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Fund shortage hits AU dept functioning
ALLAHABAD UNIVERSITY'S renowned department of Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology is facing an acute financial crunch. The department, which is member of an elite club of teaching departments of varsities in the country authorised to carry out archaeological excavations and explorations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and credited with making many an important find in the past, has sent an SOS to the AU Vice-Chancellor, informing them that it has no funds to carry out the research activities. It has also requested the VC to immediately release funds to enable it to carry out excavations and explorations already approved by the ASI.
HoD, Ancient History, sends SOS to VC
ALLAHABAD UNIVERSITY'S renowned department of Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology is facing an acute financial crunch.
The department, which is member of an elite club of teaching departments of varsities in the country authorised to carry out archaeological excavations and explorations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and credited with making many an important find in the past, has sent an SOS to the AU Vice-Chancellor, informing them that it has no funds to carry out the research activities. It has also requested the VC to immediately release funds to enable it to carry out excavations and explorations already approved by the ASI.
In the letter dated November 20, 2006 sent to the AU VC Prof Rajen Harshe through the Dean (Arts) office, Head of the Department of Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology Prof RP Tripathi has urged the VC to take notice of the fact that archaeological excavations and explorations by the department are to be conducted for the field season 2006-07.
"But unfortunately the department does not have any funds to implement its research programmes. The department has been conducting excavations at different historical and prehistoric sites every year from its inception which have yielded significant results," the letter adds.
Mentioning that a brief profile of the department has already been submitted, Prof Tripathi goes on to inform that ASI has approved the proposals for excavations and explorations for the current season ie 2006-07 but confesses that the department is not in a position to begin the excavation work as the Centre of Advanced Study (CAS) scheme sanctioned by the University Grants Commission has ended on March 31, 2006 and the department has no funds.
The letter requests the VC to provide financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh to the department for the current field season so that the excavation and exploration programmes may be carried out and also speaks of submitting a proposal to the UGC for providing special assistance to the department for its research programmes too as early as possible.
In another letter dated November 22, 2006 to the VC, Prof Tripathi has requested him to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the maintenance and upgradation of its pride— the Prof GR Sharma memorial Archaeological Museum.
The letter informs the VC that the museum houses antiquities unearthed from excavations conducted by the department at different sites and plays a significant role in the field of archaeological researches. Prof Tripathi through the letter has informed Prof Harshe that a number of Indian and foreign scholars visit the museum in connection with their research works but confesses that the available facilities are not adequate and that for want of funds it is not possible to even display most of the antiquities in a proper manner.
When contacted, Prof Tripathi conceded having sent the letters to the VC requesting financial aid. "Last academic session, the ASI approved excavations for Balam Baghada, Hetapatti and Kapasi Kala sites besides also giving the green signal for explorations in Ganga Valley and Vindhya region. But due to the shortage of funds, we could not undertake the work. This year again we have received the persimmon of the ASI for these sites," he said.
Prof Tripathi said that after being informed by him about the funds crunch during a recent surprise inspection of the department, Vic-Chancellor Prof Rajen Harshe promised him all support and had asked him to make formal requests for funds.
