Debala Mitra

{{Short description|Indian archeologist (1925–2003)}}

{{Use Indian English|date=March 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{More citations needed|date = December 2016}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Debala Mitra

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|12|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Khulna, Bengal Province, British India {{small|(now in Bangladesh)}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|12|2|1925|12|14|df=y}}

| death_place = Kolkata, India

| nationality = Indian

| fields = Archaeology

| alma_mater = University of Paris

| known_for = First woman Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

| notable_works = Konarak (1968)
Buddhist Monuments (1971)
Bronzes from Achutrajpur, Orissa (1978)

| institutions =

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}}

Debala Mitra (14 December 1925 – 2 December 2003) 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.{{Cite news |last=Barik |first=Satyasundar |date=22 February 2025 |title=The relics of Ratnagiri |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/odisha/the-relics-of-ratnagiri/article69243446.ece |access-date=3 March 2025 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |quote=Debala Mitra become the first woman Director General of the ASI. Mitra was 33 when she reached the remote site (Ratnagiri). Over time, she gained the trust of the villagers and unearthed hidden Buddhist treasures.}}

The historic site of Ratnagiri in Odisha's Jajpur district, first discovered in 1905, gained prominence following extensive excavations between 1958 and 1961 led by Mitra,{{Cite news |date=13 November 2024 |title=Excavation to start again at Ratnagiri this month |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/archaeological-excavation-resumes-at-historic-ratnagiri-buddhist-site/articleshow/115256338.cms |access-date=3 March 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |quote=The site gained prominence following extensive excavations between 1958 and 1961 led by ASI's Debala Mitra, which unveiled a remarkable Buddhist complex dating from 5th to 13th century AD.}} which unveiled a remarkable Buddhist complex dating from the 5th-13th century AD.{{Cite web |last=Sahu |first=Diana |date=16 February 2025 |title=Odisha's buddhist past makes itself present |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2025/Feb/16/odishas-buddhist-past-makes-itself-present |access-date=3 March 2025 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}