Narayan Vyas
An Ujjain archaeologist who spent 37 years with the ASI and documented Bhimbetka, Sanchi and Rani ki Vav, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.
Narayan Vyas has studied some of India’s best-known heritage sites, from the rock shelters of Bhimbetka to the stepwell of Rani ki Vav. In 2026 he was named for the Padma Shri, from Madhya Pradesh [1].
Scholar
Vyas was born in Ujjain on 5 January 1949 [2]. After an MA in ancient history and a diploma in archaeology, he earned a PhD for his work on Rani ki Vav in Gujarat [2]. His later DLitt on the rock paintings of the Raisen region and Bhimbetka was, according to his citation, the first in archaeology written in Hindi [2].
Thirty-seven years with the ASI
He joined the Archaeological Survey of India in 1972 and served for 37 years across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Daman and Diu [2]. He took part in excavations at Sanchi, Satdhara, Besnagar and Bhimbetka, and at Rani ki Vav [2]. In 2005 he went to Myanmar on a cultural exchange [2].
He documented about 1,500 sculptures at Rani ki Vav and worked with the World Heritage Committee on Rani ki Vav and Bhimbetka [2]. He also wrote a book on Bhimbetka and collected data on more than 650 prehistoric tools [2]. He works with Spanish experts comparing the rock art of India and Spain [2].
He received the Madhya Pradesh government’s Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar Award in 2019, and the Limca Book of Records listed his collection of ancient bricks [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2026: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2026 investiture ceremony brochure: citation for Narayan Vyas — Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Accessed 12 October 2026.
Last updated . First draft prepared with AI assistance; reviewed and fact-checked by a person before publishing. Report a correction
