Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Archaeology in India began as a systematic study in the mid-19th century.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was established to preserve the vast ruins and monuments of the subcontinent.
The person who pioneered this institutional framework is given the title of "Father."
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Alexander Cunningham was a British army officer who became deeply interested in Indian history.
In 1861, he was appointed as the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Cunningham's methodology involved using the travel accounts of ancient Chinese Buddhist pilgrims (like Fa-Hien and Xuanzang) to locate historical sites.
He conducted extensive surveys and excavations at Sanchi, Sarnath, and various Buddhist monuments.
His foundational work provided the first organized map of India's archaeological landscape.
Other figures:
- John Marshall was the DG of ASI when Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were discovered (1920s).
- R.D. Banerji is the Indian archaeologist who discovered Mohenjo-daro.
- Mortimer Wheeler brought scientific stratification methods to Indian archaeology in the 1940s.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Because he was the first Director-General and the founder of ASI, Alexander Cunningham is known as the Father of Indian Archaeology.
The correct option is (B).