06-12-2009, 10:30 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Images of Kushana & Gupta coins:
http://ignca.nic.in/asp/showbig.asp?projid=ac27<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A barely literate grocer with an eye for priceless antiques
Mohammed Iqbal
Kukki, whose two-decade work led to the discovery of an ancient civilisation in Hadauti region, longs for recognitionÂ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He has discovered 55 prehistoric rock paintings
My work can be used to convert Bundi into a heritage destination, says Kukki
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JAIPUR: A barely literate grocer with a passion for the artefacts of yore who has brought the spectacular prehistoric wealth of Rajasthanâs Bundi district to the world map of archaeology is yearning for some well-deserved recognition. His work spanning two decades has even led to the discovery of an ancient civilisation in the Hadauti region.
Om Prakash Sharma alias Kukki hardly fits into the image of a professional archaeologist. An eighth standard drop-out, he owns a grocery shop in Bundi town but has devoted his life to the search for priceless antiques and archaeological sites in the nearby Vindhyachal mountain ranges.
The 54-year-old amateur archaeologist has discovered as many as 55 sites of rock paintings belonging to the Mesolithic-Chalcolithic age which provide a glimpse of the flora and fauna of the prehistoric era, and accomplished a remarkable exploration of copper age tools at Namana and elsewhere.
Subsequent excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Namana confirmed that the hilly area was the centre of a pre-Harappan civilisation.
The ASI recognised Kukkiâs discovery of three copper tools â two sharp-edged axes and a scraper â from the site in the Indian Archaeology Review 1991-92.
Kukkiâs archaeological and numismatic finds include tools such as chopper, cleaver, hand-axe, knife, unpainted black and red pottery, utensils, terracotta beads and toys of copper age and coins of the Mauryan and post-Gupta period as well as the Lodhi and Mughal dynasties.
âI always knew that Bundi has a treasure trove of ancient civilisation. But my claim that the 35-km-long stretch along the Gararda rivulet containing hundreds of rock shelters is the longest archaeological site in the world has few takers,â Kukki told The Hindu, adding that the oldest coin he had found so far dates back to 400 B.C.
Zealous explorer
The zealous explorer has come across the remnants of stone and copper ages at Namana, Gagosh, Rajgarh, Chatras, Bijnawar and Khatkar â all in the vicinity of Bundi where the Vindhyachal ranges form an important segment of Hadauti region.
Kukki has extensively read all available literature on archaeology to compare his work with that undertaken in other parts of the world.
âMy discoveries are second to none at the global level. While researchers in Western countries instantly win laurels, I am still longing to get recognition,â he laments.
Significantly, Kukki has never used his discoveries to make himself richer. He has honestly deposited all the major artefacts with the Rajasthan government and donated his valuable finds to the government museums.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/07/stories/...060700.htm<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://ignca.nic.in/asp/showbig.asp?projid=ac27<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A barely literate grocer with an eye for priceless antiques
Mohammed Iqbal
Kukki, whose two-decade work led to the discovery of an ancient civilisation in Hadauti region, longs for recognitionÂ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He has discovered 55 prehistoric rock paintings
My work can be used to convert Bundi into a heritage destination, says Kukki
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JAIPUR: A barely literate grocer with a passion for the artefacts of yore who has brought the spectacular prehistoric wealth of Rajasthanâs Bundi district to the world map of archaeology is yearning for some well-deserved recognition. His work spanning two decades has even led to the discovery of an ancient civilisation in the Hadauti region.
Om Prakash Sharma alias Kukki hardly fits into the image of a professional archaeologist. An eighth standard drop-out, he owns a grocery shop in Bundi town but has devoted his life to the search for priceless antiques and archaeological sites in the nearby Vindhyachal mountain ranges.
The 54-year-old amateur archaeologist has discovered as many as 55 sites of rock paintings belonging to the Mesolithic-Chalcolithic age which provide a glimpse of the flora and fauna of the prehistoric era, and accomplished a remarkable exploration of copper age tools at Namana and elsewhere.
Subsequent excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Namana confirmed that the hilly area was the centre of a pre-Harappan civilisation.
The ASI recognised Kukkiâs discovery of three copper tools â two sharp-edged axes and a scraper â from the site in the Indian Archaeology Review 1991-92.
Kukkiâs archaeological and numismatic finds include tools such as chopper, cleaver, hand-axe, knife, unpainted black and red pottery, utensils, terracotta beads and toys of copper age and coins of the Mauryan and post-Gupta period as well as the Lodhi and Mughal dynasties.
âI always knew that Bundi has a treasure trove of ancient civilisation. But my claim that the 35-km-long stretch along the Gararda rivulet containing hundreds of rock shelters is the longest archaeological site in the world has few takers,â Kukki told The Hindu, adding that the oldest coin he had found so far dates back to 400 B.C.
Zealous explorer
The zealous explorer has come across the remnants of stone and copper ages at Namana, Gagosh, Rajgarh, Chatras, Bijnawar and Khatkar â all in the vicinity of Bundi where the Vindhyachal ranges form an important segment of Hadauti region.
Kukki has extensively read all available literature on archaeology to compare his work with that undertaken in other parts of the world.
âMy discoveries are second to none at the global level. While researchers in Western countries instantly win laurels, I am still longing to get recognition,â he laments.
Significantly, Kukki has never used his discoveries to make himself richer. He has honestly deposited all the major artefacts with the Rajasthan government and donated his valuable finds to the government museums.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/07/stories/...060700.htm<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->