Prof. Braj Bansi Lal, an eminent archaeologist of international repute, served as the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1968 to 1972. Over the course of his distinguished career, he conducted extensive excavations spanning from the Palaeolithic period to early historical times. His pioneering work at Kalibangan led to the discovery of a flourishing urban centre of the Indus Civilization. He also undertook significant excavations in Egypt, contributing valuable insights into Egyptian prehistory.
Prof. Lal authored more than 150 seminal research papers published in reputed scientific journals in India and abroad. Among his notable works are The Earliest Civilization of South Asia (1997) and India 1947-1997: New Light on the Indus Civilization (1998). In recognition of his scholarly contributions, he was conferred the degree of D.Litt. (Honoris Causa) in 1994 by the Institute of Archaeology, St. Petersburg. He has also served as Chairman and member of several committees of UNESCO.
His numerous honours include the S.C. Chakravarti Medal awarded by the Asiatic Society in 1976 and the title of Mahamahopadhyaya conferred by Nava Nalanda Mahavihara in 1979. In 2000, in recognition of his invaluable contributions to archaeology, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the President of India.
In his honour, Mr. Vrajesh Lal (BT/MME/1970) established the B.B. Lal Chair at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. The Chair is intended for faculty members who have made significant contributions to science and technology related to archaeological research.