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Tamil Nadu, The Land of the Vedas
R. Nagaswamy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Academic Background and Positions Occupied
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. 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. He is a scholar of international repute and an authority on Cōḻa Bronzes.
Contributions to Art and Literature
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. 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.
Honors and Accomplishments
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. On behalf of the Government of India, Dr. Nagaswamy 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”.
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.. Nagaswamy was conferred the title of “Kalaimamani” by the Government of Tamil Nadu for his contribution to Art and Culture.
Op India - His contribution to the Ram Janambhoomi Case
He provided expert advice to the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench, which heard the Ayodhya title suits. According to Nagaswamy, the earliest construction for which evidence was discovered dates back to the 3rd century BC. He stressed that artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations at the disputed site in Ayodhya proved that it was a sacred site rather than merely a human habitation.
While the ASI was excavating on the HC’s instructions in 2003, Nagaswamy delivered a report to the court that detailed the artifacts discovered by the ASI. “The artifacts demonstrated that they belonged to a sacred site, not just any human settlement.” “The existence of a shrine was one of the most important pieces of evidence presented to the judges,” Nagaswamy explained.
Indian Primer Mininster Narendra Modi - January 2022
The coming generations will never forget the contributions of Thiru R. Nagaswamy towards popularising the vibrant culture of Tamil Nadu. His passion towards history, epigraphy and archaeology were noteworthy.
