Politics
As India Pushes For UNESCO Tag For Sarnath, ASI To Revise Plaque Credit From British To Local Ruler’s Family: Report
Sarnath
Ahead of a UNESCO team’s inspection of Sarnath, nominated by India for inclusion in the World Heritage List, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is preparing to replace a key plaque at the site, Indian Express reported.
The new inscription will recognise the role of Babu Jagat Singh, from the lineage of Benares ruler Chait Singh, instead of British officers previously credited with its discovery.
According to sources cited in the IE report, Jagat Singh’s descendants approached the ASI seeking correction of the main plaque at the site.
They argued that he was responsible for bringing into light Sarnath’s archaeological importance in 1787–88, a decade earlier than the 1798 date currently cited.
The family’s request also disputes the long-standing narrative that British administrators and archaeologists were the first to uncover the Buddhist site where the Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon.
Their claim is that the ancient mound was exposed during a digging exercise ordered by Jagat Singh.
The existing plaque states that Duncan and Mackenzie identified Sarnath’s significance in 1798, followed by excavations carried out by Cunningham in the 1830s, Kittoe in the 1850s, Oertel in the early 20th century, and later by Marshall, Hargreaves and Sahni.
According to the IE report, ASI Director-General Yadubir Rawat confirmed that the timeline would be corrected to reflect the new findings.
Senior officials cited in the IE report added that several plaques installed before ASI’s founding in 1861 relied heavily on colonial-era assessments, which can be updated when fresh historical evidence emerges.
Pradeep Narayan Singh, one of Jagat Singh’s descendants, reportedly said the family has further requested changes to the cultural information board displayed at the site.
He is also involved in a research committee established in Varanasi in Jagat Singh’s name.
Records at the Sarnath Archaeological Museum show that Jagat Singh had ordered digging at the ancient mound to source construction material.
During this work, a casket with Buddhist relics was also found at the site, parts of which are presently in the custody of Asiatic Society in Kolkata.
This will not be the first change.
Earlier in 2024, after another representation by the family, ASI replaced wording on the plaque at the Dharmarajika Stupa.
The revised text acknowledged that the monument “came to light” under his orders and was at one time known locally as Jagat Singh Stupa.
Officials indicated the main plaque could also be updated with findings from later excavations, including those directed by archaeologist B R Mani in 2013–14.
Mani, who has worked at Sarnath for decades and served as Director-General of the National Museum, emphasised that the site was active long before Ashoka.
He observed that Sarnath is often wrongly thought of as beginning with Ashoka, whereas evidence shows it was already a centre of human and religious activity much earlier.
He explained that his excavation sought to trace developments at Sarnath during the 300 years between the Buddha and Ashoka.
The findings indicated that Buddhist activity had continued at the site for more than a century before Ashoka’s reign.
Sarnath was placed on UNESCO’s tentative list in 1998.
India’s formal nomination for the 2025–26 cycle seeks to secure full World Heritage recognition after nearly three decades.
The complex includes structures built between the 3rd century BCE and the 11th century CE, along with Jain associations.
The Ashokan pillar unearthed here later became the model for India’s national emblem.
Multilingual plaques at the site, including Japanese, reflect its significance to international Buddhist pilgrims.
New Delhi has also been assertive about safeguarding Buddhist heritage globally.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Culture issued legal notices to Sotheby’s Hong Kong to halt the planned sale of relics linked to the faith.
