Paramananda Acharya
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Pramananda Acharya (1893–1971) was an Indian archaeologist known for his notable archaeological research on the history of
Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...
. He was honoured by the
Government of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...
in 1964, with the award of
Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his services to the nation.


Biography


Early years

Paramananda Acharya was born in 1893 at Baidyapur village in the Indian state of
Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...
and completed his early schooling at Amarda ME School and
Baripada Baripada () is a city and a municipality in Mayurbhanj district in the state of Odisha, India. Located along the east bank of the Budhabalanga river, Baripada is the cultural centre of north Odisha. In recent years, it has emerged as an educ ...
High School to graduate in botany from Kolkata University in 1923 with honours. Though joined for his master's degree course, he abandoned studies on advice from Maharaja Purna Chandra Bhanjadeo, the erstwhile Maharaja of Mayurbhanj state and became a part of the team of renowned archaeologist,
Rai Bahadur RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Italy), Ministry of Eco ...
Ramaprasad Chanda Ramaprasad Chanda (15 August 1873 – 28 May 1942) was an Indian anthropologist, historian and archaeologist from Bengal. A pioneer in his field in South Asia, Chanda's lasting legacy is the Varendra Research Museum, he established in Rajshahi ( ...
in 1924. He had no formal training in archaeology, but Acaharya was invited to join the department of archaeology when Mayurbhanj state established the department in 1925 and he started his government service as an archaeological scholar.


Career

His initial posting was at
Khiching Khiching is an ancient city and largely in ruins is situated in Panchpir sub-division of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha State of India. It is the location of the Kichakeshwari Temple made from black stone. Khiching is located about 50 km ...
with the responsibility of preserving the temples and historical sites in the area. In 1925, he underwent advanced training at Paharpur excavation site (presently in Bangladesh). During the next few years, he visited the neighbouring cities and states but returned to Khiching and started collecting sculptures, artifacts and antiquities from the medieval period. These finds were stored in Khiching temple premises which later became the Khiching Museum in 1928 and Acharya was appointed as the Senior Archaeologist of the museum. In 1930, when the Maharaja ordered the excavation of the Old Palace site in Hariharpur, Acharya was given the responsibility. During this project, he arranged for the dismantling of the dilapidated temples of Chandra Sekhar and Kutei-Tundi situated at the Palace site and restored them. He also restored the temple of Hara during this period. Acharya participated in the first International Congress of the Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, in 1934 and the trip to London helped him to gather copies of records related to Mayurbhanj and
Ananta Vasudeva Temple Ananta Vasudeva Temple ("Temple of the Infinite Vāsudeva", Odia:ଅନନ୍ତ ବାସୁଦେବ ମନ୍ଦିର) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Krishna, an ''avatar'' of Vishnu located in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, Ind ...
of
Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango trees (''ekamra'')). Bhubaneswar is ...
. A plaster copy of one of the inscriptions he brought is on display at the
Odisha State Museum Odisha State Museum is a museum in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In its original form it was established in 1932 and later moved to the current building in 1960. The museum is divided into eleven sections, viz, Archaeology, Epigraphy, Numismatics, Armory ...
. In 1939, an expedition led by Acharya and E. C. Worman (Jr.) of
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
discovered Kuliana site near Mayurbhanj. Three years later, he was deputed to
Khandapada Khandapada (also spelt as Khandapara) is a town and a notified area committee in Nayagarh district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is located in the valley of nine mountains. Geography Khandapada is located at . It has an average elevation of ...
, Banesvaranasi, Champesvar, Bhattarika, Simhanath and Ramchandi which resulted in the discovery of a temple at Ramchandi with a unique style of architecture. It was during this period, he undertook the reconstruction of Khichingesvari temple which was completed in 1942. Later, he discovered the Anantasayi Vishnu image at
Saranga Saranga may refer to: * Sharanga, the celestial bow of the Hindu god Vishnu * ''Saranga'' (1961 film), an Indian Hindi-language romance film by Dhirubhai Desai, starring Sudesh Kumar and Jayshree Gadkar * ''Saranga'' (1994 film), a Pakistani a ...
and
Bhimkund Bhimkund (also known as Neelkund) is a natural water tank and a holy place in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located near Bajna village in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh. It is 77 km away from Chhatarpur by road in the Bundelkhand region ...
. He also conducted surveys of archaeological relics at Vaitarani, Brahmani, and
Mahanadi The Mahanadi is a major river in East Central India. It drains an area of around and has a total length of . Mahanadi is also known for the Hirakud Dam. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and finally merged with Bay o ...
valleys.


Post Independence period

After the princely state of Mayurbhanj was assimilated into the state of Odisha under the Indian Union in 1949, Acharya became the superintendent of archaeology, museum and research of the state government with office at the
Ravenshaw College Ravenshaw University, formerly known as Ravenshaw college, is a co-educational state university situated in Cuttack, Odisha on the eastern coast of India. Founded as Ravenshaw College in 1868, the institution became a university in 2006. The un ...
premises in Cuttack. He was also given additional responsibility to attend to duties related to the state education department. During his tenure as its head, the department is reported to have developed into the present day
Odisha State Museum Odisha State Museum is a museum in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In its original form it was established in 1932 and later moved to the current building in 1960. The museum is divided into eleven sections, viz, Archaeology, Epigraphy, Numismatics, Armory ...
. His efforts were reported in bringing many renowned archaeologists such as Kedar Nath Mahapatra and Satya Narayan Rajguru, Krushna Chandra Panigrahi and Susil Chandra De together under the banner of the museum.


Later years and legacy

After his retirement from government service in 1950, Acharya was given the special responsibility as the superintendent of the
Odisha State Museum Odisha State Museum is a museum in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In its original form it was established in 1932 and later moved to the current building in 1960. The museum is divided into eleven sections, viz, Archaeology, Epigraphy, Numismatics, Armory ...
, and he served in that position till 1954. After a gap of one year, he took up work again in 1955, this time as the superintendent of archaeology, holding the post till 1962. Two years later, the
Government of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...
honoured him with the civilian award of
Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
in 1964. Acharya is the author of several articles and two books, ''Essays in History, Culture, Archaeology of Odisha'', and ''Studies in Orissan History, Archaeology and Archives'' His writings are prescribed as reference books for graduate and post graduate studies at
Ravenshaw University Ravenshaw University, formerly known as Ravenshaw college, is a co-educational state university situated in Cuttack, Odisha on the eastern coast of India. Founded as Ravenshaw College in 1868, the institution became a university in 2006. The un ...
in Odisha. A commemorative volume, ''Life and culture in Orissa'' was published in 1984, compiling several of Acharya's writings. Paramanand Acharya died on 11 April 1971, at his residence in Baripada, at the age of 78.


See also

*
Ramaprasad Chanda Ramaprasad Chanda (15 August 1873 – 28 May 1942) was an Indian anthropologist, historian and archaeologist from Bengal. A pioneer in his field in South Asia, Chanda's lasting legacy is the Varendra Research Museum, he established in Rajshahi ( ...
*
Odisha State Museum Odisha State Museum is a museum in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In its original form it was established in 1932 and later moved to the current building in 1960. The museum is divided into eleven sections, viz, Archaeology, Epigraphy, Numismatics, Armory ...
*
Ananta Vasudeva Temple Ananta Vasudeva Temple ("Temple of the Infinite Vāsudeva", Odia:ଅନନ୍ତ ବାସୁଦେବ ମନ୍ଦିର) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Krishna, an ''avatar'' of Vishnu located in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, Ind ...
* Krushna Chandra Panigrahi


References


Further reading

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Acharya, Paramananda Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering 1893 births 1971 deaths Scientists from Odisha 20th-century Indian archaeologists Indian museologists