Acknowledgments

It is a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to thank all my well-wishers and friends who have encouraged and supported me during the entire course of the study.

First and foremost, my heartfelt gratitude goes out to my Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta and then my supervisor Professor Rupendra Kumar Chattopadhyay (Former Professor Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta) presently Chair Professor, Department of History, Presidency University, Kolkata, who was always encouraging, especially during my failure and despair. His dynamic attitude, temperament and wonderful communicating ability have left an impression on my mind and taught me to walk ahead even when facing the critical moments in life. I have the highest regard for his encyclopedic scholarship and kindness and for the various other qualities of head and heart. He enlightened me bypointing out my mistakes and how to correct them in every stage of this research work. This work in its present completed form, I dedicate to him in all modesty as a token of my reverence and gratefulness for all he did for me. For his considered opinion, useful suggestions, regarding excisions and additions and his attentions to every minute detail of my work, I am forever indebted to him.

Sincere and grateful thanks are due to the Professor Dr. Durga Basu, Dr. Bishnupriya Basak, Dr. Kaushik Gangopadhya, my teachers in the Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta for the various helps and suggestions they rendered from time to time.

I am thankful to Dr. Rajat Sanyal, Assistant Professor of Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, for his enormous positive encouragement during this course of work as well as in different situations of my life and also deciphering some new inscriptions from the study area, which helped me to formulate some new observations regarding the Jain establishment in the early medieval Bengal.

Dr. Swati Ray, Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture, University of Calcutta, not only regularly guided me to handle such an extensive database, but also provided suggestions in dealing with the Jain sculptural remains from the study area.

I also express my gratitude to all the staff members of the Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta and also the libraries of the University of Calcutta (Alipore Campus and College Street Campus), Asiatic Society, Kolkata and Indian Museum, Kolkata, Institute of Archaeology, Red Fort and Central Archaeological Library of Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi.

For five years, I have received the UGC JRF and SRF and this grant had all along supported both my field work and post field documentation and analysis of data.

I am deeply indebted to Dr. S.S.Biswas, Former Vice-Chancellor National Museum Institute and Directorate General of National Museum, New Delhi for his great academic support and fruitful advice throughout this work. My sincere gratitude goes out to Shri Nirmal Kumar Jain Sethi, President and Shri Raj Kumar Sethi, in charge National Secretary of the Shri Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain (T.S.) Mahasabha, New Delhi, who have always encourage me in this work. I shall remain grateful to R.S.Nahar and Subhra Nahar for permitting me to document the Jain images housed presently in the P.C.Nahar collection.

After joining in Archaeological Survey of India I received special support from Dr. Arvin Manjul, Superintending Archaeologist and all the staff members of Excavation Branch II, Purana Qila. I take the opportunity to convey my gratefulness to P.B.S.Sengar, Dr. Urmila Sant, Dr. Sanjay Manjul of ASI for their academic support in different time.

I convey my sincere thanks to Dr. Goutami Bhattacharya, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, Excavation Branch III, ASI, for her kind guidance and support in preparing the manuscript.

It has been a wonderful experience to work with my co-researchers Dr. Dipshika Acharya, Dr. Bijan Mondal, Abir Gorai, Ranita Ghosh, Sajal Dalui, Bidhan Halder, Priyanka Sarkar of Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta.

Warm full thanks to my colleagues and friend B.S.Fonia, Dr. Vinay K. Ray, Abinash Mohanty, Dr. Rusav Kumar Sahu, Dr. Ardhendu Ray, and others.

I could have not done anything without the unquestioning support and patience of my parents. I would like to be grateful to my brother Shubhra and Chandrama (Sister-In-Law) for their vibrant supports and loving thanks to my Ujaan. I also thankful to my other family members for their encouragement.

Word of acknowledgments would be incomplete and inadequate for Pampa (my best friend & better half) I thank her for everything.

Shubha Majumder

Place: Kolkata