‘Hyderabad history an archaeologist’s dream’

HYDERABAD: Ace archaeologist K K Muhammed, who was conferred with the Padmashri this year for his contribution to archaeology, was in the city to attend the Hyderabad literary festival.

Muhammed, who spent some years with the Aga Khan Trust in the city after his retirement from the Archaeological Survey of India, sounded ecstatic speaking about the archaeological riches of the city. “Hyderabad’s history is one of the richest in this zone. It is an archaeologist’s dream. There is so much to explore and so much to conserve.”

However, Muhammed also laid importance on the fact that people must be made aware of their heritage first. “It is not possible for organisations like ASI to take the fight out on their own. People must join in. Private institutions must come forward. Nowadays, corporates do some cleaning work at historical monuments as a part of their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). But they tend to do that at structures which are well-maintained anyway. Photographs come well that way, you know.”

K K Muhammed discovered Akbar’s Ibadatkhana, the cornerstone of the emperor’s religion of unity, Din-i-Ilahi. He also excavated the first Christian chapel of India. But probably the man’s greatest adventure was restoring the Bateshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh. He had to convince the dacoits at Chambal and collaborate with them to restore the temple structure. His next roadblock was the coal mafia. The work was accomplished after an exchange of shots between the mafia and the police.

On receiving the Padmashri Muhammed said, “I didn’t know for sure that I would receive the award. But people were already discussing about it. So I could guess.”

Muhammed, who hails from Calicut, is working on his book now.