In 1947, he was then Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Question

Accepted Answer

In 1947, the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India was indeed R.E.M. Wheeler, making Option 3 the correct answer. Here's a detailed explanation supporting this:

1. **R.E.M. Wheeler (Option 3)**: Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler was a prominent British archaeologist who served as the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1944 to 1948. During his tenure, Wheeler made significant contributions to the field of archaeology in India, including the introduction of modern archaeological techniques and methods. His leadership during this period was crucial in advancing the understanding of India's ancient history and archaeological heritage.

2. **Alexander Cunningham (Option 1)**: Alexander Cunningham was the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, but he served in this role much earlier, from 1861 to 1865 and again from 1870 to 1885. By 1947, Cunningham had long since passed away, making it impossible for him to have held the position at that time.

3. **R.C. Banerjee (Option 2)**: Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay, commonly known as R.D. Banerjee, was an Indian archaeologist and historian who is best known for his discovery of the ruins of Mohenjo-daro in the Indus Valley Civilization. However, he never served as the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India. His contributions were significant, but they were in a different capacity.

4. **Sir John Marshall (Option 4)**: Sir John Marshall was another notable figure in Indian archaeology, serving as the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1902 to 1928. His tenure ended well before 1947, and he was not in the position during the time in question.

In conclusion, R.E.M. Wheeler was the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India in 1947, and his contributions during this period were instrumental in shaping the future of archaeological research in India. This makes Option 3 the correct answer.