Renowned archaeologist and founder of the Indian History and Culture Society, New Delhi, Dr Swaraj Prakash Gupta passed away on October 3 night at a private nursing home. He was unwell for a fortnight, suffering from acute asthma and breathlessness. He was 76.
From childhood Gupta was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and was active in various socio-cultural activities till the last. He was a scholar, writer of great repute and an authority on Indian art history. He has written scores of articles and books on the subject of his interest. During the Ramjanmabhumi agitation Dr Gupta played a major role in excavating the site and unearthing the historicity of the Hindu claim on the disputed land. The pioneering work of his team led to the Archaeological Survey of India admitting in its report that there were clear proof of a desecrated temple at the site and that the disputed structure was built on its ruins.
Dr Gupta also undertook pathbreaking excavations in central Asia and Harappan sites the findings of which authentically established the existence of the Saraswati river civilization and demolishing the myth of the so-called Aryan invasion theory. Dr Gupta was a bachelor. At the time of his death he was busy establishing the Indian History and Culture Society as a full-fledged research centre.
Dr. S.P. Gupta was born in 1931, and at the time of his death was Chairman, Indian Archaeological Society, New Delhi. He was a distinguished archaeologist and art hitorian who has been awarded several gold medals and the Sir Mortimer Wheeler Prize for excellence in archaeology. He worked and lectured in more than 30 countries of the world. He authored a number of books including Disposal of the Dead and Physical Types in Ancient India (1971), Tourism, Museums and Monuments (1975), Archaeology of Soviet Central Asia and the Indian Borderlands?two volumes (1978), The Roots of Indian Art (1980)?the French edition of which was published in 1990 and Cultural Tourism in India (2002).
He also edited many books and published about 50 articles in various national and international journals and books.
He did extensive studies on the Indus Valley Civilization and in South Asia. He was also the editor of several volumes of the Puratattva, the bulletin of the Indian Archaeological Society. Dr S.P. Gupta retired as Director, Allahabad Museum.
VS Wakankar award for Dr S.P. Gupta
The first Dr Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar National Award of Madhya Pradesh State Government was presented to the celebrated archaeologist Dr S.P. Gupta in recognition of his devotion and contribution to archaeological research.
FORMER Union Minister for Human Resource Development Dr Murli Manohar Joshi said the archaeological excavations have amply proved that India has always been an integrated civilisation with its original culture and traditions. In establishing this Dr Gupta played a major role. Attempts have also been made frequently to disintegrate India as a nation by describing the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata as imaginary. The fact is that the Mahabharata clearly mentions that Dwarika submerged in the ocean. Dr Gupta was working on it. His death has left a void.
Many eminent personalities from different fields attended his funeral in Delhi and paid floral tributes to the departed soul.
The BJP parliamentary party secretary Shri O.P. Kohli said, in the death of Swaraj Prakash Gupta, the country has lost a brilliant academician, who was a nationalist to the core. His devotion to the field of his study and his commitment to academic discipline and intellectual honesty are worth emulating. I had a long association with him. His contribution to the field of archaeology is outstanding.
Opposition leader in Lok Sabha Shri L.K. Advani and senior BJP leader Dr M.M. Joshi paid their tributes at the Archaeological Society at Qutab Institutional Area, Delhi, founded by Dr S.P. Gupta.
Shri Ramesh Prakash, Prant Sanghachalak, Delhi, described Dr Gupta'sdeparture as a big loss to the Sangh Parivar, as he was amongst the many guiding forces of the RSS. He said that Dr Gupta was an eminent internationally reputed archaeologist who had a vast experience. In spite of his busy schedule in the field of archaeological research, Dr Gupta was also an active worker of the RSS.
Dr B.R. Mani, Director, Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India, while giving his rich tributes to Dr Gupta said that Dr Gupta was amongst the first batch in 1955 of the School of Archaeological Studies. Since his completion of the study he had many research papers in this field and he had written many important books which are referred to by many students in the field of archeological study. He was a bright scholar in the field of archaeological research both at the national and international levels.
Shri Dinanath Batra of Shiksha Bachao Andolan who was also present at the funeral said that Dr Gupta had created a new thinking in the field of archaeology. His continuous effort in the field of research would inspire others to go ahead.
Shri Omkar Bhave of VHP said that he was a profound thinkes and had given its proof in the Ramjanmbhoomi, Ayodhya, excavation. Crores of Hindus in this country would remember his dedication for the cause. He had made lasting achievements in the field of archaeological research and was also known to be a eminent social worker. (FOC)
Condolence message of Shri K.S. Sudarshan
?Lungs have stopped functioning. Now the life is solely dependent on the oxygen cylinder. This will add to the expenses to the tune of Rs 30,000 per month. If Shri Advaniji, being the Leader of Opposition, could make some arrangements from the government in this regard, it would be better. I have written my will yesterday but I have not taken leave from my work. I have yet to write four more books on Indian civilisation and before this I would not die.? These are the words of Dr Swaraj Prakash Gupta, which he said on September 20, 2007, when I visited Rockland Hospital to meet him. But the Almighty willed otherwise and he departed at 11.50 p.m. on October 3.
Dr Swaraj Prakash Gupta, searching for history throughout his life, himself became history. Whenever the history, having been distorted by the British, would be rewritten, the precious contribution of Dr Gupta will be remembered. Since I had friendly relations with him, his death is a personal loss to me. His cheerful face and confident style of expression would never be forgotten. May God fulfill his last wishes and rest his soul in peace.
