Announcement of award of Padmashree to eminent archaeologist Dr. BR Mani.
VK Shukla, New Delhi. Renowned archaeologist Dr. BR Mani, who has been announced to be awarded Padma Shri, has received this award for his work in digging out the archaeological truth of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple of Ayodhya, the center of faith of Hindus.
Honoring him is not just an honor bestowed upon an individual, but a public acknowledgment of the scientific process that brought the decades-long Ram Janmabhoomi dispute on the solid ground of archaeological evidence. Dr. Mani led the excavation of the Ram Janmabhoomi complex in 2003 on the orders of the Allahabad High Court and brought forward the historical evidence hidden beneath the land that was at the center of the controversy.
The responsibility of this excavation of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was on the shoulders of Dr. Mani, a senior officer of ASI and an experienced archaeologist. The excavation was carried out under the supervision of the court in a controlled scientific manner and at several levels. This was not a faith-based exercise, but a planned archaeological investigation conducted according to court instructions, with documentation at every step.
Evidence made it clear that a huge Hindu religious structure existed here.
Excavations lasting several months revealed the bases of pillars, remains of ancient walls and floors, signs of architectural structures, fragments of sculpture and signs of a religious complex. This evidence made it clear that a large Hindu religious structure existed at the site before the Islamic period, the remains of which were buried beneath later layers. This report of ASI later became an important basis of the judicial process. In his long career, BR Mani held various important responsibilities in ASI, but the court-ordered excavation of Ram Janmabhoomi became the chapter of his life, which connected him to the turning point of history. Today he is also being remembered for that role with the Padma Shri award.
However, in the case of collecting documents related to Lalkot of Raja Anangpal Tomar in the previous case in Delhi, Dr. Mani has played an important role in this case also. Dr Mani had excavated Raja Anangpal's pond and his fort Lalkot in Mehrauli from 1993 to 1995.
Led the excavation work in Kapilvastu, Rajghat and Sarnath.
Dr. Mani was the first Director General of the National Museum, New Delhi, who during his tenure directly directed the excavation work at the Early Harappan site of Kunal (Haryana). During 2013–15 he led the re-excavation work at Kapilvastu, Rajghat and Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh). Presently he is associated with the excavation work at PGW site Kurdi located in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh from the year 2024–25.
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