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Mirror of Tamiḻ and Sanskrit
R. Nagaswamy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Padma Bhushan Dr. R. Nagaswamy (b. 1930) holds an MA in Sanskrit and a Ph.D. in Indian Art History. Starting his career as the Curator of Art at the Government Museum, Madras, in 1959, he became the first Director of Archaeology of Tamil Nadu, serving from 1966 to 1988. Later, he served as the first Vice-Chancellor of Kāñchipuram University. He is a scholar of international repute and an authority on Cōḻa Bronzes. Together with Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, he initiated the now-famous Nātyāñjali festival at Chidambaram. With a keen interest in music and dance, he has staged historical dance dramas in several Western countries, including Germany, Sweden, the UK, Canada, and the USA, as well as at the British Museum, London. He has published several books in English, Tamil, and Sanskrit. The Government of India appointed him as the first National Guru. He is the recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award, conferred by the Honorable President of India for his services. The Tamil Nadu Government honored him with the Kalaimāmaṇi award. He has received several honors from academic and international bodies. He appeared as an expert witness in the London Nataraja case. In his judgment, Justice Ian Kennedy of the London High Court stated, “Dr. Nagaswamy is an unparalleled expert in his subject”. Justice of the Supreme Court of India, R. Krishna Iyer, writing about his book “Ancient Tamil Law and Society”, commented that “Nagaswamy’s book has patriotic relevance”.
Vidyavacaspati Dr. R. Nagaswamy (b. 1930): After earning a Master of Arts in Sanskrit Language and Literature from the University of Madras, Dr. Nagaswamy obtained a doctorate degree from Deccan College, Poona, under Dr. H.D. Sankalia. He joined the Government Museum, Madras, as the Curator for Art and Archaeology in 1959 and became the first Director of Archaeology of Tamil Nadu in 1966, a position he held for 23 years until his retirement in 1998. He also served as the first Vice-Chancellor of Kanchipuram University. Subsequently, he became the National Consultant for Multimedia Documentation of Cultural Property under the UNESCO program of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi.
A multifaceted personality, Dr. Nagaswamy has specialized in Art, History, Archaeology, Epigraphy, Conservation, Agamic and Religious History, Ancient Law and Society, Numismatics, Classical Music, and Dance. He has also produced several dance dramas, some of which were televised and broadcast multiple times. On behalf of the Government of India, Dr. Nagaswamy appeared in the London High Court as an Expert Witness in the London Natṭarāja case and played a pivotal role in winning the case.
Dr. Nagaswamy has conducted excavations at places like the Cōḻa capital of Gangaikondacholapuram, Karūr, Aḻagankuḷam, and Koṟkai. He was the first to initiate underwater archaeological exploration at Pūmpuhār in Tamil Nadu in collaboration with the Oceanographic Survey of Goa. He is the leading authority today on South Indian Bronzes and has published over twenty-five books, including “Masterpieces of South Indian Bronzes”, “Shiva Bhakti”, “Tamil Coins”, “Tantric Cult in Tamil Nadu”, “Ancient Tamil Law and Society”, and others. A recipient of several public honors, Dr. Nagaswamy was conferred the title of “Kalaimamani” by the Government of Tamil Nadu for his contribution to Art and Culture.