The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which works under the Ministry of Culture, is the chief agency in India for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of nation’s cultural heritage. Here are the primary features:
Founding and History:
• The ASI was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who is often referred to as the Father of Indian Archaeology, and was first Director-General.
• The need for the ASI occurred due to the need to systematically document study, and preserve the incredible history of India in terms of sites and objects.
• The groundwork for archaeological study was already laid by the Asiatic Society founded in 1784.
• Though the ASI struggled financially, and was halted from 1865 to 1871, it was revived after.
• Historian, Sir John Marshall and subsequent Directors can be credited with developing and modernizing excavation and conservation methods in the early 20th century.
• The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958 (AMASR Act) has provided a viable legal basis for the ASI architecture and forced it to maintain a national system to protect cultural heritage sites across India.
Importance:
The Archaeological Survey of India is extremely important because:
• it preserves India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage for future generations.
• Extreme importance to historical research, and our understanding of the past of India.
• Supports tourism, through maintenance and presentation of historical sites.
• Provides India’s legal protection to an immense archaeological wealth.
Goals and Purposes:
The ASI has the following chief purposes:
- Maintenance of monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national significance. Presently, ASI protects and maintains more than 3650 monument sites.
- To excavate and explore archaeological sites, old and new.
- To scientifically preserve, conserve and maintain monuments, archaeological sites, and artifacts.
- To document archaeological sites, artifacts and structures by means of photography, drawings and writing.
- To survey the architecture of monuments.
- To carry out epigraphical and numismatic studies [study of inscriptions and coins].
- To create site museums to store the artifacts excavated on a site and their proper display and interpretation.
- To offer courses in archaeology.
- To produce archaeological reports and monographs.
- To regulate all archaeological activities in the country under the AMASR Act, 1958, and the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972, to preserve India’s heritage for posterity.
- To carry on conservation projects in another country.
- To run schemes and programs like the “Adopt a Heritage” scheme.
- To promote public interests in the cultural heritage of India via many means.
Administration: - ASI is under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
- ASI’s headquarters is in New Delhi.
- The country is geographically divided into Circle offices (which currently number about 30-37) for the purposes of maintaining monuments and archaeological work. Each Circle office is a regional office and will look after that geographic area. There are also other specialized functional offices such as Excavation Branches, the Prehistory Branch, Epigraphy Branches, the Science Branch, the Underwater Archaeology Wing, etc.
- The ASI is headed by a Director-General.
