The Communist Party of India (CPI) has called upon the BJP-led central government to immediately release the report of archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna on the Keeladi excavations. The party asserts that the findings scientifically establish the antiquity of the Tamil civilization. In a statement issued on Wednesday, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian emphasized that the 982-page report, which was prepared after extensive excavations and scientific studies at Keeladi in Sivaganga district, confirms that the Tamil civilization predates the Vedic period.
Scientific Evidence and Historical Data
Veerapandian noted that the report, submitted in 2023, is backed by robust scientific evidence and historical data. He demanded that the report be released immediately without any alterations. The CPI leader alleged that the BJP government is exerting pressure on Ramakrishna to modify the report because its findings contradict the unscientific and regressive narratives based on myths and epics propagated by the central government.
Allegations of Suppression
Veerapandian condemned the alleged move to seek corrections in the report and stated that the Union government should not attempt to suppress historical truths. He revealed that after Amarnath Ramakrishna submitted his report, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) asked him to revise it. However, Ramakrishna declined, stating that he would become a criminal if he changed the concept. Subsequently, the ASI formed an internal committee and directed Ramakrishna to incorporate its recommendations into his report, but he once again refused to do so.
The CPI's demand underscores the political and historical significance of the Keeladi excavations, which have been a subject of debate regarding the origins of Tamil culture and its relation to the Vedic period. The party's call for transparency reflects broader concerns about the politicization of historical research.
