Lasting imprint on Archaeology
[This tribute was published in the Hindu under the column THE ACHEIVERS on Feb 24, 1995]
"The high point of my career was appearing as a special witness in the London High Court regarding the case of the Chola bronze idol of Lord Nataraja", says Dr. R. Nagaswamy, ar-chaeologist.
The bronze icon belonging to the 12th century AD, which was spirited away from Pathur village in Thanjavur district in 1976, changed hands and was with a Canadian corporation. The Tamil Nadu Government fought the case and thanks in large measure to Dr. Nagaswamy's knowledge and his clinching testimony, the Nataraja was returned to its rightful setting in 1991.
Mr. Justice, Ian Kennedy. Trial judge of the London High Court, paid encomiums to Dr. Nagaswamy who he said was "an unequalled expert in his subject" and "an acknowledged expert in the field of Chola bronzes".
Dr. Nagaswamy, who was Director of Archaeology. Tamil Nadu, for 22 years from 1966, has succeeded in bringing to light many hidden facets and relics of our splendid past. Through programmes, books, lectures, video documentaries and dance dramas, he has spread awareness about the glory of Tamil culture, history and tradition.
"No civilization has developed in isolation, however", says the erudite scholar when one meets him at his home in Besant Nagar. "One cannot study Tamil culture without a strong base in Sanskrit, for Sanskrit is the carrier of Indian culture."
Nagaswamy grew up in an atmosphere of Vedic and Sanskritic learning. His father Ramachandra Sastrigal was a Vedic scholar and so was his brother. It was not surprising that Nagaswamy took up Sanskrit for his BA (Hons) course in 1955. He was taught by Dr. V Raghavan and Prof. A. Sankaran, outstanding students of the doyen, Kuppuswami Sastrigal.
"The Paramacharya's visit to the Sanskrit College greatly inspired me" says Nagaswamy, After training in archaeology. Nagaswamy became the Curator for Art and Archaeology, Madras Museum, in 1959. He was in charge of bronzes, painting and sculpture.
"Eminent archaeologist, T. N, Ramachandran was my guru. Ramachandran who re-tired as Director of Archaeology at the Centre was appointed Special Officer to form the State Department of Archaeology in Tamil Nadu, this was started in 1961. Till then only a few States like the old Hyderabad and Mysore had such a department", says Dr. Nagaswamy. In 1963, Nagaswamy was made Assistant Special Officer and after Ramachandran's term ended, became the first Director of Archaeology of Tamil Nadu in 1966. The end of the previous year, saw the State Ancient and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act being formed.
During his more than twodecade tenure, Dr. Nagaswamy developed the department in several ways. He started numerous wings epigraphy, printing, preservation, excavation, archaeological engineering, photography among others. A special institute was set up to train post-graduate students in art, history and epigraphy.
"For 12 years", says Dr. Nagaswamy, "teachers from all over the country were given intensive training in archaeology and taken to various monuments for first hand experience. A drive was started to keep temples clean and preserve inscriptions, sculpture and paintings".
The sites of excavations conducted by Dr. Nagaswamy include: Panchalam Kuruichi, at the palace remains of Veerapandya Kattabomman: Korkai, the 2000-year old port town of the Pandyas at the mouth of the river Tamiraparani; and Karur, the capital of the Sangam age Cheras. At Karur, pottery sherds, amphora ware and coins were discovered, throwing light on trade links with imperial Rome.
In their exquisite proportions, the perfect synthesis of the devotive and aesthetic, the Pallava and Chola bronzes hold a unique place in art. An exhibition of South Indian bronzes was held at the National Museum in 1983 to coincide with the Conference of the Non-Aligned Nations Summit meet in New Delhi. Dr. Nagaswamy organized the exhibition, persuading temple and math authorities of Singaravelar, Sikkil, and Vadakkalattur to lend their invaluable bronze icons for display. The comprehensive catalogue of South Indian bronzes brought out for the occasion reveals Dr, Nagaswamy's indepth specialization in the field.
The scholar has written over 25 books in both English and Tamil. Over 400 of his articles have been published; three of them in the UNESCO Courier have been translated into all the major languages of the world.
"Dr. Nagaswamy is one of the greatest scholars we have today" says Dr. Nanditha Krishna, Director, C. P. Ramaswami Alyar Institute of Indological Research. "He is a so a very good writer and speaker,".
A special contribution of Dr, Nagaswamy is bringing out books for children on ancient toys, coins, etc., to inculcate love of history in the young. A lasting achievement is in educating the common man to report findings of relics, sculptures and coins to the Archaeological Department.
"In India more efforts are needed in conservation" says the archaeologist. "Abroad there is so much specialization in conservation - of wood, stucco and paper. We should adopt modern conservation methods which are re-versible and where later researches give improved techniques we will be able to rectify mistakes. In our budgets, allocation of finance for archaeology is not satisfactory and the power granted to State officials in the field are also not adequate. The Government gives the last priority to archaeology: the Centre can allot funds only to education and culture, not specifically to archaeology. To build something new is easy, but to conserve the old requires great planning."
Moreover, the Central Archaeological Departanent does not follow the principles of renovation laid down in our traditional texts, nor does it go into the Vasthu and Agama Sastras; it just applies western principles".
Dr. Nagaswamy who is Project Director of the Thanjavur Brihadisvara temple is the founder Secretary of the Chidambaram Natyanjali festival committee. The recipient of numerous titles awarded by various organizations, he is a good cinematographer, and was the project director of the Sound and light show installed at the 17th century Thirumalai Nayak Palace at Madurai.
He has also participated in many International seminars and is the member of the Central Lalit Kala Akademi and the State Advisory Board for Archaeology.
"It is rare to find a person with such holistic knowledge in the field of archaeology", says Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Director Nrithyodaya. "Dr. Nagaswamy has great scholarship in various branches - numismatics, iconography, sculpture and epigraphy, besides music, dance and poetry. His is not mere carbon test reading; interpretation is his strong point."
"There is much happiness, satisfaction and quietude in understanding one's culture. But in popularizing it, you cannot compromise on facts or dilute them", says the 64 year old veteran, Each region has its own special features and one cannot blindly glorify a language or region. Moreover, you should see the richness of your culture in the totality of world culture, he concludes, with the objectivity and universal outlook which is the distinguishing stamp of the true scholar and archaeologist .
KAUSALYA SANTHANAM
THE HINDU, February 24, 1995
|