Archaeologist as public servant

Nayanjot Lahiri deftly portrays the career of one of independent India's pre-eminent but little-known archaeologists

Archaeology is not a subject that evinces public interest. Yet it is a discipline and a practice that is motivated by a public purpose. Much of ancient history lies below layers of earth and even under human settlements, including large cities. Digging through these layers requires skill that is only acquired through training and experience. It is unfortunate that archaeologists often do not get the recognition they deserve. One primary reason to applaud this book by Nayanjot Lahiri is that it focuses attention on one major archaeologist of post-independence India. In the course of doing this, she also provides brief