Aligarh: International Seminar on ‘The Recent Trends in Indian Archaeology’ Held

International Seminar: The two-day international seminar on “The Recent Trends in Indian Archaeology,” organised by the Dep History, featured Prof. Irfan Habib, Professor Emeritus at the Centre of Advanced Study, Department of History, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), as the keynote speaker. “Archaeology is not only the study of antiquity but also a science that originated during the renaissance in Western Europe and later came to India during the colonial period,” he added.

The importance of integrity and honesty as fundamental attributes for students of archaeology was emphasised by Prof. Habib as he highlighted the development and significant accomplishments of archaeology. He urged the audience to uphold these values throughout their studies.

The dean of the faculty of social science at AMU, Prof. Asmer Beg, spoke on the politicisation of academia and emphasised the value of honesty in the discipline of archaeology. He emphasised the significance of maintaining consistency between words and deeds.

A special invitee, Prof. Arif Nazir, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, stressed the value of logical study of archaeology and the necessity of a logical approach to archaeological research.

At Delhi University, Prof. Seema Bawa, chair of the history department and dean of the faculty of social sciences, presented a paper titled “Fragments of Materiality: Terracotta Figures from the Yamuna Valley.” Her talk included incisive case studies that looked at terracotta sculptures and artefacts from various parts of India during the early period of history. The relevance of these artefacts in terms of design, materiality, and cultural context was underlined by Bawa’s research, highlighting India’s long history of intercultural interaction and artistic creation

Dr. Swapna Liddle, Advisor, INTACH, Delhi, delivered a lecture titled “Shahjahanabad – Mapping the Archaeology of a Living Site.” Shahjahanabad (modern Delhi), which she used as a case study, was discussed in relation to the difficulties associated with managing archaeological sites that are still inhabited. For such historic and cultural monuments, she emphasised the need for better preservation techniques.

AMU faculty members Attend Annual Conference

International Seminar on ‘The Recent Trends in Indian Archaeology’

Earlier, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the university’s founder, and Prof. Gulfishan Khan, Chairperson and Coordinator of the Centre of Advanced Study, Department of History, AMU, welcomed the visitors and emphasised the historical significance of archaeology at AMU. She complimented Prof. Nurul Hasan and Prof. R.C. Gaur for their contributions to the area of archaeology and referred to their well-known work, “Asar-us Sanadid.”

Prof. Gulfishan Khan later expressed her sincere gratitude to all the attendees, colleagues, students, and staff members who helped make the seminar a success in her final remarks.

In addition to highlighting India’s rich history and cultural variety through the prism of its archaeological heritage, the event promised to be an insightful investigation of current trends and issues in Indian archaeology.

The ICHR-funded event, which featured eminent academics and researchers, acted as a forum for discussion and to advance archaeological study in India.

In addition to recognising AMU’s long-standing involvement with archaeology, the event gave academics and archaeology enthusiasts a great chance to explore the rapidly changing field of Indian archaeology, bridging the past and the present and influencing the direction of future Indian archaeological research.