BHARHUT SCULPTURES

The monograph introduces the remains of a legendry stupa of the Sunga period (2nd century B.C.), which once stood near the village Bharhut in Madhya Pradesh. Since 1876 these antiquarian gems are the prized possession of the Indian Museum, Calcutta. The author in his capacity as Director of that museum had the opportunity to study them afresh and reassess their cultural and artistic merits. The renowned scholar Dr. Mulk Raj Anand in his capacity as 'Visitor' to the Museum suggested to bring out a handy pictorial companion which could be useful to the visitors to the Museum as well as lovers of early Indian art.

The book gives a lucid introduction besides several interesting interpretations about the concept and significance of stupa tradition and particularly the socio-religious and artist role played by this grand edifice in the pre-and post-Christian centuries.

Important sculptures have been adequately described and projected through colour and black and white illustrations.

About the Author:

Dr. R.C. Sharma, born in 1936 and educated and trained at Varanasi, Calcutta and Paris, is Director General of the National Museum and Vice Chancellor of the National Museum Institute, New Delhi. Her is also Chairman of the Vrindavan Research Institute and President, Museums Association of India, an Apex professional body in India. He has been Curator, Government Museum, Mathura, Director, State Museum, Lucknow and Director, Indian Museum, Calcutta. He has been associated with a number of central and state organizations and universities in different capacities.

He is the author of several books, catalogues and albums such as 1. Mathura Museum Introduction, 2. Mathura Sangrahalaya Parichaya, 3. Mathura Museum and Art, 4. Albums of Mathura, 5. Gandhara Sculptures, 6. Krishna Theme in Miniatures, 7. Kangra Kalam, 8. Bharhut Sculptures in the Indian Museum, Calcutta and co-author of 9. Catalogue of the Gandhara Sculptures in the State Museum, Lucknow and 10. Buddhist Art of Mathura, which has been acclaimed as a magnum opus in the field of Indology. Besides, he has contributed a large number of research papers in the field of Indian history, art, culture, archaeology, inscriptions, paintings, literature, etc. and has also edited research journals on these subjects. He is a research guide and has examined more than sixty doctoral dissertations of different universities.

Dr. Sharma has organized and participated in numerous national and international seminars and has delivered some prestigious lectures. He has traveled in different part of the world in connection with conferences, cultural delegations, lectures and mounting of important exhibitions.