Tamil civilisation like volcano, dangerous to provoke it: Vijay on Keeladi row
Actor-politician Vijay, in a scathing statement, attacked BJP-led Union government over the Centre-state dispute over Keeladi findings, saying: 'Tamil civilisation is like a volcano, it's dangerous to provoke it.'Vijay accused the BJP government of attempting to suppress findings from the Keeladi (also known as Keezhadi) excavation and using Hindi and Sanskrit to 'cover up' Tamil heritage.In the statement released on his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's X handle, Vijay condemned the BJP for not releasing the original Keeladi excavation report and removing the lead archaeologist of the project from his Archaeological Survey of India's director of antiquity role.advertisement
He alleged that the Centre asked archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishnan to make changes to the report, but when the latter refused, Amarnath was transferred to Noida.'Keeladi is not some mythical story used to fool people but a report based on scientific evidence which, once out, can destroy the stories made by BJP,' he said, suggesting that the excavation's findings challenge dominant historical narratives supported by the ruling party.Ramakrishna in his Keeladi excavation report stated that the findings were based on 'extensive research'.According to Vijay, the Keeladi site could potentially prove that the Tamil civilisation is older than the Indus Valley civilisation. He said the Centre's reluctance to publish the report was part of a broader attempt to 'cover up our proud Tamil land, civilisation and culture using Hindi and Sanskrit.'advertisementHe also accused the BJP of 'playing with the emotions' of Tamil people, adding, 'Tamil land is like a volcano. Even a child would know what would happen if you try to touch it.'Turning his criticism towards the DMK as well, Vijay said the ruling party speaks about Tamil identity only when it suits them. 'DMK's drama is much worse as they use Tamil and Thamizhar (Tamil people) when something goes against the government or the rulers,' he remarked.The remarks come amid renewed attention on the Keeladi archaeological site in Tamil Nadu, which has been at the centre of debates over Tamil history, which pushes back Sangam age to be even before the Harrapan age, and the supposed political control of historical narratives.
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