Ajit Kumar

During 1990 Shri N M Deshpande, one of the doyens of Indian archaeology, suggetsed that as nobody had studied the sculptural bas reliefs in early Buddhist caves in Maharashtra, I should try to study them. While conducting the primary study on the area, I was transferred to Madras, and lost hope of continuing my interest with this transfer and shelved the project, but a friend suggested that I apply to the NTICVA for a grant. I did so and was very happy to receive the grant. It helped me to conduct visits to the sites and photo document many sculptures and prepare a preliminary report on the subject. In 1997 I was selected as lecturer in the Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala. Though I did not have any publications as such to my credit then, the report which I had taken along was to my advantage during the interview. I know of many friends who were not able to take up research work due to official preoccupations and lack of monetary support. Thanks to the NTICVA the advantage is double-edged. It helps study and also forces one to keep a time schedule to see it complete.