KIRIT MANKODI holds a Masters and a doctorate degree in Archaeology from the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Poona University.  He is a consultant for research with the Project for Indian Cultural Studies, Mumbai, founded by Franco-Indian Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. in 1978. He has authored The Queen’s Stepwell at Patan (second edition 2021); To What God Shall We Render Homage in the Temple at Modhera?  And Other Writings; Temples on the Tirtha of Baroli, and other works. A monograph on the sculpture and iconography of Atru in Rajasthan is under preparation.

Mankodi hosts a website, www.plunderedpast.in, where detailed information about stolen and illegally exported sculptures is put up to facilitate their repatriation; this website has been instrumental in the retrieval of many smuggled sculptures.

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