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Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Keezhadi row: Expert transferred again, CM Stalin says: ‘How many hurdles before Tamil race?'
K Amarnath Ramakrishna, the archaeologist known for his excavation work at Keezhadi, has been transferred from his post of Director of Antiquity at the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) to Director of the NMMA's Greater Noida office. The transfer comes less than a month after Ramakrishna declined to revise his 982-page 'final' report on Keezhadi, submitted to the ASI in January 2023. It is Ramakrishna's third transfer in nine months. Hitting out at the Centre over the transfer, Chief Minister M K Stalin said people should gather in large numbers for the protest organised by the DMK youth wing against the Centre's move to 'sabotage' the Keezhadi excavations and findings. In a statement Tuesday, he said: 'How many hurdles have been placed before our Tamil race? And yet, for thousands and thousands of years, we have resisted them, fought back, and established the antiquity of our people with the support of science! Still, there are some minds that refuse to accept it. It is not the reports that need correction – it is those minds!' Su Venkatesan, the CPI(M) MP from Madurai, said: 'Amarnath Ramakrishna is being relentlessly hunted down for the truth he uncovered… The people of Tamil Nadu will give an appropriate response to the deceitful actions of the Union government.' The CPI(M) is an ally of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu. The Stalin government, which has made 'Dravidian' pride the centrepiece of its politics, considers the Keezhadi findings a key part of this – as they date the settlement to around the same time as the Indus Valley Civilization. Stalin and his ministers had reacted sharply to the letter written by ASI Director (Exploration & Excavation) Hemasagar A Naik on May 21 asking Ramakrishna to revise his findings, citing feedback from two unnamed experts. Stalin accused the BJP of 'selectively' accepting historical narratives. 'Even when confronted with carbon-dated artefacts and AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) reports from international laboratories on the Keezhadi excavations, they continue to demand 'more proof',' he said. 'They do so without credible evidence, while dismissing the rigorously proven antiquity of Tamil culture… We fought for centuries to unearth our history. They fight every day to erase it.' Tamil Nadu Finance and Archaeology Minister Thangam Thennarasu said: 'First, they said there was nothing in Keezhadi. Then the archaeologist was transferred. Later, they refused to allocate funds. Finally, they shelved the report for two years. Now they demand more proof.' During a recent visit to Chennai, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat backed the questions raised over Ramakrishna's report, saying 'it was not technically well-supported and established yet'. 'Let them come up with more results, more data, evidence, and proof. One finding cannot change the discourse of history.' He added: 'People in positions are trying to flare up regional sentiments, but we need to be cautious. This is a subject not to be decided by politicians but by archaeologists with sound technical expertise.' Ramakrishna has stood by his findings, citing 'documentary evidence' and scientific dating methods such as AMS to show that the Sangam-era urban settlement in Keezhadi goes back to 585 BCE. This puts it contemporaneous to Indus Valley, and potentially contradicts the Sangh's theory of who the original settlers of the Indian region were. The letter by ASI Director Naik, asking Ramakrishna to revise the report, said the dating of the earliest cultural phase – between the 8th and 5th centuries BCE – required 'concrete justification', and suggested that 'in the present state of our knowledge', it could be no earlier than 300 BCE. In a written reply two days later, Ramakrishna said: 'The period of the site was reconstructed as per the stratigraphical sequence, cultural deposit available with material culture and with the AMS date found during the excavation… The outcome of the observation of the excavator was incorporated in the final report with all documentary evidence.' Ramakrishna added that relevant nomenclature changes had already been accepted and communicated in 2023. 'The view expressed by you for further examination of sequence is against the well-reasoned conclusive finding of the excavator of the site,' he wrote to Naik. Earlier, in 2017, Ramakrishna had been transferred to Assam just months after his preliminary findings from Keezhadi became known. His successor at the site dismissed the third phase of excavations as yielding 'no significant findings'. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court eventually allowed the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology to take over the dig, which is now entering its 11th phase, with over 20,000 artefacts unearthed. In September 2024, Ramakrishna was transferred after promotion to Director (Excavation & Exploration), only to be moved to Director (Antiquity) three months later.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Did humans live in Kachchh 5000 years before the Harappans and eat THIS? Read to find out
History keeps evolving with every new discovery. Sometimes, what we consider the beginning of civilization in a region turns out to be only a chapter in a much longer and richer story. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now That's exactly what a team of researchers has found in Gujarat's Kachchh region. Long before the Harappans built their cities, human communities were already living, surviving, and adapting to the land and its environment. These weren't city builders or traders yet, but they were intelligent, observant, and deeply connected to the natural world around them. A recent research study, released in a press note titled "Shell Chronicles of Ancient Kachchh" by the Ministry of Education, has revealed some archaeological evidence that places humans in this region at least 5,000 years before the Harappan civilisation. The study was conducted by researchers from IIT Gandhinagar (IITGN), in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), Delhi, and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad. According to Prof. V.N. Prabhakar, the lead investigator from IITGN, 'Our study is the first to identify these sites, confirm their cultural significance, and establish a chronological context.' The early humans ate this… These early communities, according to researchers, lived in a mangrove-rich landscape and heavily relied on shellfish like oysters and snails for food. Shell heaps, known as middens, were found in various parts of Khadir and nearby islands. These were once dismissed as natural deposits but are now recognized as evidence of early human life. To confirm the age of these findings, the team used Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), a high-precision method that measures Carbon-14 levels to date organic remains. This method, paired with tree-ring calibration, helped establish a timeline that predates the Harappans. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Shells collected were analysed at PRL, Ahmedabad, and IUAC Delhi with support from experts like Prof Ravi Bhushan, JS Ray, and Dr Pankaj Kumar, according to Prof. Prabhakar. Some tools were also discovered Interestingly, the also found stone tools such as blades, scrapers, and used cores, suggesting a community skilled in tool-making. As Dr Shikha Rai, a postdoctoral researcher and co-author, stated, 'The presence of these tools and associated raw materials suggests that the communities engaged in the prolific manufacture of implements for daily tasks.' The researchers believe these early groups had deep knowledge of their environment, and this may have later helped the Harappans in planning settlements and trade routes. Prof. Prabhakar noted, 'Instead of abrupt external influence, what we see here is a gradual, locally rooted process of adaptation and cultural development.' Earlier research done at IIT Gandhinagar had already studied the climate history of Khadir Island going back over 11,500 years. Now, with the discovery of these ancient shell middens, scientists believe they can learn even more. By closely examining these shells, researchers hope to understand what the climate was like when early humans lived in the area. These natural remains hold clues about rainfall, temperature, and sea levels from thousands of years ago. This can help build a clearer picture of how ancient people adapted to changes in their environment
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Stalin slams Centre over Keeladi excavation data
The Union government has continued its demand for more proof even after they were given carbon-dated artefacts and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) reports from International Laboratories on the Keeladi excavations, said Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Friday. 'When it comes to Keeladi and the enduring truth of Tamil heritage, the BJP-RSS ecosystem recoils — not because evidence is lacking, but because the truth does not serve their script,' Stalin said in a post on X. 'We fought for centuries to unearth our history. They fight every day to erase it. The world is watching. So is time.' But on the contrary, despite strong opposition from respected historians and archaeologists, the BJP continues to promote the 'mythical Sarasvati Civilisation,' he said, adding that they do so without credible evidence, while dismissing the rigorously proven antiquity of Tamil culture. Stalin's comments come amid a controversy on Keeladi's report. On June 11, Union minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat alleged that the DMK government was refusing to cooperate with the central government on Keeladi research and was instead politicising the findings. In May, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) challenged the dating and classification of key discoveries from Tamil Nadu's Keeladi excavations, asking its officer K Amarnath Ramakrishna to carry out extensive revisions to a report that underpins the state government's, and of rival Dravidian parties', claims about ancient Tamil civilisation. ASI asked Ramakrishna, who led the first two phases of excavations at the politically sensitive site, to rework his 982-page findings submitted in January 2023. The central agency said two experts had vetted the report and suggested five corrections to make it 'more authentic.' In his response, Ramakrishna on May 23, defended his report, stating that the chronological sequence of Keeladi was clearly explained in the voluminous report. He had relied on AMS dating of 23 artefacts, which established their age to be 300 CE to arrive at a chronological sequence of Keeladi to be between the 8th century BCE to 3rd century CE. Ramakrishna is currently the director of antiquities in the ASI. In response to his letter, the ASI said that they regularly send reports to various subject experts to vet for publication. The chief minister has framed these archaeological pursuits as part of a broader ideological battle, arguing that 'many used to argue that it was a figment of imagination that Aryan and Sanskrit were the origin of India,' while asserting that discoveries support claims that 'the language spoken in the Indus Valley could be Dravidian.' Till the time of writing, the BJP did not respond to Stalin's criticism.
India Today
13-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
BJP-RSS afraid of Keezhadi's archaeological truth: Stalin on Centre's remark
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday responded sharply to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's remarks accusing the DMK of playing divisive politics over the Keezhadi excavations. Stalin criticised the BJP for continuing to question the archaeological findings, despite what he described as irrefutable scientific evidence confirming the antiquity of the findings of the a post on X, Stalin wrote: 'Even when confronted with carbon-dated artefacts and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry reports from international laboratories on the Keezhadi excavations, they continue to demand 'more proof'. And here is the 'Proof'.' He accused the BJP of dismissing scientifically established history while promoting the 'mythical' Sarasvati Civilisation without credible on the contrary, despite strong opposition from respected historians and archaeologists, the BJP continues to promote the mythical Sarasvati Civilisation. They do so without credible evidence, while dismissing the rigorously proven antiquity of Tamil culture,' Stalin said. He further alleged that the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ecosystem feared the truth of Tamil history because it did not serve their ideological narrative. 'When it comes to Keezhadi and the enduring truth of Tamil heritage, the BJP-RSS ecosystem recoils — not because evidence is lacking, but because the truth does not serve their script,' he said.'We fought for centuries to unearth our history. They fight every day to erase it,' Stalin added, concluding, 'The world is watching. So is time.'Stalin's post came in response to Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's remarks on June 11, in which he alleged that the DMK government was refusing to cooperate with the central government on Keezhadi research. He claimed that the DMK was attempting to politicise the excavation a post on X, Shekhawat said, 'Honourable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin, we do not hesitate to release any statement. In fact, if such research is scientifically proven, we will also be proud of it along with you. But for the acceptance of today's scientific world, we need more scientific and strong evidence.'He added, 'That is why, instead of rushing to politicise the excavation data, we have requested the Tamil Nadu government to support the central government in continuing the research until more scientific data is available. I cannot understand why the Tamil Nadu government is reluctant to cooperate.''Tamil Nadu is an integral part of India — its heritage should be celebrated through honest knowledge, not through divisive sentiments,' Shekhawat Minister Thangam Thennarasu also strongly criticised the Union Minister Shekhawat over the Centre's stance on the Keeladi (also known as Keezhadi) archaeological findings. On Wednesday, the DMK Minister asked whether the Centre's reluctance to recognise the archaeological findings stemmed from a desire to treat Tamils as 'second-class citizens.'He accused the Centre of repeatedly finding excuses to avoid acknowledging the Keezhadi excavations, which he said have been internationally recognised for their historical significance. 'First they said there was nothing in Keezhadi. Next they transferred the research officer. Then they said they would not allocate any funds henceforth. Finally, they put the submitted report on hold for two years. Now they come and say that the evidence is not enough. It is common for them to reject the history of the Tamils every time. The reasons they find are only different,' he had said. IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Kutch housed hunter-gatherer communities 5,000 years before Harappans arrived: Study
Shell scatters, deposits, middens, stone tools. Researchers have found rare evidence of human settlement in Kutch. As they dug deeper, they found that Kutch was home to prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities way before the Harappan era. A recent study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) has offered new insights into Kutch's cultural evolution. The study by IITGN researchers, in collaboration with experts from IIT Kanpur (IITK), Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) Delhi, and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) Ahmedabad, has uncovered archaeological evidence that pushes back the human presence in this region by at least 5,000 years prior to the arrival of Harappans. These communities inhabited a mangrove-dominated landscape, relied on shell species (both bivalves like oysters and gastropods), and naturally adapted to such environments. 'While British surveyors had previously noted shell accumulations in the area, these were not recognised as shell-midden sites, the heaps of discarded shells from human consumption,' explained Prof V N Prabhakar, an Associate Professor at the Archaeological Science Centre in the department of Earth Sciences at IITGN and lead investigator of the study. 'Our study is the first to identify these sites, confirm their cultural significance, and establish a chronological context,' he added. These newly identified sites are the first of their kind to be documented in the Kutch region, with a defined cultural and chronological context. According to the researchers, the findings also show similarities with coastal archaeological sites in the Las Bela and Makran regions of Pakistan and the Oman Peninsula, suggesting that early coastal communities across this broader region may have developed comparable strategies for food collection and survival. 'The shell samples collected from Khadir and nearby islands were analysed at PRL Ahmedabad, with support from Prof Ravi Bhushan and J S Ray, and at IUAC, Delhi, with help from Dr Pankaj Kumar,' mentioned Prof Prabhakar. To determine the age of these sites, the researchers used Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), a precise method for measuring the radioactive isotope values of Carbon-14 (C-14) from the shell remains, which is absorbed by all living organisms. After death, C-14 begins to decay and is reduced by half every 5,730 years. Measuring the remaining amount in the shell samples allows scientists to estimate how long ago the organism died. As atmospheric C-14 levels have varied over time, the results were calibrated using tree ring data. Trees form one ring per year, and these tree ring sequences can be matched and extended back over thousands of years, allowing scientists to construct an accurate reference timeline of atmospheric C-14. The team discovered a variety of stone tools used for cutting, scraping, and splitting. Used cores from which the tools were manufactured were also found. 'The presence of these tools and associated raw materials suggests that the communities engaged in the prolific manufacture of implements for daily tasks,' said Dr Shikha Rai, a postdoctoral researcher at IITGN and co-author of the study. The raw materials may have been sourced from Khadir Island, now known for housing the Harappan city of Dholavira. The study challenges the commonly held view that urbanism in Kutch developed primarily under the influence of the Sindh region. 'Instead of abrupt external influence, what we see here is a gradual, locally rooted process of adaptation and cultural development,' said Prof Prabhakar. 'This accumulated knowledge of local geology, water resources, and navigation may have later helped the Harappans plan their settlements more effectively and engage in long-distance trade.' The researchers also believe that the shell middens and scatters will be important in palaeoclimate studies. Since climate change unfolds gradually over millennia and cannot be directly observed in the short term, natural materials like shells preserve signals that help reconstruct past environments. Previous studies at IITGN have already mapped the palaeoclimate of Khadir Island over the past 11,500 years. Further analysis of the recently discovered shell middens may contribute critical new insights into the climate conditions in which early humans lived. 'Humans in the past adapted to different climatic zones and environmental challenges without the aid of modern technologies,' explained Dr Rai, adding: 'Their ability to observe, respond to, and live within their ecological limits is something worth learning from today, especially in the context of global climate change.' The team now aims at mapping cultural developments in Gujarat, from prehistoric to historical periods, to build a broader understanding of how human adaptation has evolved. The findings from this study were presented at the 17th Annual Workshop on South Asian Archaeology (Hartwick College and University of Chicago), the Seminar Series on the Archaeology of the Indo-Iranian Borderlands (Sorbonne University, Paris), and the 50th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies (ISPQS), Raipur — all in 2025. The research team includes Prof Vikrant Jain of the Earth Sciences Department, IITGN; Prof Javed Malik and Debajyoti Paul of IITK; Pankaj Kumar of IUAC, Delhi and Mahendrasinh Gadhavi of LD College, Ahmedabad.
