Engineers, doctors taking up archeology!

HYDERABAD: Osmania University may be in the news often for all the wrong reasons. But there’s a brighter side to it and a few little known and surprising facets too. Its archeology department is a case in point. Contrary to popular perception, archeology seems fairly popular among youngsters. Otherwise, how else could one explain the fact that up to a dozen doctors and engineers had obtained doctorates, no less, for their research in different aspects of archeology from the university?The reasons for their interest in archeology vary from job opportunities to sheer passion. Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archeology at OU, Dr Om Prakash Pillai explains, “we have a lot students from different streams like medicine and engineering eager to study the courses we offer. About four to five doctors and over a dozen engineers have done their Ph.Ds here. Students from neighbouring countries like China and Iran are also interested in archeology and are pursuing courses here.”Prof Pillai himself has done a research project on cultural tourism in the city and Ph.D scholars under him are doing field work on the conservation of the Qutb Shahi Tombs and other monuments in the city. Besides, the students are also involved in preserving antiques in state museums.Prof NH Giridhar, one of the faculty members, is currently doing a project ‘Footprints from the past’ - an archeological, historical and cultural survey on monuments hitherto uncovered.According to Prof Pillai, the department offers courses in archival science, manuscriptology and museology which any graduate can pursue. Many students, who have taken these courses, are now working in museums across the state. One of the reasons for students’ interest in archeology is that the subjects taught put them in good stead when it comes to civil services exam.A Ph.D scholar E Nagamani says, “my research topic is Shivism and I am studying how the Shiva cult had prevailed in the state. I am looking forward to field trips.”Another Ph.D scholar S Madhuri is researching Ajantha paintings. She says, “I am given access to virgin fresco replicas of Ajantha paintings in the state archeological museum.”The department has 10 students who have cleared the national eligibility test and obtained the Rajiv Gandhi scholarships.“We have over 700 students writing different entrance exams for the courses in the department,” says Prof Pillai.