‘Centre trying to diminish Keeladi excavation report'

The Hindu

2 days ago

'The Union government was trying to diminish the Keeladi excavation report only to prove its point that India's cultural history started from Gangetic plains,' said writer Aadhavan Dheetchanya of Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association.
The forum observed a fast outside Keeladi museum here on Saturday.
Mr. Dheetchanya said that by exaggerating the archaeological evidence from the Gangetic plains, it devalued the very ancient Tamil culture.
'By doing that, they try to prove that the India's history started from Aryans' entry into India,' he added.
Further, he said that the Keeladi excavation report, which emphasized that civilization started about 3,500 years ago, if released, would completely shatter its 'false' narrative.
'As the study has found that Keeladi was a trade centre and the objects' age found there went back to 2,500 years, it was evident that the presence of humans and their creation of civilization was much older than that,' Mr. Dheetchanya stated.
As the government, its role was only to publish the report and not to criticise or comment on the report. 'It is the role of researchers, scientists, historians and others to opine on the findings,' he noted.
While the government questions the report based on several scientific studies, archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who penned the report after excavating remnants from 102 pits, was clear that he could not resubmit it.
By not adhering to its demand, Mr. Ramakrishna had made it clear that he could not play as per its wish, Mr. Dheetchanya said.
Moreover, the fight for proving the history of Tamils was not based on some rhetoric evidence, but with the support of proven facts and evidence, he said.