Dr. Ajit Kumar
Dr. Ajit Kumar, M.A, PhD and P.G. Diploma in Archaeology has been working in the field of Archaeology for over 40 years. He is the founder Head of the Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala. He was the Chairman of the Department Council, Chairman of Doctoral Committee, Chairman of Board of Studies and a Board Member of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Academics Council and also Senate Member. Before his retirement in March 2020, he was the Director of School of Social Sciences and also Professor and Head of the Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala.
As an author and editor, he has over 110 Research papers and nine books to his credit and six volumes of a Journal. Three Monographs authored by him include ‘Sculptural art in early Buddhist (Hinayana) Cave of western Maharashtra, (A Stylo-Chrono Study)’ (2013) and ‘Forts of Kerala (Historical and Architectural account) (2017) and Art Rupestre: Petroglyphs and Pictographs in Kerala (Rock-art in Kerala) along with Raj K Varman (2018). Three single edited books include ‘Archaeology in Kerala: Emerging trends’ (2011), ‘Harappan Culture Problems and Issues’ (2012), ‘Rock-art: recent researches and new perspectives (festschrift to Padma Sri Dr.Yashodar Mathpal’, (2015). Three jointly edited books include the ‘Megalithic Culture of India’ (with Shri K.N. Dikshit) (2014), ‘Kailashnath Hetu (Essays in pre-history, proto-history and historical archaeology) Festschrift to Shri K.N. Dixit’ (with Rajesh S V and Abhayan G.S, (2017). ‘The Archaeology of Burials: Examples from the Indian Subcontinent’ (with Rajesh S V, Abhayan G.S and Ehsan Rehmath Ilahi), (2020). He also co-edited 6 Vols. of the journal ‘Heritage: Journal of multi-disciplinary studies in Archaeology’, a UGC-approved journal published by Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala. He has also had Co-edited 1 Vol. of the Proceedings of Indian Art History Congress. A Felicitation Volume in his honour titled Human and Heritage: An Archaeological Spectrum of Asiatic Countries edited by Dr.Rajesh S.V, Abhayan G.S, Dr.Preeta Nayar and Ehsan Rahmath Ilahi (colleagues and former student) was published (2019). His papers are uploaded in www.academic.edu and www.researchgate
Under his leadership, various national and international conferences and workshops were organized. He has participated and also presented papers in various international and national seminars, conferences and workshops. He has also delivered various invited and memorial lectures in various organisations.
Exploration-Excavations at Vizhinjam under his direction added new knowledge to long distance trade that flourished along the west coast. The excavations at Arkadi fort uncovered a palace complex and megalith at Kuttikol under his directions yielded one of the earliest dates from North Kerala. The explorations for fort remain all over Kerala and for ancient trade aspects at Kollam, Mannar-Alumthurthy have added new perspectives to both these fields.
He is an Executive committee member of various archaeological art organizations like, the Indian Archaeological Society, Delhi, ISPQS, Pune, and Indian Art History Congress, Guwahati. He is the Editorial Board of various journals. He is currently the BoS studies member in Pondicherry University and Maharaja’s College Ernakulam (Deemed University). He was also a subject expert in committees formed by the Department of Culture, Government of Kerala on Edakkal Rock Art and others related to Napier Museum, Trivandrum. He also participates as a subject expert and interviewer in various selection committees. He was a subject expert in Archaeology with the UGC and National Testing Agency (New Delhi). Continuing his academic activities, he also takes classes and delivers special lectures at various archaeological institutes via online and offline platforms.
He was listed in the panel of eminent archaeologist drawn by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He was bestowed with the Academic Excellence Award 2020 by the University of Kerala. For remarkable contributions made in the field of Archaeology in Kerala, he was awarded the Sevaratna Award in 2023 by the Max Life Insurance and Axis Bank, Thiruvananthapuram. As part of his academic pursuits, he has visited countries like Sweden, Norway, Finland, Latavia, Denmark, Sri Lanka, Iran, China and also other countries like France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland etc.