ABOUT AIHCA

ABOUT AIHCA (JIWAJI UNIVERSITY)

OVERVIEW OF DEPARTMENT

The school of Studies is among the oldest full-fledged Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology of the Jiwaji University, established in 1968 with the aid of Gangajali fund provided by Kailashavi Shrimant Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia. In the Headship of Professor R.N. Tignath (July 1969-June 1972) the Department incepted well. The Department was fortune in having the great connoisseur and archaelogist, Prfessor B.B. Lal, as its Head of Department from July 1972 to December 1975 under whose guidance it flourished by leaps and bounds. Later on it was placed under able administrator and scholar Professor S.D. Sharma (January 1976-November 1976 & March 1985-July 1986). Thereafter, a great art historian, Professor R.N. Misra, took over as the Head of the Department from November 1976 to February 1985 and againfrom February 1986 till his retirement in September 2001. In October 2001 Dr. R.A. Sharma under took the charge of headship from Professor Misra and gave Department fabulous leaps. And at October 2008 Dr. A.K. Singh (present day Head) took charge from him.

The Department can boast of many first in the field of history and archaeology. The Department was recongnized as ‘Centre of Excellence’ by Madhya Pradesh Uchacha Siksha Anudan Ayog. It offers a great variety of courses the like of which is not met with in other Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology. For the very inception Ph.D. research in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology and other branches of Indology had been its distinguishing feature. Mamy a high ups in Archaeological Survey of India, Indian museums, teaching Departments of the various Indian Universities and Central and State Government Departments concerning history, culture and archaeology are the proud products of the Departments. A list of such personage is appended herewith.

From the very beginning the major thrust of the study and research in the Department had been on Field Archaeology, Prehistory, Protohistory, Numismatics, Paleography & Epigraphy, Art & Architecture in all its facets. Gradually new area of thrusts has been developed including Museology, School of Studies in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology also started Post Graduation, Master of Philosophy degrees in History under Regional Study Centre for Culture and heritage.

Faculties of the School regularly participated in archaeological exploration work and conducted excavation of Jaderua (1971), Ayodhya (1974), and Sooron (1979, 1984 and 1987).

A fairly good museum and archive of slides and photographs besides Overhead Projector and LCD provide teaching aids and a good library come to help of teachers, students and researchers of this School of Studies. But we have yet to build up these collections and more audio-visual aids, apparatus and equipments in all fairness to the students.

Teaching at all level is imparted through Hindi and English attracting students from all parts of the country. Due to extremely specialized nature of the subject the member of alumni here is limited which is quite normal. But those who have passed out a now occupy coveted positions in relevant fields.

The Faculties are running Research Projects under the University grants Commission, Indian Council of Historical Research Projects and such other bodies. Several students of the Department qualified NET examination and most of the researchers received fellowship from Indian Council of Historical Research, University Grants Commission and such other bodies for their Ph. D. and Post-Doctoral work.