Caption: A file photo of Dr. M.S. Nagaraja Rao with Dr. M.S. Krishnamurthy (former Chairman, Department of Archeology and Ancient History, University of Mysore) at the temple.

The members of Orissa Association Mysore (OAM) were shocked on the demise of Dr. M.S. Nagaraja Rao (former Director General of Archaeological Survey of India), who was deeply involved in all the affairs of the Association. He was the Chairman of the technical committee constituted for renovation of the 11th century temple of Sri Venkateswara and Bhoga Narasimha, situated on the banks of river Cauvery. It would not have been possible to undertake such a complicated task without Dr. Rao’s involvement.

Dr. Rao was fully involved with OAM and was constantly following up the progress of renovation work even during his hectic foreign tours. Although he was a great contemporary archaeologist, he never compromised with ancient and traditional values.

In one of the technical committee meetings, Dr. Rao decided that the floor of the temple should be laid with ordinary stone slabs or in case granites were used, the surface should be made rough to give the look of the 11th century temple. When it was pointed out that it would involve considerable extra cost to make the surface rough by flaming, he stuck to his decision and said there is no comprise.

He was a workaholic and never got tired. Once he telephoned from USA and said that he was departing from Chicago and would reach Bangalore the next day early morning and then would return to Mysore by road. And I was to meet him in his Dhvanyaloka office at around 11 am. To my utter surprise, when I reached Dhvanyaloka at 11, I found him deeply engrossed in lot of paper work but looking fresh and cheerful. He told me that he had come directly from Bangalore International Airport to the office to do some urgent work relating to his just concluded USA tour. The purpose of asking me to meet him was to get the latest feedback regarding the temple renovation work, which was an example to show his involvement with OAM.

Dr. Rao, who had a special liking for Odisha, used to recount his connection with Odisha. It seems, when he was the Director General of Archeological Survey of India, he was closely involved in the decision making for removal of lime plaster from the outer walls of the world famous temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri and to provide chemical coatings to these walls for its protection from saline atmosphere caused by Bay of Bengal. But for his decision, the beautiful stone carvings on the walls would not have been exposed and the temple looked grander.

The members of Orissa Association have lost a great well-wisher and his absence will be felt immensely.

We pray Lord Venkateswara and Bhoga Narasimha to keep his soul in peace.

— Dilip K. Misra, President, Orissa Association Mysore

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Feature Articles / January 04th, 2012