- Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar National Honor Ceremony: Devendra Singh Sood, Dr. Shivakant Vajpayee awarded
Bhopal: Culture, Tourism and Religious Trusts and Endowments Minister Ms. Usha Thakur said that archaeologists have an important contribution in saving the culture and identity of India. Minister Sushri Thakur was addressing the Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar National Honor Ceremony in the State Museum Auditorium. Minister Ms. Thakur honored Shri Devendra Singh Sood with Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar National Award for the year 2020-21 and Dr. Shivakant Vajpayee for the year 2021-22. An honorarium of Rs 2 lakh was awarded along with shawl, quince and a certificate of appreciation. He also honored the winners of the Jashne-Azadi Ka Safarnama exhibition organized by the Directorate of Archaeology.
Minister Ms. Thakur also released the book Shailashraya based on the rock paintings of Vidisha in the ceremony. He saluted the efforts of respected personalities for establishing the sentiments of cultural nationalism on the international horizon. He thanked all the archaeologists for making the authenticity of archeology available to the masses.
Principal Secretary Culture and Tourism Shri Shiv Shekhar Shukla said that the Culture Department is proud to honor the archaeologists who have done important work in preserving the historical heritage of India. He said that to be successful in the direction of heritage conservation, ASI, Culture Department and Archeology will have to make joint efforts as well as take cooperation from the general public. He also informed about the efforts being made by the government towards preserving the heritage.
Sood has retired from post of Deputy Superintending Engineer
Shri Devendra Singh Sood has retired from the post of Deputy Superintending Engineer from Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Division. He has been awarded the honor of “Chevalier” in 2018 and “Officier” in 2022 by the Royal Government of Cambodia for his outstanding work in the field of conservation of Angkor Wat Temple, Taprom Temple and other monuments in Cambodia. There has been a special contribution in the conservation of many monuments like Yashovarman’s Sondhani Pillar in Mandsaur, Bagh Caves of Dhar, monuments of Bhojshala and Mandu, Kakanmath Temple of Morena and Sanchi Stupa of Raisen.
Vajpayee is serving as Superintending Archaeologist
Dr. Shivakant Vajpayee is currently serving as Superintending Archaeologist in the Archaeological Survey of India, Jabalpur circle. Archaeological excavations in Bhimbaitka (Madhya Pradesh), Shravasti (Uttar Pradesh), Dhalewan (Punjab), Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Balathal (Rajasthan), Hathnur (Maharashtra) made important contributions to the surveys. More than 50 important research papers and 10 books have been written, published and edited. Along with this, he has a special identity as the director of the excavation of the ancient site Damru (District Balodabazar) which connects the links of the extinct history of Chhattisgarh. Dr. Bajpayee represented the country in Nepal. Has participated in academic tours and international seminars to Britain, Sri Lanka and Italy.
Commissioner Archeology Mrs. Urmila Shukla, Deputy Director Mr. Ramesh Yadav along with concerned officers and archeology lovers were present in the ceremony.
