Indian Archaeology Meet from November 11

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala, in collaboration with Archaeological Survey of India, Thrissur Circle, is organising a three-day Annual Conference of the Indian Archaeological Society (45th conference), Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies (39th conference) and Indian History and Culture Society (35th conference). The conferences would be held from November 11 to 13 at the Mar Gregorios Renewal Centre, Nalanchira.  The three societies, which have been in the forefront of the promotion of archaeological causes in India, have been jointly organising their annual conferences in different parts of the country. The conferences are venues for presenting, discussing and deliberating the archaeological research works undertaken by various agencies and researchers throughout India during the course of the year. Together with the annual conference, a National Seminar on Megalithic Culture is also being organised this year. The annual conference of the societies makes a comeback to Kerala after a gap of 9 years (it was last hosted in the year 2002 at the Hill Palace, Tripunithura). Last year’s conference was organised by Allahabad University. The inaugural session will be held on November 11 between 9.30 and 10.30 am. Dr A Jayakrishnan, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kerala, will deliver the presidential address.  K Jayakumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala, will inaugurate and deliver the inaugural address and Dr Gautam Sengupta, Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, will be the Guest of Honour. The gathering will be welcomed by Dr Ajit Kumar and thanked by Dr M Nambirajan. During the inaugural session, research journals of the societies (‘Puratattva’, ‘Man and Environment’ and ‘History Today’) and a book titled ‘Archaeology in Kerala: Emerging Trends’ edited by Dr Ajit Kumar will be released.  Eminent personalities will deliver presidential address of the societies and memorial lectures. The presidential address of the Indian Archaeological Society will be delivered by Dr M G S Narayanan and that of Indian History and Culture Society by Rajan Gurukkal. Prof K K Basa will deliver the presidential address of Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies.  Nearly 135 abstracts of papers to be presented have been received from scholars working in the field of Archaeology.