Padma Bhushan Dr. Ghulam Yazdani, O.B.E., was born on 22nd March, 1885 in Delhi. After a brilliant academic career he was awarded a Government of India scholarship for research in Arabic and Persian. On the recommendation of Sir John Marshall he was deputed to Hyderabad to organise the Archaeological Department of Hyderabad in 1914.

Later he became the Director of the Department and served for 30 years till his retirement in 1943. The work done by him on preservation of monuments and exploration and excavation of relics of ancient civilization,particularly Ellora, Ajanta and Bidar, was so good that he won a name not only in India but also in Europe and the United States of America.

Dr. Yazdani wrote several books. In 1936, His Majesty’s Government made him an Officer of the Distinguished Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) Shrimati Sarojini Naidu in her typical frank style wrote to him: “Titles are conferred to honour people, but in your case the title has been honoured”. Dr. Yazdani died on 13th November, 1962.