This unit focuses on the crucial contributions of Indian archaeologists, particularly those who worked under John Marshall and those who were trained by Mortimer Wheeler, bridging the colonial and post-colonial eras of the ASI.
1. Contributions of R.D. Banerjee (Rakhaldas Banerjee)
R.D. Banerjee was an Indian archaeologist and officer of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) working under Sir John Marshall.
Major Contribution: Discovery of Mohenjo-Daro
In 1921-22, Banerjee was excavating a Buddhist Stupa (from the Kushan period) at a site in the Sindh province (now in Pakistan).
Below the stupa, he found flint tools and distinctive seals that were clearly much older.
He recognized their antiquity and correctly identified them as belonging to a pre-Mauryan "chalcolithic" (copper-age) culture.
His discovery of the "Mound of the Dead" (Mohenjo-Daro) was the crucial second piece of the puzzle (along with Sahani's finds at Harappa) that led Marshall to announce the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization in 1924.
Other Contributions
Banerjee was also a historian and epigraphist, known for his work on the Pala dynasty of Bengal and for identifying the Gangaridai (a people mentioned by Greek historians) with Bengal.
Exam Mnemonic:R.D. Banerjee → M.D. (Mohenjo-Daro). Remember, he found the *second* major IVC site, which confirmed its status as a full-fledged civilization.
2. Contributions of Dayaram Sahani
Rai Bahadur Dayaram Sahani was another key Indian officer in the ASI under John Marshall.
Major Contribution: First Excavations at Harappa
Harappa had been known since the 19th century (seals from there were even published by Cunningham), but its true significance was not understood.
In 1920-21, Sir John Marshall assigned Dayaram Sahani to conduct the first systematic excavations at the site.
Sahani's excavations unearthed seals, pottery, and structural remains that were clearly part of a major, unknown ancient city.
His findings were the *first* evidence of what would soon be called the Indus Valley Civilization.
Exam Mnemonic:D. Sahani → H. (Harappa). (This is a stretch, but helps differentiate!) Remember, Sahani was at Harappa *first*, and Banerjee was at Mohenjo-Daro *second*. Both were needed for the final discovery.
3. Contributions of Nani Gopal Majumdar
N.G. Majumdar was a brilliant and dedicated ASI archaeologist who significantly expanded the map of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Major Contribution: Exploration in Sindh
While Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were the "capital cities," Majumdar was an explorer.
He conducted extensive, systematic surveys in the Sindh province, walking from site to site.
He discovered and test-excavated numerous other IVC sites, including:
Chanhudaro: A major manufacturing center, famous for bead-making.
Amri: A key site that showed an earlier, distinct cultural phase *before* the mature Harappan period. This helped establish the chronology of the IVC.
Tragic Death: Majumdar's dedication to fieldwork was legendary. In 1938, he was tragically shot and killed by dacoits (bandits) while exploring in the Dadu district of Sindh.
4. Contributions of Braj Basi Lal (B.B. Lal)
Professor B.B. Lal represents the post-independence generation of Indian archaeologists. He was one of the first Indians to be trained in scientific excavation by Sir Mortimer Wheeler in 1944.
He later became the Director-General of the ASI (1968-1972) and led some of the most important excavations in post-colonial India.
Major Contributions:
Bridging Epics and Archaeology: Lal's most famous work tried to find archaeological correlations for the great Indian epics.
"Archaeology of the Ramayana Sites": He led excavations at sites mentioned in the Ramayana, including Ayodhya, Bharadwaj Ashram, and Shringaverapura.
"Archaeology of the Mahabharata Sites": He excavated Hastinapura, the epic's capital. Here, he famously associated the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture (an Iron Age culture) with the period of the Mahabharata story.
Harappan Excavations: He led the major excavation at Kalibangan in Rajasthan, a very important IVC site. Discoveries here included a "ploughed field" (the earliest known), fire altars, and a "Lower Town" and "Citadel" complex.
Training:Readership: As a professor and DG, he trained and influenced almost every major Indian archaeologist of the next generation.
Exam Tip: B.B. Lal is the key figure connecting Wheeler's scientific methods to a new, indigenous Indian archaeological focus. He is famous for his work on the "Epic Sites" (Mahabharata/Ramayana) and his excavation at Kalibangan.