A symphony Of stone and words

BENEATH our feet lies a hidden world, waiting to be explored-layered in dust, myth, and memories. From stories of the Red Sea parting for the Jews to the legend of Cleopatra, archaeology has always sought to uncover the truth behind such tales. For archaeologists, the ground is not just dirt-it's a story waiting to be told.

- SARAVANAN MP

V Narayanan Moorthy (65), from K Velur near Palani in Tamil Nadu's Dindigul district, is on a pursuit of truth. As one of the most passionate epigraphists and archaeologists in the state, he has been exploring ancient sites, and sharing his knowledge, for over 40 years.

Moorthy has helped discover more than 700 stone inscriptions, 30 megalithic sites, and 20 rock art locations across Tamil Nadu. Even after retiring from his job at a public sector bank in 2022, he continues his search for forgotten pieces of history Moorthy's interest in ancient history began with his family. He says, "While my father, Venkatachalam, a forest ranger, took me to many forest areas during my childhood, my grandfather Azhagar, a forest guard, read ancient manuscripts and gave spiritual talks in village centres. This sparked my curiosity."