Chennai, 17 June (H.S.): Senior archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, widely recognized for his pioneering work at the Keezhadi excavation site, has been transferred yet again by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

This latest relocation from his current role in New Delhi to Greater Noida, where he will serve as Director of the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), has sparked renewed controversy, particularly amidst ongoing criticism regarding the delayed release of the official ASI report on the Keezhadi findings. H.A. Naik, Director of Epigraphy at ASI headquarters, has been given additional charge of the Antiquity division in his place.

This is not the first time Ramakrishna has faced transfer under similar circumstances. He was abruptly moved to Assam in 2017, a decision that drew significant backlash from various quarters in Tamil Nadu.

The Keezhadi excavation, which began in 2015 near Sivaganga district, has unearthed compelling evidence of a highly sophisticated, literate, and urbanized Tamil civilization along the Vaigai riverbed, dating back to the Sangam era. These revolutionary findings have challenged existing narratives about ancient Indian civilization, suggesting that urban centers were not confined solely to the Indus Valley and Gangetic plains.

Ramakrishna had submitted his 982-page report on the first two phases of the Keezhadi excavation to the ASI in January 2023. However, the ASI recently asked him to rework the report, citing the need for more authentic data and suggesting corrections from expert reviewers.

Ramakrishna, however, has stood by his findings, stating that his conclusions are based on scientific methods. This request for revision and the subsequent transfer have further fueled allegations of political interference aimed at suppressing or delaying the release of information that could alter historical understandings of ancient Tamil civilization.

The latest transfer has triggered outrage among political leaders and cultural voices in Tamil Nadu. Madurai MP and CPI(M) leader Su Venkatesan strongly condemned the move, accusing the Union Government of targeting Ramakrishna for uncovering inconvenient facts and calling the transfer punitive.

He asserted that the people of Tamil Nadu would not remain silent and would respond democratically to such actions. The recurring transfers of Amarnath Ramakrishna, combined with the prolonged delay in the official ASI report, continue to raise questions about transparency and political influence in archaeological research concerning Tamil Nadu's ancient heritage.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary