Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha
Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha, popularly known as B. P. Sinha, was an Indian archaeologist and historian specialising in ancient Indian history. Sinha was a professor and head of the Department of History and Archaeology at Patna University. He was the founder of the Indian state of Bihar's Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. He was also director of the K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute in Patna.[1]
Sinha is known for having carried out the first excavations at Vikramashila, the site of an ancient Buddhist monastery established in the 8th century CE.[2]
Sinha was among other scholars and academicians to support the World Hindu Council in their negotiations with the Babri Masjid Action Committee during the Ayodhya dispute. He authored a document that presented archaeological evidence in support of Ayodhya as Ram Janmabhoomi (or Lord Rama's birthplace), which the VHP would then present to the Government of India in December 1990.[3]
Sinha died on 3 May 2002.[1]
Works
- Potteries in Ancient India, (edited), University of Patna, 1969.
- Vaiśālī Excavations, 1958-1962, (with Sita Ram Roy), Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, 1969.
- Sonpur Excavations, 1956 and 1959-1962, (with Bhagwati Sharan Verma), Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, 1977.
- Dynastic History of Magadha, Cir. 450-1200 A.D., Abhinav Publications, 1977.
- Readings in history and culture, Sandeep Prakashan, 1978.
- Archaeology & Art of India, Sundeep Prakashan, 1979.
- Comprehensive History of Bihar (two volumes, with Syed Hasan Askari and Kalikinkar Datta), K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute, 1983.
References
- 1 2 B. P. Sinha Dead; article; 4 May 2002; The Hindu; retrieved October 2015.
- ↑ ASI to develop ancient site of Vikramshila Mahavihara, The Times of India, 10 October 2009.
- ↑ B. P. Sinha, Archaeological Evidences of Ram Janmabhoomi; Text: Evidence For The Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir; Presented to the Government of India; December 23, 1990; Hindu Vivek Kendra; retrieved 2015-05-03.