R Nagaswamy, internationally renowned archaeologist and epigraphist who was the longest serving director of the department of archaeology passed away at Chennai on Sunday. He was 92 and is survived by two daughters and two sons. Dr Nagaswamy had been honoured with Padma Bhushan by the President of India for his path breaking research works.
Dr Nagawamy has authored many books on archaeology and the science of temples. He was also an authority on architecture, numismatics, iconography, temple rituals and also on temple inscriptions. His latest work “Tamil Nadu-The Land of Vedas” literally silenced the proponents of the Dravidian theory who always ridiculed the concept that Dravidian Land was a separate entity and had no links with India.
Dr Nagaswamy’s research and works were focussing more on the unity and similarities in the culture, tradition and Indian system of knowledge which would stand the test of time. “The entire intellectual output from him is the result of his deep rooted studies and research which are unparallel,” said Dr S Kalyanaraman, director, Saraswathy Research Centre, Chennai.
The ace archaeologist was upset when the government of the State resorted to sand blasting technology to renovate the walls and pillars in the temples. “These walls and inscriptions were royal edicts and orders issued by the government of the day informing the people the reason behind the construction of the temple, who are the donors and the area of the landed property owned by the temple. It also has details like how the income of the temples should be utilized for the welfare of the society,” Dr Nagawamy had told The Pioneer when the State government deployed sand blasting in temples.
The Government of Tamil Nadu had sought the assistance and guidance of Dr Nagaswamy to find out the antiquity and ancient nature of the idols stolen from temples in the State which were recovered by the special investigation team headed by Inspector General Pon Manicka Vel.
Dr Nagaswamy,after undertaking an arduous trip across the length and breadth of the sub-continent, established that all villages in the country had been built on a definite pattern with a temple standing in the centre and well laid our roads cross crossing the landscape. “The temples represented the Parashakthi, the Almighty, and the landscape was proof of the harmony that existed here for centuries,” he had said.