Om Prakash Sharma Kukki is an amateur numismatic, wanderer, a self-styled archeologist, a grocer and a school drop-out. For years, he has been scanning the area amidst ruined monuments looking for archeological artifacts and antiques.
The discoveries include weapons of stone, pottery and utensils of terracota and coins belonging to various periods. One coin dates back to 6 BC. The well-known rock painting expert Ervin Neumayer, author of ‘Lines on Stone’ from Austria has reportedly verified the sites at Bundi.
The autodidact searches are likely to be included in his next publication soon. Om Prakash has also discovered, ‘a micro lithic tool’ in the mounds of Rameshwar Mahadevji a couple of months ago.
The rock paintings have been found near the river/rivulet on rocks and caves in Bundi district. When the pre-historic man was at leisure, he used to draw on the rocks manifesting his ideas and creativity.
The colours were taken from powdered rocks or coloured earth available at the nearby mounds and hills.The prominent colours used were ochre, tan, dark red , white and yellow and purple.
The caves depicted paintings belonging to the mesolithic period showing animals like the bison, tiger, dogs and antelopes, armies facing each other, hunting scenes, lakes, daily life episodes of that period, dancing postures, human figures, swords, flags flock of deer etc. The style of the painting gives an estimation about the age to which it belonged. They could be 2000 to 30,000 years old .
The painting at Gararda has been estimated to be 5000 years old. The Naldeh, Gararda, Golpur rock painting sites are undoutedly the best sites discovered so far. Kukki’s collection includes microlithic tools, copper age fishing tools, stone age arrow heads and many small interesting items from the historic period.
The natural instinct to search and discover coloured stones /coins was part and parcel of Kukki’s life. Once he found a coin that fetched him a little pocket money to buy sweets, the habit became a full time passion. Says Kukki , “I showed my discovery to the officials of the National Museum and was informed that they belonged to the Mauryan and Lodhi period. I would often put the shutter of my shop down and move to some near by place.
Initially I used to go on my cycle, but later on to save time took the journeys on my favourite old scooter.” The relatively untouched area gave out amazing results to him, unravelling many items like silver/copper coins, pottery, pieces of metals, and other structures. He soon started reading literature on archeology and the history of the region helped him immensely in his endeavours. Sometimes he found tools like cleaver, Kataar , chopper, unpainted black and red pottery, beads, and toys belonging to various periods.
Also,remnants of stone and copper age on many occasions at Gagosh, Rajgarh, Chatras, Bijnawar, Khatkar and many others in the vicinity of the city of Bundi. “The discovery on Oct 9, 1997 at Rameshwar was historical,” says Kukki. Initially, he had no idea about it but later when I discussed it with his friend and historian Jagat Narain from Kota, he learnt that it was a rock painting. He says later he discovered rock paintings at Gararda, 35 kms away from Bundi, near a rivulet called Reva.
“Till date I have been able to unearth a total of 34 rock painting locations in the region. Had heard about rock paintings from Dr Giriraj Kumar, President Rock Art Society Agra and Dr Jagat Narain from Kota previously. They too had discovered a few sites.” The discovery at Namana on the December 4,1993 was a milestone for him. It was a copper period mound and contained a civilization older than the Harappan and Mohen-jo-daro period.
It showed stone age, micro lithic period , copper tools and had prehistoric importance. It was indeed one of his most important discoveries famous as ‘Namana ka Teela’. His success at Namana has propelled him to hunt for more treasure of different eras. My other discovered sites include Naldeh , Ramjhar , Hakoda ka Nala, Kevriya Dharwa, Golpur , Mataji Ka Nala, Rawal ka Nala etc. Gararda is bigger in size and has around three dozens caves housing the rock paintings.
Prominent are the bird rider and geometric designs in the paintings. He discovered it on June 12 afternoon in 1998. Golpur (33 kms away from Bundi) rock paintings shows artistic figures and image of Adi Manav. The Mauryan period coins in Agucha in January 2005 in an old mound in the village are also worth mentioning. In the last discovery at Banganga in the Bhimlat hills bright yellow colored rock paintings were unearthed. Dr Arvind Mendola, noted artist says that “the rocks are igneous in nature and belong to the Aravalli and Vindyachal ranges. Research projects have also been taken up on these discoveries.”
