page_title: M. H. Krishna
section_title: University of Mysore and Archaeology Department
hierarchical_section_title: M. H. Krishna / University of Mysore and Archaeology Department
caption_attribution_description: English: Maharaja's College group photo showing S.Srikanta Sastri with M.H.Krishna, A.R.Krishnashastry, Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma, V. Seetharamaiah, D.L.Narasimhachar
context_page_description: Mysore Hatti Krishna Iyengar was an Indian historian, archaeologist, epigraphist and authority in Indian numismatics. He pioneered the new field of Indology involving the study of Indian culture, history, music and traditions from a historical perspective. He is credited with the discovery of one of the oldest Kannada inscriptions, the Halmidi inscription, dating back to 350 A. D. He also discovered the remains of the city of Isila near Brahmagiri during his excavations at Chandravalli, Chitradurga. The forgotten tomb of Shahaji was traced by M. H. Krishna during his years at the Mysore Archaeological Department. His years at the Archaeology Department saw him churn out many of excavation reports and these were later published in successive volumes of Epigraphia Carnatica. During Krishna's tenure at Bangalore, he was instrumental in cataloguing close to 6000 coins in the archives of the archaeology department there. He was trained at the University College, London under Ernest Arthur Gardner. and would later accompany Sir Flinders Petrie in his excavations in Egypt.
context_section_description: Upon his return to India, Krishna assumed charge in the History department of Maharaja College, Mysore. This was in addition to his duties at the Archaeology Department. During this time, he was president of the "University Historical Association". Krishna emphasized on the study of Karnataka history and cultural history of Karnataka. He became Head of the Department in 1932. In 1933, he became a member of the University Senate Academic Council.  He was made Dean of Faculty of Arts at University of Mysore in 1939. Krishna was examiner at University of Mysore, University of Allahabad and University of Bombay in addition to being a visiting interviewer for the Civil Services Exam.
  His students include S. Srikanta Sastri, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, Dinakara Desai, M. Seshadri, N. Anantharangachar, M. N. Srinivas, S. R. Rao, B. Sheikh Ali, A. V. Venkatarathnam, C. M. Vedavalli, M. P. L. Sastry, E. R. Sethuram, D. Javaregowda, G. Venkatasubbiah, S. V. Parameshwara Bhatta and Chaduranga.
  The Mysore Government Archaeological Department, since its inception in 1885, was instrumental in discoveries of hundreds of inscriptions and copper plates. Benjamin Lewis Rice was the first director and was responsible for discovering and cataloguing close to 9000 Inscriptions. His successor R. Narasimhacharya discovered about 5000 inscriptions and thereafter R. Shamasastry brought in 1000 inscriptions. M. H. Krishna added to this collection by discovering another 2000 inscriptions. Some of the inscriptions discovered by M. H. Krishna are: 
  Mayura Verma’s Chandravalli Inscription.
  Rashtrakuta – Pandurangapalli’ Inscription.
  Gangarasa II Madhavana Keregelur Shashana
  Vijayanagara Narasimha Copper Plates
  Kadamba Ravivarma Koramangala Plates
  Oldest Kannada Inscription – Halmidi (A. D. 450)
  Nandana Hosuru Copper Inscriptions.
  Krishna was involved in discovering, what was then the oldest Kannada Inscription - Halmidi Inscription (A. D. 350). He also undertook excavations at Chandravalli in Chitradurga district. He discovered the remains of the lost city of Isila near Brahmagiri. In fact, Krishna was the first in India to use the science of 'Stratigraphy' for archaeology. He identified five different cultural strata called ‘Microlithic’, Neolithic, Iron Age, Mauryan and Chalukya-Hoysala strata. He designated the first one (the Microlithic) as the ‘Roppa Culture’ because it was found in the vicinity of that village. He also discovered the forgotten burial site of Shahaji Rao (Shivaji's Father).
caption: M. H. Krishna, S. Srikanta Sastri, Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma
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