Debala Mitra

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Debala Mitra (14 December 1925 – 2 December 2005) was an Indian archaeologist who served as Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1981 to 1983. She is the first woman archaeologist to head the ASI. She explored and excavated several Buddhist sites.

Born on 14 December 1925 at Khulna in Bengal Province (now Bangladesh), Mitra had her early education in Khulna and Calcutta before obtaining her doctorate in Paris.

Mitra joined the ASI in the 1940s and served as Superintendent of Eastern Circle and Additional Director General of the ASI before succeeding B. K. Thapar as Director General in 1981.

• "Obituary". Purātattva (33). 2003.