Vijayapura: Here is some great news for history students, researchers and armature historians; the museum department of the historical Gol Gumbaz is selling unique and illustrated books on history, ancient architecture, excavation etc. at subsidized rates.
For the first time, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has supplied over 2,000 books under different categories for sale at a 40% subsidized rate.
“In the past, we used to get books to sell, but this is the first time that we have received over 2,000 books. Some of them are very rare books which are not available in the market,” said Prasanna Kumar, Assistant Archeologist and B. Pramod, Senior Conservationist.
The officials said that these books are on popular excavations made by ASI, exploration, guide books, coffee table books, art and architecture, Indian Archeological Review, inscriptions etc. which have been published by ASI, all of which are available for purchase.
Prasanna Kumar said that these books are highly authentic as they are written by noted and eminent historians and researchers of the country.
“Even if such books are available in bookstores, the prices are too high in the open market, while here, the ASI here is selling the books at a subsidized rate,” he said.
Pramod said that the books could be helpful to research scholars and those interested in learning the historical significance of ancient monuments in the country.
He said that besides students, even the Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women’s University could also purchase these books for their library.
The officials said that interested persons can visit the ASI office inside the Gol Gumbaz premises during regular office hours to purchase the books.
Curiously, however, none of the books provided for sale by the ASI are on the history or monuments of Vijayapura.
Admitting that the authority has not published any books related to the historical monuments of Vijayapura from the Adil Shahi era, ASI officials said that they are still in the process of getting such books published.
“We are in contact the eminent historians and researchers to get authentic books on the history of Vijayapura published. Soon, we will come up with these books which could be used for historical references,” they added.
