V. S. Wakankar

In 1957 Dr Wakankar discovered the Bhimbetka rock caves. In 1970 UNESCO declared the Bhimbetka rock caves as a World Heritage Site. The Bhimbetka rock caves exhibit the earliest traces of human life in India. This discovery placed India on the top of the World Map of Rock Art. Dr. Wakankar discovered and studied more than 4000 rock caves in India. He founded Bharati Kala Bhavan at Ujjain - a center for study of drawing, painting, sculpturing, carving etc 

He carried out extensive excavations at Maheshwar (1954), Navada Toli (1955), Indragarh (1959), Manoti (1960), Awara (1960), Kayatha (1966), Mandsaur (1974, 76), Azadnagar (1974), Dangwada (1974), Runija (1980), as well as Verconium Roman sites in England (1961) and Incoliev in France (1962).

Dr. Wakankar was responsible for tracing the basin of the now-dried-up Saraswati river, that is said to hold secrets to much of the Indian civilization. A team led by Dr. V. S. Wakankar traced the path of this river and discovered several sites belonging to the Indus-Saraswati Civilization. As Vedic literature and the civilization flourished on the banks of this river, he has proposed that our civilization should be termed as "SaraswatCivilization" instead of Indus Valley Civilization.

Dr. V. S. Wakankar identified the exact spot where the Tropic of Cancer and the local longitude intersect each other at village Dongla near Ujjain. During summer solstice as the sun is exactly overhead at noon, no shadow is cast. This spot has great astronomical significance. He was of the opinion that this spot and the corresponding longitude could have been the key position for all Vedic astronomical calculations in India. He proposed that due to its unique position and India's contribution to the knowledge of Astronomy, the local meridian should be named as Prime Meridian (zero meridian) instead of the one at Greenwich UK and that international timing should be based on DMT (Dongla Meridian Time) instead of GMT (Greenwich Meridian Time).

 

His other significant discoveries :

1. 23 Parmar inscriptions at Dhar.
2. More than 68 Chalcolithic sites in Malwa.
3. More than 4000 painted rock shelters throughout India.
4. Mahudi Copper plate of King Bhoja at Dhar.
5. Indragadh inscription of King Nannappa of Rashtrakut dynasty of Manyakheta.
6. Bilpank prashasti of Siddharaj Jaysinnh of Gujarat.
7. Elephant capital of Maurayan period at Soudhanga.
8. Remains of Harappan culture at Manoti.
9. Black and Red ware culture at Awara.
10. Earliest remains of a culture now known as Kayatha culture at Chalcolithic sites at 'Kayatha' near Ujjain.
11. Shaka inscription at Ujjain.
12. Inscription of Vijaysinh at Ujjain.
13. Discovered and classified 15000 coins of Ujjain.
14. Discovered and deciphered 2 Brahmi inscriptions outside India (one being at Quassein on Red Sea and other being a tablet from Babylon).
15. Glass seal and 4 Greek amulets at Ujjain.
16. New sites at Arryo Hando; Rio Grande Canyon and Macon Georgia in USA.

When he submitted his thesis on the prehistoric rock paintings, one of the committee members suggested him to remove an acknowledgement he had made to RSS. He refused to do so. In 1975, the central government awarded him the Padmashari award.