Which of the following Indian Archaeologists first visited 'Bhimbetka Caves' and discovered prehistoric significance of its rock paintings?

1. A

   Madho Swaroop Vatsa

   (a) Madho Swaroop Vatsa. Vats excavated Harappan and other ASI sites; he is not the first visitor who established Bhimbetka’s prehistoric rock-art importance.

2. B

   H.D. Sankalia

   (b) H.D. Sankalia. Sankalia built Deccan College prehistory (Nevasa, Inamgaon) but did not discover Bhimbetka.

3. C

   V.S. Wakankar

   (c) V.S. Wakankar. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar noticed the Bhimbetka shelters in 1957 (on a train journey, then field visits) and showed their Stone Age paintings to Indian prehistory. Official key.

4. D

   V.N. Mishra

   (d) V.N. Mishra. Later Bhimbetka excavation and publication involved V.N. Misra; he was not the first discoverer of the painted caves’ significance.

Summary. Official key is (c) V.S. Wakankar. Wakankar first recognised Bhimbetka’s painted rock shelters as a prehistoric archive. Vats and Sankalia are other ASI/Deccan names; Misra belongs to later scientific digging. UNESCO later listed Bhimbetka, but the discovery credit on this paper is Wakankar.