4 days ago
Keeladi Report Not Technically Supported
Chennai: Union minister for culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday said the report on Keeladi submitted by ASI superintending archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna was not "technically well-supported" and more data was required.
The Union minister was in Chennai to speak to reporters about the 11 years of achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led govt at the centre. Speaking to reporters at the BJP headquarters in the city, Shekhawat said, "The report is not technically well-supported and established yet. A lot of things are to be done before recognition and accreditation are accorded to the findings presented by the archaeologist.
Let them come up with more results, more data, evidence, and proof. One finding cannot change the discourse of history."
Archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna submitted a 982-page report on the first two phases of the Keeladi excavation to ASI in Jan 2023. But the ASI on May 21 asked him to correct the report to make it "more authentic". Ramakrishna had responded saying the period of Keeladi excavation was evaluated according to archaeological excavation procedure.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Citing the Keeladi report, Shekhawat said regional sentiments cannot decide history. "People in positions are trying to flare up the regional sentiments, but we need to be cautious. Let the research get completed on all parameters and then let us take a call on that. This is a subject not to be decided by politicians but by archaeologists with sound technical expertise," Shekhawat said.
Asked about DMK's charges that BJP was not ready to accept the ancientness of Tamil culture, Shekhawat refuted it, saying BJP accepts that Tamil is an ancient language and the PM has said this on several occasions.
Meanwhile, state finance minister Thangam Thennarasu, who is also the state minister for archaeology, responded to Shekhawat, saying it is usual for BJP to find reasons to reject Tamil history. "First, they said there was nothing in Keeladi. Next, the archaeologist was transferred. Then they refused to allocate funds and finally, they shelved the report for two years. Only the reasons differ for rejecting Tamil history," Thangam said.
Thangam said when researchers across the world agree that Tamils are 5,350 years old, knew technology back then, and were owners of the oldest civilization, what is preventing the BJP from accepting it?
"Is it that BJP wants Tamils to be kept as second-class citizens?" Thangam asked. Thangam warned BJP that history will not wait for their "cheap politics" and will reach people.
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