Inside the ASI: The Making of Hindutva Archaeology

Archaeology is often seen as neutral about artefacts, heritage, and history. But what if the act of digging isn’t just to discover the past, but to create one? This explainer traces how the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), from its colonial origins to today, has shaped what we call India’s past. From providing reports in the Ayodhya case to the recent controversy around the Keezhadi excavations, the ASI stands at the centre of how India’s past is interpreted, contested, and controlled. We explore how archaeology became a tool for creating a “suitable past,” what scholars call Hindutva archaeology, and what that means for truth and heritage in India today. Featuring insights from archaeologist Prof. Ashish Avikunthak, author of Bureaucratic Archaeology: State, Science, and Past in Postcolonial India. Subscribe to Nous Network for more deep dives into history, culture, politics and identity. #Archaeology #ASI #HindutvaArchaeology #IndianHistory #HeritagePolitics #ContestedPast #Keezhadi #AyodhyaCase #CulturalNationalism #HistoryAndPolitics #PostcolonialIndia #BureaucraticArchaeology #MemoryPolitics #ConstructingThePast 00:00- Intro: Keezhadi, Sambhal & ASI 04:09 - Understanding ASI 07:48 - Colonial Origin of ASI & Role of Aryan Racial Theory 14:20 - Hindutva Archaeology & Producing the Past 21:00 Conclusion: Archaeology and the Politics of Proof Subscribe: https://www.nousnetwork.org/#/portal Support here: https://www.nousnetwork.org/#/portal/... WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb3n... Instagram:   / nousnetwork   X: https://x.com/nousnetwork Facebook:   / thenousnetwork