Ashok Shah

Ashok Shah was Born on 11 January, 1963 in Siwan, Bihar .India), He received school education in the government schools. In 1987, graduating from IIT Kanpur in Civil Engineering, he moved to IIT Delhi and did post graduation in Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering in 1989. After serving the Indian Railways for almost one year, he joined Indian Administrative Service in 1990. So far, he has worked in various capacities like Collector and District Magistrates,

Managing Director, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer to various Government Corporations and Authorities and as Commissioner of Archaeology, Archives and Museum, Commissioner of Land Records and Secretary to the Government of Madhya Pradesh in various departments. He is presently working as Principal Secretary to the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

In addition to being an engineer, he has other varied interests. He writes poems in Hindi and possesses keen interest in philosophy, archaeology and temple architecture.

He has authored seven books of Hindi poetry namely:

1. Ma Ke Chhote Ghar Ke Liye (1996)

2. Unke Sapne Sach Ho (1999)

3. Samay Mera Ghar Hai (2003)

4. Samay ki Peeth Par HaskshAr Hai Duniya (2006)

5. Samay Ke Paar Chalo (2009)

6. Pita ka Aakash (2015)

7. Jungle Raag (2017)

His books on archaeology and temple architecture are:

1. Ashapuri me Mandir Samuh ki Khoj evam Unka Punarnirman: Naveen Uplabdhi, 2010), Madhyam, Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal.

2. Mandir Samuh Vyas Bhadora ka Anurakshan Karya, (2010), Madhyam Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal.

3. Puratan-15 (edited), The journal of Directorate of Archaeology, Archives And Museum, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, 2010

4. The Grandeur of Granite: Shiva-Yogini Temples of Vyas Bhadora (2012), Bookwell, New Delhi

5. Vintage Bhopal.(2012), Madhyam Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal

6. Ashapuri: The cradle of Paramara and PratharaArt, Temples Unveiled (2014), Bokwell Publication, New Delhi

He has explored many forgotten archaeological sites during his tenure as District Magistrates and Commissioner Archaeology including:

1. Discovery of the remains of Parmaras Temples of Nilgarha,

2. Discovery of the pre historic rock Shelters of Bhartipur,

3. Discovery of archaeological remains of more than 25 temples of Ashapuri,

4. Discovery of remains of 1000 years old satellite town established by Raja Bhoja at Keerat Nagar village; all in the Raisen district and

5. Exploration of the remains of temples of Paramara Period at Samasgarh, in Bhopal district