Debala Mitra
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2016) |
Debala Mitra | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 December 1925 |
| Died | 2 December 2003 (aged 77) Kolkata, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | University of Paris |
| Known for | First woman Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) |
| Notable work | Konarak (1968) Buddhist Monuments (1971) Bronzes from Achutrajpur, Orissa (1978) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Archaeology |
Debala Mitra (14 December 1925 – 2 December 2003) was an Indian archaeologist who served as Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1981 to 1983. She is the first woman archaeologist to head the ASI. She explored and excavated several Buddhist sites.[1]
The historic site of Ratnagiri in Odisha's Jajpur district, first discovered in 1905, gained prominence following extensive excavations between 1958 and 1961 led by Mitra,[2] which unveiled a remarkable Buddhist complex dating from the 5th-13th century AD.[3]
Early life
[edit]Born on 14 December 1925 at Khulna in Bengal Province (now Bangladesh), Mitra had her early education in Khulna and Calcutta before obtaining her doctorate in Paris.
In the ASI
[edit]Mitra joined the ASI in the 1940s and served as Superintendent of Eastern Circle and Additional Director General of the ASI before succeeding B. K. Thapar as Director General in 1981. The first woman to excavate Buddhist sites, she was an authority on the art and archaeology of eastern India. Her books include Konarak (1968), Buddhist Monuments (1971) and Bronzes from Achutrajpur, Orissa (1978).
References
[edit]- ^ Barik, Satyasundar (22 February 2025). "The relics of Ratnagiri". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
Debala Mitra become the first woman Director General of the ASI. Mitra was 33 when she reached the remote site (Ratnagiri). Over time, she gained the trust of the villagers and unearthed hidden Buddhist treasures.
- ^ "Excavation to start again at Ratnagiri this month". The Times of India. 13 November 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
The site gained prominence following extensive excavations between 1958 and 1961 led by ASI's Debala Mitra, which unveiled a remarkable Buddhist complex dating from 5th to 13th century AD.
- ^ Sahu, Diana (16 February 2025). "Odisha's buddhist past makes itself present". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
External links
[edit]- "Obituary". Purātattva (33). 2003.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
