Latest news with #Sangam
India Gazette
a day ago
- Health
- India Gazette
Delhi Metro services to commence from 4 am on International Yoga Day
New Delhi [India], June 19 (ANI): In order to facilitate the movement of Yoga Enthusiasts on the occasion of international Yoga Day, the Delhi Metro services will commence from 4 AM from all originating stations on June 21, an official statement said. In a post on X, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said, 'Delhi Metro services will commence from 4 am from all originating stations on 21st June 2025 (Saturday) to facilitate the movement of yoga enthusiasts on the occasion of International Day of Yoga, 2025.' 'Services will be available on all lines at an interval of 30 minutes from 4 am onwards till the commencement of passenger services as per daily timetable', it added. As India is gearing up to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21, the government is organising a multitude of events nationwide to mark the occasion with 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health' as this year's themeYoga Sangam, the main event, will orchestrate a synchronised mass yoga demonstration based on the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) at over 1 lakh locations across India on June 21, 2025, from 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the national event at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This collective celebration aims to reaffirm our shared commitment to the timeless practice of yoga and its enduring relevance in today's world. An invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition, Yoga has emerged as one of the most trusted means to boost physical and mental well-being. The word 'Yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'yuj', meaning 'to join,' 'to yoke,' or 'to unite.' It symbolises the unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment, harmony between human and nature, and a holistic approach to health and well-being. (ANI)
Scroll.in
a day ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Centre not publishing Keeladi report is an onslaught on Tamil culture, says MK Stalin
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday said that the Union government's decision not to publish the Keeladi excavation report was an 'onslaught on Tamil culture', reported The Hindu. In a letter to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadre, Stalin said his party would not rest until the Centre recognised the greatness and antiquity of Tamil civilisation. On May 23, the Archaeological Survey of India had directed archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna to resubmit his report on the Keeladi excavations after making corrections suggested by two experts. On May 27, The Indian Express had reported that Ramakrishna had refused to revise the report, defending the findings and methodology that were used in documenting details about the archaeological site. 'The BJP government, which consistently views Tamils and the Tamil language with hostility, is trying to suppress and bury the findings from Keeladi,' Stalin told his party cadre. He also criticised the Opposition party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, for 'remaining silent' on the issue. The AIADMK is an ally of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. Stalin said the DMK government has always worked to protect the Tamil language and culture, even building a museum for the excavation findings. On the other hand, 'the state unit of the BJP has also abandoned its love for language and culture to appease the party high command', he alleged. Keeladi has been at the centre of a political debate in recent years. Ramakrishna, who led the two excavation phases at Keeladi between 2014 and 2016, had unearthed more than 5,500 artefacts pointing to an urban civilisation in Tamil Nadu during the Sangam era. The Sangam era is the period between the 3rd century before common era to the 3rd century common era in southern India. In 2017, the Archaeological Survey of India transferred Ramakrishna to Assam. Political parties had described this move as 'unusual' at the time, The New Indian Express reported. The discovery had attracted widespread attention and Ramakrishna's transfer was viewed as an attempt to downplay the excavation's significance, according to The Hindu. The Archaeological Survey of India carried out the third phase of the excavation. But it announced in 2017 that no significant findings had emerged and halted the excavation. The decision was criticised by politicians in Tamil Nadu, who accused the Union government of attempting to suppress evidence of an ancient Tamil civilisation, according to The Hindu. However, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court intervened and asked the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology to take over the excavation, the Deccan Herald reported. The eleventh phase of excavation will take place in June. About 20,000 artefacts have been recovered from Keeladi since 2014. In the report submitted in 2023, Ramakrishna, who is now the director of antiquities, relied on accelerator mass spectrometry dating of 23 artefacts, which determined that they were from around 300 CE, the Deccan Herald reported. Using this data, he established the chronological span of the Keeladi site to be between the 8th century BC and the 3rd century CE.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Keeladi excavation report of archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna: Why are Centre and T.N. government at loggerheads?
The story so far: On June 17, 2025, archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, the archaeologist whose excavation at Keeladi (also spelt Keezhadi) in Tamil Nadu drew the nation's attention, was transferred yet again, this time from New Delhi to Greater Noida. Mr. Ramakrishna, who was serving as the Director (Antiquity) and as Director of the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), will now be the director of only the NMMA. The NMMA unit set up in 2007, according to sources, almost remains defunct. This move drew criticism from political circles in the State. Over two years after Mr. Ramakrishna submitted his 982-page report on the first two phases of excavations carried out at Keeladi under his leadership between 2014 and 2016, a fresh controversy erupted last month. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) demanded him to revise his report but Mr. Ramakrishna refused to do it. This disagreement sparked a political clash between the Centre and Tamil Nadu. The State's Minister for Archaeology Thangam Thennarasu even accused the BJP-led Union government of treating Tamils as second class citizens. How did Keeladi excavation begin? Keeladi, located about 12 km southeast of Madurai in Sivaganga district has become a symbol of pride for many in Tamil Nadu. Over a decade ago, Amarnath Ramakrishna who was then the ASI's Superintending Archaeologist had initiated excavations at a site known as the Pallichanthai Tidal in Keeladi, a place that was originally a coconut grove spanning 100 acres. He had identified over 100 sites for excavation along the Vaigai River but Keeladi stood out. It was in Keeladi that they unearthed over 7,500 ancient artifacts including wall structures, drainage systems and wells - all evidence of a sophisticated urban society that thrived. What was even more compelling was the carbon dating which revealed that these elements are over 2,160 years old dating back to the 2nd century BCE which is the time of the Sangam period in Tamil history. What made Keeladi significant? Archaeologists were stunned by a few findings. Most importantly, there was no evidence of religious symbols at the excavation site which hinted at the secular nature of the civilization. The finds also showed: the presence of a vibrant, sophisticated urban society in Keeladi the strong structures oriented in cardinal direction suggesting systematic urban planning port shreds with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions indicating a highly literate society the graffiti of the sun and moon demonstrated the astronomical sense of the people an ivory dice pointing to the presence of an elite society So, naturally the excitement around Keeladi's discoveries was palpable. Tamil historians and enthusiasts saw it as proof of an advanced ancient Tamil civilization but soon after things took a sharp turn. The significant transfer of Amarnath Ramakrishna It all began in 2017 when the ASI transferred Amarnath Ramakrishna to Assam just as the excavations were ramping up after first two phases. This move was seen by many as a blow to the project. Back then, political critics accused the Centre of deliberately derailing the excavations. It is because the Centre that had promised funding and support for further digs delayed both after the second phase. The local political climate grew tense with some alleging that the Centre was trying to suppress Tamil heritage. By 2017, the excavations had entered its third phase but this time, under archaeologist P.S. Sriraman. After excavating just about 400 square meters, Mr. Sriraman reported that there was no continuity in the brick structures that were previously discovered. This had fuelled accusations that the Centre was deliberately downplaying the significance of Keeladi. Madras High Court steps in Meanwhile, the issue reached the courts. The Madras High Court stepped in and its judges visited the excavation site. They then directed the ASI to continue the excavations and also allow Tamil Nadu's department of archaeology to get involved. The State's archaeology department did just that, and in 2019, they published a report asserting that Keeladi was indeed an urban settlement dating back to the Sangam era between the 6th century BCE and 1st century CE. From the third phase of excavation, it is the State archaeology department that has continued with the project but these findings have not helped resolve the issue, instead the drama has escalated. Cut to January 2023 when Amarnath Ramakrishna who was transferred back to Tamil Nadu submitted his report on the first two phases of excavation. Amarnath Ramakrishna's report to ASI For about two-and-a-half years, this report remained with the ASI, and just last month, the ASI sent Mr. Ramakrishna a letter asking him to revise the report. The Archaeological Survey of India questioned the dating and depth of certain findings, suggesting the evidence for the earliest period, as it 'appeared to be very early,' and said it needed further analysis. Amarnath Ramakrishna, however, stood firm and refused to rewrite his conclusions, defending his work as scientifically sound, based on rigorous archaeological standards. He argued that the report's chronology was backed by stratigraphic sequences, material culture and even Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). Political outrage In this backdrop, many political parties in Tamil Nadu including the DMK, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and historian R. Balakrishnan who is also a retired IAS officer have slammed the ASI's decision. They have termed it a blatant attempt to suppress Tamil heritage. They argued that the Centre's refusal to acknowledge Keeladi's significance was not just about science but also about politics. Amid the backlash, the Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said Mr. Ramakrishnan's findings were not technically well-supported and further scientific studies were required to validate the findings. He sought more results, data and evidence because he said a single finding cannot change the entire discourse. Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, who also holds the archaeology portfolio, has been particularly vocal about the issue. He rhetorically posed, 'Though we are in the same country, why does the government have reservations? Is it because of its unquenchable desire to treat Tamils as second class citizens?' For the Minister, the issue is not just about Keeladi but about a symbolic fight for Tamil identity and history. MDMK leader Vaiko too alleged that the Centre was trying to suppress Tamil civilization while promoting what he called as 'a non-existent Sanskrit civilization'. His remark reflected the growing narrative that the Centre's actions were part of a broader political agenda. However, Mr. Shekhawat continued to justify his position saying that Tamil Nadu is an integral part of India and its heritage should be celebrated, not through divisive sentiments but through scientific, evidence-based knowledge. He told Chief Minister M.K. Stalin that the Union government has no hesitation in releasing any reports, and if such research is scientifically proven, it too would be proud to stand with the State. For the report to be accepted by the scientific community, more robust evidence is still needed, he added. The Union Minister wondered why the Tamil Nadu government was hesitant to cooperate with the Centre on this issue. Hence, the conflict continues. AIADMK's silence Interestingly, the AIADMK which was in power when the Keeladi report was proudly published is now largely silent, thanks to its renewed ties with the BJP. The Keeladi controversy is not just about one report or one excavation; it is a clash of narratives. The Centre insists on scientific validation while Tamil Nadu views it as a matter of cultural pride and historical recognition. The State government is pressing on with its excavations, which are underway, and it has already set up a new museum at Keeladi which is drawing thousands of visitors.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Nirmala Lakshman to discuss ‘The Tamils' at BIC on June 17 )
Around 90 million-strong today, the community of Tamils is not only spread across India but is a growing global diaspora which hold on to their distinct cultural identity even as they fan out. Nirmala Lakshman, in her book The Tamils, chronicles the journey of this civilisation from the Stone Age and the Sangam era to the Bhakti movement and colonial history. On June 17, Ms. Lakshman, Publisher and Chairperson of The Hindu Group of Publications, will engage in a discussion on her book with Ranvir Shah, cultural activist, philanthropist and businessman, at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC). Ramachandra Guha, writer and historian, will do the introduction. The discussion will not only explore the themes of the book but also examine the Tamil identity in the 21st century, its evolution through intersections of caste, religion and gender, and how modernity and migration have given the culture newer meanings as the community across the globe continues to adapt and thrive. Ms. Lakshman, who founded and edited The Hindu Literary Review, conceptualised and created Young World, India's only children's newspaper supplement, and launched Lit for Life, The Hindu's annual literature festival. She is also the author of Degree Coffee by the Yard. Mr. Shah founded the Prakriti Foundation in 1998 with the idea of enlivening Chennai's cultural arena through scholarly discourses, multi-media events, experimental and protest cinema, music festivals and contemporary dance performances. Dr. Guha is a public intellectual whose research interests range from political and environmental history to cricket history. The programme begins at 6.30 p.m. and entry is free.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
In a first, Kattaikuttu Sangam launches a diploma programme, details
Art in full bloom Founded by P Rajagopal in 1990, the organisation began with just 17 performers. 'It was a very modest beginning. Over time, it grew gradually, like how a tree grows from a small plant,' says Rajagopal. Today, the Sangam is a democratically run collective with over 250 members — artistes, musicians, playwrights — united by their dedication to keeping Koothu alive. And it is alive. Not just in rural temple festivals that stretch across the Tamil calendar, but also in new scripts, urban collaborations, and training programmes. 'Every year, from the Tamil month of Thai, until Sivaratri, there are performances happening, nonstop. People in Chennai may not see it, so they assume it doesn't exist. But they need to come and see for themselves,' says Rajagopal. For those who do, the Sangam's annual festivals are an eye-opener. The most recent one, bridged the urban-rural divide, ran every weekend from November to January and drew audiences from both the city and countryside. Performances ranged from Kattaikkuttu to Sufi music, Carnatic-Koothu collaborations, and urban theatre from Chennai. 'It was a way to challenge the misconception. And it worked. People came from Bengaluru, Chennai, and beyond,' says Swathi.
