Superintending Archaeological Chemist, Archaeological Survey of India (Retd)
Ex-Director, INTACH Chitrakalaparishath Art Conservation Centre, Bangalore
Education
- M.A. (Chemistry) University of Madras (1953)
- Higher training in Restoration of Works of Art in
Central Institute of Art Restoration, Rome - Conservation of Antiquities in the British Museum Research Laboratory, London
Service:
- 1954 – 1987 Chemistry Branch of Archaeological Survey of India
- 1966 -1975. Set up the Conservation Laboratory of Indian Museum, Calcutta
- 1993 to 2006 Director, INTACH-Chitrakalaparishath Art Conservation Centre, Bangalore
Conservation and Preservation Achievements in India
- Carried out and directed conservation of mural paintings of murals of Ajanta Brihadisvara Temple, Tanjavur, and Virupaksha Temple, Lepakshi
- Carried and directed conservation of stone monuments all over India
Conservation and Preservation Achievements in Abroad
- Headed the Conservation team of ASI to Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 1977,when the conservation project of the two gigantic Buddha statues was completed
- Headed the Chemical wing of the ASI team to Angkor Vat, Cambodia, in 1982 and prepared the project report for the chemical conservation
Special Conservation and Preservation Achievements – Separation of two layers of murals at Tanjavur
- At Tanjavur, devised and achieved the unique feat of successfully separating the Chola and Nayaka period paintings (the latter superimposed over the former) and preserving both, the former in situ and the latter mounted on fibre glass support. This work attracted International attention because it was the first and only time that rows layers of old paintings had been separated like this and on this scale, anywhere in the world.
Conservation and Preservation Achievements in Abroad (Post retirement)
- Consultancy work on the chemical conservation of the famous Simhachalam Temple, Andhra Pradesh
- Consultancy work on the chemical conservation of the carved marble Jain temples at Dilwara, Rajasthan
- Conservation of the stone idol of the main deity at the important pilgrim centre, Phandarpur in Maharashtra as well as the conservation of the carved wooden mandapa in the same temple
- Conservation of mural paintings in the Chidambaram temple
- Conservation of mural paintings Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kancheepuram
- Conservation of mural paintings in Srirangam temple, Tanjavur palace and Ramnad palace, Ramanathapuram (front hall)