MP’s Tiger Reserve Named After Internationally Acclaimed Archaeologist Dr Wakankar
He is also credited with discovering the exact geographical spot at Dongla near Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh where Tropic of Cancer interacts with the ancient India prime meridian
Bhopal: The newly designated Ratapani Tiger Reserve (RTR) adjoining Bhopal city has been named after the internationally acclaimed archaeologist Dr Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar, credited for bringing to light the prehistoric cave paintings of Bhimbetka here in 1957.
This was announced by chief minister Mohan Yadav while inaugurating the 19th Dr Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar national award ceremony and the national seminar on archaeology here on Friday.
Dr Wakankar was a multifaceted personality.
He is also credited with discovering the exact geographical spot at Dongla near Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh where Tropic of Cancer interacts with the ancient India prime meridian.
Dr Wakankar had established that due to gradual northward shift of the Tropic of Cancer over centuries, its actual intersection point with the local meridian was no longer in Ujjain proper, but approximately 30 km north, in a village called Dongla.
The location is astronomically significant because on the summer solstice (around June 21st), the sun is directly overhead at noon, casting no shadow (a ‘Zero Shadow Day’).
Dr Wakankar had carried out excavations at Bhimbetka on the outskirts of Bhopal city in 1957 to bring to light the prehistoric rock art paintings in its caves.
Bhimbetka is declared a World Heritage Site.
He firmly believed that the Saraswati River mentioned in the Rigveda was not a myth but a real and mighty Indian river, Mr. Yadav said.
Through surveys in Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat, he sought to establish that the present-day Ghaggar- Hakra river system represents the remnants of the ancient Saraswati.
Dr Wakankar also studied more than 4,000 rock paintings across India, Europe and America.
The chief minister honoured Padma Shri awardee Prof. Yashodhar Mathpal with the 19th Dr Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar National Award for 2022-2023, on the occasion.