. is a collection of about 250 inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Brahmi languages which enriches the collection of "Wakankar Shodh Sansthan".

Dr. Wakankar worked with eminent personalities such as Dr. Sankalia, Mr. Mortimer Wheeler, Mr. K. K. Lele, Mr. S. K. Dikshit, Mr. Jerry Jacobson, Mr. N. R. Banerjee, Dr. S. B. Deo, Dr. Dhavalikar, Dr. Tilner, Prof. Deen Glanial, Prof. Allchio, Dr. Burkitt, Dr. Zeunner, Prof. A. Leroi Gourham, etc.

Epilogue

Dr. Wakankar continued his research in ancient archaeology and ancient Indian history. He was responsible for tracing the basin of the now-dried-up Saraswati river, that is said to hold secrets to much of the Indian civilization. The institutions he founded are alive today and can be visited in Ujjain. ^[2]

References