Early Life and Education

Born in 1936, he completed his intermediate education in Lucknow and earned a Master’s degree in Ancient History and Archaeology from the University of Lucknow in 1956. Later on, he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology from the Government of India.

A Career in Public Service

Shri Dikshit, stared his career with Archaeological Survey of India as an Exploration Assistant in 1957 and retired in 1994 as the Joint Director General of ASI. During his tenure, he held key roles, including Deputy Keeper at the National Museum of India, Superintending Archaeologist for the Eastern, South-Western, and Delhi Circles, and Director of Publications and Monuments. He also periodically oversaw Antiquity and Excavation & Exploration sections.

Key Excavations and Conservation Work

He is well-known for his work as Director of Excavations at sites like Kaseri, Allahapur, Hulas, and Kampilya, Shri Dikshit also led smaller excavations at Chiclim, Nohar, Sothi, and Sherpura along the dry Saraswati River bed. Furthermore, he co-directed excavations under the ASI’s Ramayana Sites Archaeology project with Prof. B. B. Lal at locations such as Ayodhya, Chitrakut, Pariar, and Bhardwaj Ashram. His contributions also extended to excavations at Ujjain, Bairat, Kalibangan, Junapani, and Neolithic sites in Germany. Beyond excavations, his conservation work encompasses significant projects such as the Konark Sun Temple, Shri Jagannath Temple, Hazarduari Palace, and the Ajanta and Ellora Caves.

A Lifelong Scholar and Communicator

He has contributed over 30 papers to Seminars and Conferences, in India and abroad. Over the years, he has delivered more than 20 lectures at several prominent platforms, and published over 150 research papers. Shri Dikshit has reviewed and edited numerous books and journals, including Puratattva and History Today. In recognition of his contributions, he has received several national awards in his tenure and recently the prestigious Padma Bhushan award has been added to his list of awards on 27th May 2025.

In the field of archaeology, apart from Shri Kailash Nath Dikshit (K.N Dikshit), Prof. B.B. Lal, the legendary archaeologist, has also been conferred the Padma Awards: the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2021. In a career spanning over five decades, Prof. Lal made immense contributions to archaeology. He is known for his work on the Indus Valley and the excavation of sites associated with the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Under his leadership, excavation work at several places associated with the Ramayana was carried out, bringing archaeological evidence of India’s ancient heritage to the forefront.