Contemporary arts in Bengal: modernity and status
This grant was helpful in preparing a convincing research proposal for the doctoral programme at the Faculty of Fine Arts, the M S University of Baroda. Subsequently I was engaged in documentation works towards the study. The research experience also gave me the confidence to handle the ambitions and take part in a major art exhibition - Art of Bengal, Past and Present - a joint venture with the Centre of International Modern Art, Kolkata.
Pazhayarai and temples surrounding it
The award enabled me to undertake fieldwork and to take photographs. The study of temples surrounding Pazhayaraiand literature and inscriptions relating to them, provided many interesting facts about the capital city of the Cholas.
Study of the Pithora paintings by the Rathwas of Chhota Nagpur
I had been wanting to work on the Pithora paintings made by the Rathwas as a part of their religious traditions. The award enabled me to supplement library work with empirical fieldwork. This enabled me to develop a perspective on the social and religious belief patterns of the community. It will also help me in conducting further comparative research.
The study and documentation of Araiya Cenai, the Divya Prabandham hymns sung by priestly dancers in Vaishnavite temples in South India
Study of Rock Paintings in Tamil Nadu
The grant allowed me to undertake fieldwork and to visit the sites once again to explore particular questions about the rock paintings. It is proposed (2001) to publish a book on this subject.
To study the urn burials of megalithic period of the Nagapattinam region
This award helped me to do the research on the burial systems, and to motivate my students to get involved in archaeological activities.
Research, study and display of historical arms and armour of Saurashtra, Gujarat, and Rajputana
The study aided by this grant and two subsequent grants the following year has helped me to bring to reality in a practical way my dream of preparing a catalogue of arms and armour in the museums of Maharashtra, and also the cataloguing of arms in the Government of Chennai's collections. Primarily, it allowed me complete the identification of the arms collection in the Mahatma Phule Museum, Pune. The catalogue of this collection will be published shortly (2001).
Documentation of Maratha monuments in Tamil Nadu
Study and documentation of Chola Bronzes in the museums of India
This award was a timely help, when I was planning to document the Chola bronzes in and around the Thanjavur region for the visitors of our museum. After getting this award, I extended the area for collecting data on Chola bronzes to the museums of India. This gave me an opportunity to acquire the latest museum techniques and to gain more information about the provenance of Chola bronzes kept in different museums. I plan to bring out a small catalogue about Chola bronzes which will be useful to our visitors.
A study of Bihara ki Laka Kalayen, the Folk Art of Bihar
This grant assisted me in my research work for a PhD dissertation on folk art in Bihar. The PhD dissertation was submitted in 2001.
