“I’m Sanathan YS, and I work as a research associate at Pleach India Foundation in Hyderabad. My journey with history and archaeology started in my hometown, Mangaluru, where stories were a part of everyday life. 

Growing up, Yakshagana was something we looked forward to. This traditional theatre form, with its colourful costumes, expressive storytelling, and lively music, brought mythological epics and history to life. The way stories unfolded on stage always caught my attention. It wasn’t just a play—it made me curious about where these stories came from and how they had been passed down over generations. That curiosity eventually led me to archaeology. 

Both my parents are teachers, and they encouraged me to explore my interests. I pursued Archaeology at Mysore University and later trained at the Institute of Archaeology under the Archaeological Survey of India in New Delhi. But real learning happens in the field—walking through old temple ruins, studying inscriptions, and listening to the stories that local communities have preserved for centuries. That’s what took me to Assam. 

For five years, my PhD research focused on the archaeology of the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, specifically the Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa kingdom, which ruled from the 3rd to 13th centuries CE. I spent seven years in Assam and Meghalaya, studying the remains of the Varmanas, Mlechchhas, and Palas—the dynasties that shaped the region’s history. The Northeast is different from anywhere else. In Assam, temple ruins are scattered along the Brahmaputra valley, and in Meghalaya, ancient stone structures still stand in villages where people continue to use them for rituals. The historical sites waiting to be explored made every discovery exciting. 

Fieldwork was always unpredictable. We would start with maps and records, but local people often led us to sites we wouldn’t have found otherwise. In North Guwahati, we documented rock-cut sculptures of Kala Bhairava and Vishnu Murthy in Yogasana, carved into hillsides centuries ago. In Meghalaya, we studied megalithic structures—some marking ancient clan histories, others still used in rituals. The past wasn’t something separate-it was still alive in everyday life.

That connection between the past and present is what keeps me drawn to archaeology. Whether it’s an ancient temple ruin in Assam or a heritage site in Hyderabad, every structure holds a story waiting to be understood. Now, I continue my work in heritage conservation and research, knowing that there is still so much more to uncover.”

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