Personalities in Archaeology

Muhammad Abdullah Chaghatai

Abstract

Archaeology in the subcontinent of Pakistan and India was initiated by non-professionals who were otherwise busy in their official or other duties. It is on their efforts that the British Government was pursuaded in the last century to set up Archaeological Survey in India with Major General Alexander Cunningham as the first Director. Since then the Government Department has contributed a lot to the discovery and preservation of the archaeological heritage in the country. Outside the Government service there emerged a group of scholars who continued to take keen interest in the archaeological studies. Men like Sir R.G. Bhandarkar, Bhaudaji and Pandit Bhagvanlal Indraji stand out prominently in the field, who have made solid contribution to the advance of archaeological research. From among the Muslims Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Chaghatai ranks with these devoted men of calibre. Without due recompense or recognition Dr. Chaghatai has pursued a solitary career of devoted study throughout his life to the understanding and interpretation of Islamic art and archaeology. It is, therefore, fitting that when he is among us, we give his biography a due place in the pages of this journal.