New Delhi: Archaeologist Braj Basi Lal, known as Bibi Lal, has died at the age of 101. Born in 1921 and awarded the Padma Vibhushan, Bibi Lal discovered the Ram temple under the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. He also served as the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Stages.

BJP government minister G Kishan Reddy has condoled the death of the archaeologist. He wrote in his tweet, 'With the passing of Prof BB Lal ji, we have lost one of the brightest minds who contributed significantly to our archaeological excavations and efforts for more than 4 decades.' Let us inform you that Lal was the Director General of ASI between 1968 and 1972 and he led the excavation at the Ramjanmabhoomi site in Ayodhya. It was under his leadership that the existence of an ancient temple at the site was proved by the ASI.

Simultaneously, the veteran archaeologist led a project called the Archeology of the Ramayana between 1975 and 1976 to investigate some of the sites with references in the Ramayana. He presented evidence of pillars being found while excavating the area just south of the Babri structure. He wrote a 7-page preliminary report regarding the discovery of pillar bases near the Babri structure. However, after the discovery all technical facilities were withdrawn from the area and the project was put on hold. Despite repeated requests by Professor Lal, it was not resumed and the work remained closed for 10-12 years. Its final report was never presented, but its initial report was published by the Indian Council of Historical Research in 1989 in its volume on the historicity of the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

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