The Madras High Court has instructed the Tamil Nadu government to take concrete steps towards exploring the legendary lost continent of Kumari Kandam through underwater archaeological research. This directive came after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) informed the court that the Central government has not yet received any formal proposal from the state on the matter.
Court's Directive on the Lost Land
A division bench comprising Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramakrishnan was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2020 by petitioner V Narayanamoorthy. The PIL sought a judicial direction to both the Central and State governments to conduct an underwater archaeology excavation to find evidence of Kumari Kandam.
This mythical land, also referred to as Lemuria in some contexts, is described in ancient Tamil literature as a continent that submerged in the Indian Ocean due to natural calamities and rising sea levels. The petitioner argued that such an excavation could unveil crucial knowledge about ancient Tamil civilization and culture.
State Awaits Centre's Nod, Centre Awaits State's Proposal
During the proceedings, the Tamil Nadu government submitted that since the proposed research is to be conducted in the ocean, permission from the Central government is mandatory. However, the counsel for the ASI presented a key hurdle: the Centre has not received any proposal from the state so far. The ASI assured that if a proposal is submitted, it would be considered and necessary support would be provided.
The court took note of a report filed in 2020 by the late amicus curiae, Orissa Balu (alias S Subramani), who was appointed to assist in the case. His report, accompanied by photographs, highlighted references to Kumari Kandam beyond Tamil literature. It suggested that underwater exploration could reveal how ancient Tamilians spread across the world through trade, heroism, and cultural exchange.
Judicial Observations and Hope for Initiative
The bench observed that Tamil Nadu had shown interest in the subject about 45 years ago by producing a short film based on literature referencing Kumari Kandam, but subsequently lost momentum in the research. Expressing the importance of the subject, the judges stated that the court is of the view that the state shall examine the amicus curiae's report along with annexed research materials and make the necessary proposals for the research.
"We hope that the state government will take initiative and act positively in this regard," the judges remarked before disposing of the petition. The court's order effectively places the ball in the state government's court to catalyze the long-awaited research into this fascinating chapter of Tamil heritage.
