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Increasingly, the potential of archaeology is tragically getting lost as attempts are made to misuse it to address political issues

- Jaya Menon

ARCHAEOLOGY seems to have become a buzzword nowadays. Almost every day, one hears of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) being ordered by various courts to survey mosques. How has this come to be? The ASI is a government body-under the Ministry of Culture-established in the latter half of the 19th century by the British government to look after the archaeological heritage of the colony. The intrinsic nature of the ASI has meant that the primary body responsible for archaeology in India is at the service of the state. Since its origin, the ASI has been a behemoth responsible for conservation, preservation and survey of the major archaeological remains in this country. Thus, any object or building of antique date that is recovered immediately becomes the concern of the ASI and the state. This ownership reminds us of ancient kings claiming everything that was found within their lands: animals, minerals, and resources such as fertile soil and water.