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Pakistan's Ace Archaeologist Dr Dani is Dead

by rumana husain | January 26, 2009 at 09:26 pm

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Pakistan's foremost archaeologist and linguist, author of 30 books, internationally acclaimed and considered to be an authority on South Asian archaeology and history, died of heart, kidney and diabetes problems at the ripe age of 88.

Dr Ahmad Hasan Dani was the recipient of many civil awards, including Pakistan's one of the highest, Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Legion d' Honneur from the French government, Aristotle Silver Medal by Unesco, Order of Merit by Germany, and Knight Commander by the governemnt of Italy.

Besides his many excavation expeditions in the lenghth and breadth of the sub-continent, he was Professor Emiritus at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad and Director of Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisations.

Prof Dani was a world renowned historian. He was regarded as an authority on archaeology, culture, linguistics, Buddhism and Central Asian archaeology and history. He was Professor of Emeritus at the Quaid-i-Azam University, a distinction bestowed on him after his retirement as Dean of the Social Sciences Department in recognition of his contributions. He was founding director of the Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisations of the university since its establishment in 1997 and founding director of the Islamabad Museum.

During his long career, Prof Dani had held various academic positions and international fellowships and conducted archaeological excavations and research. He received a number of civil awards in Pakistan and abroad. As a recognised linguist, he was proficient in more than 14 national and international languages and dialects.

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Sanjay Jha

at 21:48 on January 26th, 2009

Thanks Rumana for this sad news. Not only Pakistan but world will remember his outstanding work on Taxila Civilisations.

rumana husain

at 21:57 on January 26th, 2009

thanks sanjay. he was a true scholar and devoted his entire life finding and saving what gets buried deep down, but sadly he is now under that same earth.