Veluri Venkata Krishna Sastry

Veluri Venkata Krishna Sastry
Born	(1934-10-23)October 23, 1934 Chirivada, Krishna District, AP, India
Died	August 21, 2012(2012-08-21) (aged 77) Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Known for	Archeologist

Veluri Venkata Krishna Sastry (23 October 1934 - 21 August 2012) was an archaeologist and historian in Andhra Pradesh, India.^[1]

Early life

Krishna Sastry was born on October 23, 1934, Chirivada, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India to Veluri Partha Sarathi and Veluri Anasuya. He graduated from Gudivada College in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, and received his master's degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. He received his PhD from Karnataka University, Dharvar, Karnataka, India.

Sastry's name is associated with almost all the developments and achievements in the archaeology of Andhra Pradesh that happened from the 1970s to the 1990s. He is credited with the identification of a large number of prehistoric, historic and Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh. He is also considered the Grand Father of Nizam-Telangana History or Nizam-Telangana Charithra Pitamahudu.^[2] Amazingly enough, his own district of Krishna bore the brunt of the most unethical and ill-minded agitation of Nizam Telangana for Separate State which was proven as a politically motivated movement by the Srikrishna Committee on Telangana. His own district which was part of the Satavahana kingdom is now portrayed by the people of Nizam Telangana as not part of Satavahana. His deeds have been forgotten both in his birth state of Andhra Pradesh and the Nizam Telangana State. The man was a legend for his unmatchable contributions to the history of Nizam Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Sastry wrote over one-hundred papers in numerous research journals, and has also published ten books in his field.

A festschrift in his honour was edited by P. Chenna Reddy.^[3]

Career as an archaeologist

Sastry started his career as a scholar trainee at Nagarjunakonda with the Archaeological Survey of India, in 1959. 1961-68 he worked as a technical assistant for the State Department of Archaeology and Museums, Andhra Pradesh. 1968-79 Sastry worked as assistant director of archaeological excavations at the Department of Archaeology and Museums and as chief technical officer at the Department of Archaeology and Museums, from 1979-81. From 1981-92 he worked as director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums. From 1989 to 1991 he also officiated as director of State Archives and Oriental Manuscripts Library.

Sastry unraveled the mysteries in some of the most important Buddhist sites at Chandavaram in Prakasam District, Kesanapalli in Guntur District, Dhulikatta and Kotilingala in Karimnagar district. Sastry proved through his excavation that Keesaragutta in Medchal Taluq of Rangareddy District was ruled by Chalukyas during the post-Satavahana times of 4th–5th centuries AD. The Buddhist sites excavated by Sastry on the hilltops of Totlakonda and Bavikonda are now developed as tourist centers by the Indian Government.

Some of the ancient temples once situated in the submerged area of Srisailam have been reconstructed in the newly built villages Somasila, Erladinne, Siddheswaram, Bhujangeswaram, and Kyatur. They stand as testimonies to the planning and execution skills of Sastry.

Sastry's efforts in establishing museums resulted in the construction and opening up of district museums at Anantapur, Warangal, Nalgonda, Kurnool and the site museums at Chandavaram. The district museum of Nalgonda built adjacent to Pachchala Someswara temple at Panugal has now grown to be an important tourist attraction.

Excavations participated or independently conducted

Nagarjunakonda, a site of multiple cultures starting from Prehistory to Medieval times. Primarily a major Buddhist Site (3rd Century AD), 1959-61. Joined as Trainee – Scholar
Yeleswaram, a Pre and Proto-Historic Megalithic and Early Historical and Medieval site (8th century BC to 13th century AD), 1961-65.
Kesanapally, an important Buddhist stupa datable to 2nd century BC., 1966.Discovered and excavated
Peddabankur, a major Satavahana site datable from 2nd century BC. Excavations revealed a number of structures and scores of minor antiquities, 1967-73.
Motupally, an ancient sea port town of the Kakatiya and Chola periods corresponding to the 11th to 13th centuries AD. 1972-74.
Kadambapur, Iron Age burial site (8th century BC to 6th century BC), 1973-74. Discovered and Excavated
Dhulikatta, and Satavahana fortification, habitation site and Buddhist Stupa (2nd century BC to 2nd century AD), 1974-77. Discovered and Excavated
Polakonda, Iron Age burial site (8th century BC to 6th century BC), 1975-76. Discovered and Excavated
Agiripalli, a Megalithic Burial site (6th century to 4th century BC), 1976.
Kesaragutta, a Vishnukundin single period site, which revealed a large number a brick structures, coins, beads, stucco objects etc. (4th century AD), 1976-80.
Kotilingala, an Mauryan – Satavahana site (2nd century BC to 2nd century AD), 1979-84. Discovered the site containing Satavahana culture including the Buddhist Stupa and Excavated
Peddamarur, Iron Age burial site, 1978-79. Excavated
Chinnamarur, Iron Age burial site, Excavated 1979-82.
Hulikal, a Proto-historic Chalolithic site (1200 BC to 1000 BC), Excavated 1978.
Bavikonda, an extensive Buddhist site datable from 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD, 1983-87. Excavated
Thotlakonda, a Buddhist site with several Buddhist stupas, viharas datable from 1st century BC to 5th century AD, 1988 (excavations are in progress), Excavated and published report
Nelakondapalli, a Buddhist stupa and a very extensive early historical habitation site (3rd century to 5th century AD), 1984-90. Excavated

Discoveries

Discovered Stone Age Sites Early Stone Age site at Nagarjunakonda in Guntur District, Amarabad, Chandravagu, in Mehboobnagar District Several prehistoric sites near Ramagundam, Godavary Khani, Early, Middle and Late Stone age sites in Adilabad District near Wankhidi, Pochchara, Kerimeri etc., several Prehistoric sites in and around Yelleswaram in Nalgonda District
Neolithic sites near Togarrai, Kadambapur, Budigapalli, Kolakonda, Devaruppula, and Polakonda in Karimnagar District
Megalithic burial sites near Kadambapur, Valigonda in Nalgonda District, Kolakonda in Warangal District, Chinna Torruru, Bommera, Ramunipatla, Timmannapalli, Chilpur, Sirisapalli, Mandapalli, Palamakula, Pullur, and Vargas in Medak District
Buddhist Stupas at Kesanapalli in Guntur District, Chandavaram in Prakasam District, Dhulikatta, Kotilingala, Poshigoan in Karimnagar District
Prehistoric rocks art sites at Regonda in Karimnagar District, Edithanur in Medak District, Durgam and Bollaram in Mahbubnagar District, Gargeyapuram in Kurnool District???.

Salvage archaeology

Under Salvage archaeological operations in the submergible area of the Srisailam Project a large number of ancient temples have been dismantled and reconstructed at higher altitudes. The Somasila Group of Temples, the temples of Siddheswaram, Bhujangeswaram were transplanted and reconstructed. The fourteen temple group of Somasila was dismantled bit by bit and reconstructed at the newly built Somasila village that it now stands aloft in the new Somasila village due to the unceasing efforts of Sastry.

Professional achievements

Sastry retired as Director, Department of Archaeology and Museums, Andhra Pradesh, India. He was Sectional President for the Indian History Congress held at Kolkatta. He was Sectional President and later General President for Andhra Pradesh History Congress. He was General President for the South Indian Numismatic Conference held at Cochin.

He is a Member on the Salarjung Museum Board, Member of the Heritage Conservation Committee of the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority, Chief Compiler in the Telugu Encyclopedia Revision committee of the Telugu University. He is also the President of the Historical Society of Hyderabad.

Awards

In 2002 Sastry received the Eminent Citizen Award as an "Outstanding Archaeologist" by the Sanatana Dharma Charitable Trust, Hyderabad.

He was awarded the Title of "Esasvi" by the Helapuri Fort Group Eluru, West Godavary, Andhra Pradesh.

Publications

Sastry's book "Proto Historical Cultures of Andhra Pradesh" was published in 1982.

His book in Telugu entitled "Bharatiya Samskruti Puratatva Parisodhanalu" written as a dialogue between grandfather and grandson described by a journal as the ‘Puratatvopanishad’ was received exceedingly well by the scholarly world.

Books

New Satavahana Sculptures from Andhra Amaravati, 1990
Proto and Early Historical Cultures of Andhra Pradesh Published by the. Govt. of Andhra Pradesh (1983)
Select Monuments of Hyderabad (1983), a Guide Book.
Recent Sculptures of Andhra Amarvati (1981)
Roman Gold Coins Recent Discoveries
Three Grants of Pruthvisri Mula Raja from Kondavidu.
Totlakonda – A Buddhist Site in Andhra Pradesh
Vijayanagara Mahasaamrajyamu Published by National Book Trust
Bharatiya Samskruti Puratatvaparisodhanalu (Telugu)
Famines in India through the Ages
A Brief History of Andhra Pradesh
History Of Buddhism in Andhra Pradesh
Status of Women in Vedic Times

Research articles published

Terracotta's from Peddabankur and Dhulikatta, (1978) Andhra Pradesh Journal of Archaeology, Vol 1, and no.1.
Keesara, part of Vishnukundina empire, (1979) Andhra Pradesh Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 1 no. 1
The Ash mound excavation at Hulikallu (1979) Andhra Pradesh Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 1 no. 2
Recent archaeological discoveries of the Satavahana period in AP,) Satavahana Souvenir, Satavahana Seminar Special Issue. 1981
Ancient Andhra History @Archaeology (Sectional Presidential Address) Proceedings of the AP History Congress, 8th Session, Kakinada, 1984
Vandalism of Archaeological monuments in India – role of public in their preservation, (1985) preservation, (1985) Proceedings of All India Museums Conference, Bhuvaneswar.
Historical Mosques of Hyderabad (1987) Journal of Salar Jung Museum Annual Research Journal, 1983-84 Hyderabad.
Architectural affiliation of Andhra with rock-cut caves of Ellora, (1988) Proceedings of Indian Art History Seminar.
Kuchipudi dance – a historical sketch, (1988) Souvenir of the Kuchipudi Kalaniketan, Hyderabad.
Salient features of the Early Islamic architecture in A.P (1989) Souvenir of the Centenary celebrations of the Victoria Jubilee Museum, Vijayawada.
Seals and ceilings from Peddabankur, Epigraphia Andhrica, Vo.51989
Recent Trends in Archaeology of Andhra Pradesh, Sectional Presidential Address, 51 Session of Indian History Congress, Calcutta, 1990
Salvage archeological Operations under the Srisailam Project, (1990) Ithihas, and vol. 15 no.2. 1989
Artistic Innovations During the Vijayanagara Times, with Reference to AP, Itihas, Vol XV, 1989
Salient Features of Satavahana Material Culture, N.Ramesan Commemoration Volume, Satavahana Special, 1990
Early Saiva Vestiges at Keesaragatta, (1990) Itihas, Vol. 15 No. 2
A decade of Archaeology in Andhra Pradesh, (1983) Journal of Archaeology, University of Mysore.
Early Islamic Architecture, Souvenir, Victoria Jubilee Museum Centenary Celebrations, 1987
Salient features of Satavahana Material Culture, (1990) Andhra Pradesh Journal of Archaeology, Vol.2 No.2.
Position and Status of Women during the Medieval Andhra, (1991) Itihas, Von. 16 No.1
Terracotta Art of Andhra Pradesh (1990), Gaurav.
Indo Roman Trading Centers in Andhra Pradesh Ex Moneta, in Honour of David W. Mac Dowall, Bapu, Nasik, 1995
Stucco As Decorative Art in Andhra Pradesh, Decorative Arts of India, Published by Salar Jung Museum Hyderabad, 1987.
Architectural Affiliation of Andhra with Rock -Cut Caves of Ellora, Ellora Caves: Sculptures and Architecture, Seminar on Art History at Ellora 1988.
Philosophy of Conservation. In Conservation, Preservation, @Restoration, Birla Archaeological and Cultural Research Institute, 1996.
Recent Trends in Archaeology of Andhra Pradesh, Sectional Presidential Address, 51 Session, Indian History Congress, Calcutta December, 1990.
Ramayana in Andhra Sculptural Art, Srinagabhinandana, Bangalore, 1995
Three Copper Plate Grants of Pruthvisrimula Raja from Kondavidu, Journal of the Epigraphical Society of India, Vol 16, 1990
Roman Coin Finds in the Karimnagar Region of Andhra, Foreign Coins found in the Indian Subcontinent, 4th International Colloquium, Indian Institute of Research in Numismatics, Nasik, 1995
Kshtrapa Coin Hoard from Ghantasala, in Numismatic Panorama, S.M.Shukla Commemoration Vol.1996
Ramadasa_A Great Ramabhakta of Bhdrachalam, The Kalyana Kalpataru, Vol. XLII, December, 1996
Bliss in Stillness, (Splendor of Andhra Temples) Maa Telugu Talli, Special Issue on Andhra Pradesh, Nagarjuna group,1998
Recent Progress of Archaeology in Andhra Pradesh, Proceedings of the Colloquiium on South Indian Archaeology, Bacri, Hyderabad,2000
Buddhism in Andhra, Andhra Sangita Saamskutika Mahotsavava special Issue, September, 2001
The Enigma of Acharya Nagarjuna, Deccan Studies, Vol.1, No.1, Jan-June, 2002
Early Tantric Goddesses, Special Issue of the National Seminar on Tantrism, Birla Archeological and Cultural Research Institute, Hyderabad, 2002
Megalithic Cultures- The Iron Age, Pre and Proto Historic Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh History Congress, Dravidian University, 2003
A Historical Sketch Of Acharya Nagarjuna, Proceedings of the National Seminar, Salar Jung Museum, 2003.
Nalgonda Region - An Archaeological Paradise, in Udayini, Special Issue of Panugallu Utsavam, 2001
Maha Ganapati, Proceedings of the Andhra Pradesh History Congress, Narasapur,2001
R.Subrahmanyam, a Guide of My Destiny, Subrahmanyam Commemoration Volume, Editors, I.K.Sarma, B.Vidyadhara Rao, 2003
The Symbolism of Lotus and Lajja Gouri, in Glimpses of our Past and Historical Researches, Felicitation Vol to Prof M.Radha Krishna Sarma, Dept. of History Osmania University, 2004.
Historical Geography of Andhra Pradesh, General Presidential Address, 28th Session of Andhra Pradesh History Congress, Vijayavada, 2004.
Tummanayeru Grant of Pulakesi 11. Brahmasri, P.V.Parabrahma Sastry Felicitation Vol., 2004
Sects of Buddhism in Andhra, Kevala_Bodhi, Buddhist and Jaina History of Deccan, 2004
Freedom Movement in (Coastal) Andhra, Krishna Pushkaram Celebrations, Special Issue, 2004

Research Articles Published in Telugu

Andhra Pradesh Raastram lo Puraatatva Parisodhanalu, Andhra Jyoti Special Issue, 1985
Nagarjunkonda – Oka Bouddha Kshetram, (1987), Telugu Samacharam.
Amaravathi, (1987), Telugu Samacharam.
Bavikonda – Bouddharamam, (1988) Telugu Samacharam.
Nelakondapalli (1988) Telugu Samacharam.
Srisailam Project loni puratana kattadala parikshana charyalu, (1989) Telugu Vignanam.
Charitrika Chihnalu, MaaTelugu Talliki Mallepooladanda, A special issue brought out by Andhra Jyothi.1989.
Praachinaandhra Samskuti, Special Issue, Andhra Saaraswata Parishad Diamond Jubilee, 2003
Praachina Naanemulu-Moosi Charitra Parisodhana Telugu, B.Nsastry Commemoration Volume,
Tarataraala Telugu Samskruti, Moosi, November–December 2000.
Brihatsilayuga Samskrutulu-Inupayugam, Andhra Pradesh Samagra Charitra Samskruti, Vol 1. Andhra Pradesh History Congress, 2003

References

↑ "http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/archaeologist-krishna-sastry-dead/article3809630.ece". The Hindu. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2015. External link in |title= (help)
↑ http://namasthetelangaana.com/columnists/MALLESHAM-CHILLA.aspx?category=1&subCategory=7&ContentId=143077#.VKliDcl8cRI
↑ Reddy, P. Chenna. Krishnabhinandana: Archaeological, Historical and Cultural Studies (Festschrift to V.V. Krishna Sastry. Delhi. pp. l, 372p., Col. & B/W Photos., B/W Plts., Figs., Tables, Index, 29 cm. ISBN 978-81-89131-15-9. Retrieved 2009-10-17.

External links

Krishnabhinandana: Archaeological, Historical and Cultural Studies (Festschrift to V.V. Krishna Sastry) P. Chenna Reddy (Ed.)

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