Archaeology and the Public Purpose

A groundbreaking work that intertwines the history of post-Independence archaeology in India with the life and contributions of Madhukar Narhar Deshpande, a pioneering Indian archaeologist. The book reveals untold conservation stories around iconic sites like the Qutb Minar in Delhi and Gol Gumbad in Bijapur, as well as the lesser-known efforts to preserve the Badrinath temple. It also explores the shared intellectual chemistry between Deshpande and India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, at historic cave shrines such as Ajanta and Ellora. Through Deshpande's narrative, the book reconstructs the institutional history of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), highlighting the challenges faced by its director generals and the processes that shaped its discoveries.

Lahiri, N. (2021). Archaeology and the Public Purpose. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190130480.001.0001