Study of prehistoric foreign tools in Indian Museums and Indian prehistoric antiquities in UK Museums and Institutions
This grant allowed me to start a larger study of prehistoric Indian antiquities in both Indian and UK museums. The report which I submitted to the NTICVA at the end of the grant had chapters on foreign tools in Indian tools in UK museums such as the Institute of Archaeology, the British Museum, the Liverpool Museum, the Ashmolean Museum, the Pitt Rivers Museum., who supplied me with literature and some photographs.
To study the art of Metal Casting
The grant allowed me to gain more knowledge of the subject , which I was able to communicate to other colleagues through a paper on Cultural Heritage and Scientific Preservation and through lectures and other interactions. My report " The Art of Metal Casting" was submitted to the Trust.
Study of the origin and spread of Buddhism in Tamil Nadu with special reference to the Chola country
I felt very happy at the time of receiving the award as my burden was reduced to some extent. For my thesis " Buddhism in the Chola country" I had to cover nearly 100 villages in and around the region. During the fieldwork I was able to photograph nearly 50 granite Buddhas in the area for which the only financial support was the NTICVA grant. I was also able to contact museums inside and outside India to get photographs of Nagapattinam Buddha bronze sculptures. The grant allowed me to carry out and complete this work in a nice manner.
Analytical study of museum education in Indian museums
I received the grant soon after completing my masters in museum management from the MS University of Baroda. The award came at the right point in my career. It gave me an opportunity to travel to important Indian museums and understand the status of museum education; my theoretical knowledge of museology was augmented by observing practical working of state and national museums. It also gave me an opportunity to interact with museum professionals from important Indian museums.
A survey in preparation for a directory of monuments in Tamil Nadu
A study of the sculptures in the mandapas of Avudaiyar Temple of the Madura Nayak period
Video documentation of museum objects in Tamil Nadu
The project bult on my earlier award from the NTICVA and focused on the Nayak temples in Tamil Nadu. This in turn led to a major research project funded by the University Grants Commission.
A study of Bikaner painting
To study the educational activities of some major museums and science centres in India
Living Art of Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh
This award motivated and helped me to explore the art and cultural heritage of small folk pockets of Rajasthan & UP. I was pursuing my Masters in History of Art when I got this award. The classroom studies provide us with a theoretical know how of any subject. To get involved and understand the practical significance and importance of arts and culture in rural areas one has to deeply interact with the local habitats.
