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{{Short description|Indian epigraphist (1935-2013)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person|
| name = Dr. Koluvail Vyasaraya Ramesh
| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|6|08}}
| birth_place = [[Palakkad]], Kerala
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|7|10|1935|6|8}}
| death_place = [[Mysore]], [[India]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Archaeologist|Epigraphist}}
| spouse = Prema
}}

'''Dr. Koluvail Vyasaraya Ramesh''' (8 June 1935 – 10 July 2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inmysore.com/eminent-epigraphist-dr-k-v-ramesh-passes-away |title=Eminent Epigraphist Dr. K.V. Ramesh passes away |publisher=Inmysore.com |date= |accessdate=2013-09-02}}</ref> was an Indian [[epigraphist]] and [[Sanskrit]] scholar who served as the Chief Epigraphist and Joint Director General of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI).

== Early life and education ==
Born in Palakkad, Kerala on 8 June 1935 into a [[Tulu language|Tulu]]-speaking [[Mangaloreans|Mangalorean]] family, Ramesh obtained a master's degrees in Sanskrit and literature from the [[University of Madras]] and a doctorate from the [[Karnatak University]], [[Dharwad]].

== Career at the ASI ==
In 1956, Ramesh joined the Archaeological Survey of India as an epigraphical assistant and was posted to [[Ootacamund]]. He became the Deputy Superintending Epigraphist of the [[Chennai]] circle in 1966, Superintending Epigraphist in 1976 and Chief Epigraphist in 1984. As Superintending epigraphist, Ramesh succeeded [[G. S. Gai]] as the editor of ASI's bulletin ''[[Epigraphia Indica]]'' and edited the last two volumes in 1975-76 and 1977-78.

Ramesh became the Joint Director General of the ASI in May 1992 and served until his retirement in June 1993. Post-retirement, Ramesh served as the Honorary Director of the [[Oriental Research Institute Mysore|Oriental Research Institute]], Mysore from 1998 to 2006.

He was the first one to have deciphered a 12th century [[Vishnu Hari inscription|Sanskrit inscription]] at the [[Ram Mandir]] site in [[Ayodhya]], which proved the existence of a temple at the site before the [[Babri Masjid]] was built over it.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qNxtAAAAMAAJ |title=Purātattva |date=2003 |publisher=Indian Archaeological Society |pages=98–104 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-08-20 |title=Ayodhya case: Archeological proof refers to existence of 12th century temple, Hindu body tells SC |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ayodhya-case-archeological-proof-refers-to-existence-of-12th-century-temple-hindu-body-tells-sc/articleshow/70759690.cms |access-date=2023-12-09 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-21 |title=Ayodhya hearing: Writings on recovered slab point to Vishnu temple at Babri site, SC told |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ayodhya-hearing-writings-on-recovered-slab-point-to-vishnu-temple-at-babri-site-sc-told-5921828/ |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Views on Tamil-Brahmi ==
Ramesh believed that the [[Tamil-Brahmi]] script was pre-[[Ashoka|Asokan]] and that it originated as a South Indian script which was later adapted to write an [[Indo-Iranian language]].<ref name="thehindu_20110829">{{cite news|title=Palani excavation triggers fresh debate|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/palani-excavation-triggers-fresh-debate/article2408091.ece|work=The Hindu|first=T. S.|last=Subramanian|date=29 August 2011}}</ref> When pottery bearing Tamil-Brahmi script found at [[Porunthal]] was radiocarbon dated to 490 BC, Ramesh cited the discovery in support of his claim.<ref name="thehindu_20110829" />

== Personal life ==
Dr. K.V. Ramesh was fluent in Kannada, Sanskrit, English, Hindi, Tulu, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil. Dr. K.V. Ramesh married his wife Prema in 1963 and had three daughters. He retired as a Joint Director General of ASI in New Delhi. Throughout Dr. Ramesh's career, he traveled extensively throughout India and around the world to countries in Europe, Asia and the U.S, consulting as an expert epigraphist.

== Death ==
Dr. K.V. Ramesh died at his home in [[Mysore]] on 10 July 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2013-07-18 |title=Eminent Epigraphist DR. K.V. Ramesh passes away |url=https://www.bangalorefirst.in/?p=5909 |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=Bangalore First |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Honours ==
He was awarded the "Karnataka Purathathva Ratna" award in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2010/oct/29/awards-for-six-archaeologists-199011.html|title=Awards for six archaeologists |newspaper=The New Indian Express |date=29 October 2010 |access-date=30 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The end of an era in epigraphy|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/the-end-of-an-era-in-epigraphy/article4911146.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=13 July 2013}}</ref>

== Works ==
He published four books in Kannada and nine books in English.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramesh, K. V.}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Kannada-language writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian archaeologists]]
[[Category:Presidency College, Chennai alumni]]
[[Category:Karnatak University alumni]]
[[Category:Indian epigraphers]]
[[Category:Scientists from Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian linguists]]

K. V. Ramesh (archaeologist) - Revision history

Sarada22: starting some stub initial version