DU's rock art researcher now World Archaeologists' congress secretary

India Today

7 hours ago

Sudeshna Biswas, a PhD scholar from Delhi University, has been elected as the Secretary of the World Archaeological Congress (WAC) -- a major international organisation in the field of archaeology. This historic achievement took place during the 10th WAC Congress held last week in Darwin, Australia.It is the first time an Indian has held an executive position within the WAC Council. Remarkably, Sudeshna is also among the youngest women to assume this distinguished role.advertisementShe is currently pursuing her PhD in the Department of Anthropology at DU, where her research focuses on rock art in Central India.
Using both ethno-archaeology and cognitive anthropology, her work explores the deeper meaning and context of ancient art found in rock shelters.Sudeshna has spent time working closely with tribal communities living near archaeological sites.She says these communities hold valuable knowledge about the history and meaning of the rock art. 'I believe they are an important part of our heritage stories,' she said.Apart from her research, Sudeshna has also served as the Co-Chair of the WAC-10 Student Committee, where she worked with students from around the world to promote inclusive participation in archaeology.Sudeshna is also a University Gold Medalist and is currently supported by a Senior Research Fellowship from the University Grants Commission (UGC).advertisementShe attended her first WAC meeting at the 9th Congress in Prague in 2022 as a participant and later chaired the WAC-10 Student Committee.Her leadership was instrumental in raising over AUD 37,000 to assist women from low exchange rate countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Brazil, India, Chile, Argentina, and Morocco to attend the Darwin Congress.Nominated on the recommendation of the WAC-10 organisers, Sudeshna stood out among four candidates from India and South Africa.The election involved voting by representatives from 60 nations.As Secretary, she will manage key executive and secretarial functions, support strategic governance, and promote WAC's values emphasising ethical archaeology and inclusive participation worldwide.At the Congress, Sudeshna co-convened a session on 'Rock Art in the 21st Century' alongside Prof. Manoj Kumar Singh and Professor Luiz Oosterbeek from Portugal.She presented two significant papers on the rock art of Gopisur-Satkunda in Madhya Pradesh, exploring its anthropological scopes.Expressing her gratitude, Sudeshna said, 'I am deeply honoured to serve as WAC Secretary. Despite being the youngest candidate and facing criticism, the support from global scholars strengthened my resolve. I am committed to fostering student involvement, equitable global dialogue, and empowering under-represented communities in archaeology, especially women. Leadership transcends age; it is about dedication to the cause.'FOCUS ON ROCK ART AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGEadvertisementHer research focusses on rock art studies in Central India, with a particular interest in how local communities interpret and interact with ancient symbols and art forms.Sudeshna's work draws from both ethnoarchaeology and archaeological anthropology, offering a bridge between material culture and living traditions.Apart from her research in archaeology, Sudeshna also works in areas such as tribal studies, socio-cultural anthropology, qualitative methods, and heritage interpretation.The approach blends fieldwork with a study of traditional knowledge systems, especially those relating to rock art and its meaning for indigenous communities.A University Gold Medalist, Sudeshna is among a growing number of Indian researchers contributing to global conversations around heritage and history.Her election to the WAC Secretariat may also open doors for greater collaboration between Indian institutions and global archaeological networks.- Ends