Dr B.L. Malla, an art historian, is associated with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi. Dr Malla’s specialization is in Indian art and cultural studies. His area of interest is both classical and vernacular traditions. He has been associated with the IGNCA–UNESCO–UNDP project on “Village India — Identification and Enhancement of India’s Cultural Heritage”. Currently, Dr Malla is engaged in the survey, documentation and study of Indian rock art along with Himalayan studies.
Dr Malla has widely travelled and authored a number of books and edited volumes including The Sculptures of Kashmir; Vaisnava Art and Iconography of Kashmir; Trees in Indian Art Mythology and Folklore; Conservation of Rock Art (ed.); Global Rock Art (ed.); The World of Rock Art: An Overview of Five Continents (ed.); Rock Art of Andhra Pradesh: A New Synthesis by N. Chandramouli (gen. ed.); Rock Art Studies: Concept, Methodology, Context, Documentation and Conservation, vol. I (ed.); Rock Art Studies: Interpretation through Multidisciplinary Approaches vol. II (ed.); Cosmology and Cosmic Manifestations: Shaiva Thought and Art of Kashmir and a number of research articles published in national and international journals.