MP Culture, Tourism and Religious Trusts Minister 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 Thakur honored 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 traditional shawl, coconut and a certificate of appreciation.
She also honored the winners of the Jashne-Azadi Ka Safarnama exhibition organized by the Directorate of Archaeology.
Minister Thakur also released the book Shailashraya based on the rock paintings of Vidisha in the ceremony.
She 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 Sheo 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.
Dr. Shivakant Bajpai 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 in excavation and exploration. 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.
Devendra Singh Sood has retired from the post of Deputy Superintending Engineer from Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Division. He received international awards for outstanding work in the field of conservation of Angkor Wat Temple, Taprom Temple and other monuments in Cambodia. He has special contribution in 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.
