From dropping Sethu Samudram to excavating Ram Setu, getting closer to know the legacy of Shri Ram

It as early as in Jan this year, that the Centre gave nod to the ASI for an Archaeological survey of the ancient and religious site of Ram Setu. However, the story begins long ago, in around 2005, when an ambitious project was proposed to put an end to the legacy of Shri Ram. The Sethu Samudram project was perceived as a potential threat for the Hindu sentiments from all around the world. But the project was finally scrapped after a lengthy series of 'tarikh pe tarikh' in the Supreme Court, during the term UPA govt, under the Prime Ministership of Dr Manmohan Singh. On the occasion of Ram Navami, let us head back in time to understand the significance of the approval that the Ram Setu excavation has received in 2021.

Prior to the administrative backing to scientifically investigate the Ram setu site, in order to provide substantial evidence to prove the factuality of Ramayana, which is one of the objectives of the study, the issue of 'Ram Setu' has twice created a chaos between the believers and non-believers of the mythical origin of the creation. First instance of the chaos being Sethu Samudram Project and the second one being the release of a short promo of Science Channel's show 'What on Earth?'. It was observed, during both the times, how even the minimal consideration of religious sentiments of Hindus was completely shattered, merely for securing political agendas.

 

The Sethusamudram project was something, that the predecessor govt believed, was an effective solution for the ships coming from the west to easily reach the eastern coast of India, without going all the way beyond Sri Lanka to return back to Indian ports. What the project suggested as a solution to this problem was to drill the Ram setu, in order to deepen the water body that is posing as an 'obstacle' for the ships. After the project was approved, several petitions were filed at the Supreme Court to secure Ram setu which is a place of immense religious significance for the Hindus by the Former Sarsanghachalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), K S Sudarshan, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and similar other right-aligned bodies, while the UPA govt was in power.

In fact, it is a point to be noted that when the Centre was still portraying the project as a relief to address the issues of the shipping sector, the DMK leader M Karunanidhi had blatantly made a statement calling the drilling of Ram Setu as an act of revenge against Babri demolition, stating "They demolished the Babri Masjid, we'll break the Ram Setu." Karunanidhi's provocative statement, thus, instigated a political process as well.

 

 

According to Swamy alternative plan, it was suggested to develop two Container ports, one either at Kanyakumari or at Tuticorin and the other at Chennai, and connect the two ports by the means of railways. After several rounds of hearings, the court finally accepted the petitions and the Sethu Samudram Project was scrapped with Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's statement that the ancient structure should not be ruptured in order to respect the faith of the people. During the term of NDA govt, the role of Nitin Gadkari, who was the Union Minister of State for Shipping, has been pivotal in further positive developments in the region.

 

 

 

 

Later in 2018, the issue again came to the forefront after the Ram Setu related video was released by the 'Science Channel', where the scientists are clearly seen stating due to several reasons that structure is definitely not naturally originated. Testifying their claims is still an acceptable approach. however, several liberals went on denying any such statement made by the scientists in the video.