The story so far: June 17, 2025 was archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishn, whose excavation in Keeladi (also speaking Keezhadi) in Tamil Nadu, which was re -converted, this time from New Delhi to a larger Noida. Ramakrishn, who worked as a director (antiquity) and as a director of the national mission for monuments and antiques (NMMA), will now be the director only NMMA. The NMMA unit established in 2007, according to sources, almost remains extinct. This step caused criticism from political circles in the state.
More than two years after Mr. Ramakrishna submitted a report on the first two stages of excavations carried out in Keeladi under his leadership between 2014 and 2016, a new controversy broke out last month. Archaeological survey of India (probably) ordered him to revise his news, but Mr. Ramakrishna refused to do it. This disagreement caused a political clash between the center and Tamil Nadu. The State Minister of Archeology Thangam THENNARAS even accused the government of the Union led by the BJP of the treatment of Tamils as the citizens of the second class.
How did Keeladi start up?
Keeladi, located about 12 km southeast of Madurai in the Sivagang district, has become a symbol of pride for many in Tamil Nadu. More than ten years ago, Amarnath Ramakrishn, who was then a superintendent archaeologist, launched excavations in a place known as Pallicanthai Tidal in Keeradi, a place that was originally a coconut grove of 100 acres. He identified over 100 places for excavations along the Vaigai River, but Keeladi got out.
It was in Keeladi that they discovered over 7,500 ancient artifacts, including wall construction, drainage systems and wells – all evidence of the sophisticated urban society that prospered. Even more convincing was carbon dating, revealing that these elements were more than 2,160 years, which date back to the 2nd century BC, which is the period of the Sangam period in Tamil history.
What did Keeladi find significant?
Archaeologists were amazed by several findings. Most importantly, there was no evidence of religious symbols at the point of excavation that indicated the secular nature of civilization.
The findings also showed:
The presence of a living, sophisticated urban society in Keelaladi
Strong structures oriented in the cardinal direction indicating systematic urban planning
Port shred with the inscriptions Tamil Brahmi that indicate a highly literate company
Graffiti sun and moon showed an astronomical sense of people
ivory cubes aimed at the presence of an elite society
So naturally the excitement around Keelaadi’s discoveries was tangible. Tamil historians and enthusiasts considered it as evidence of advanced ancient Tamil civilization, but soon after things turned sharply.
A transfer that came in a decisive time
It all began in 2017, when she probably transferred Amarnath Ramakrishn to Assam, just as the excavations increased after the first two stages. Many have seen this step as a project blow. At that time, political critics accused the center of deliberate derailment of excavations. This is because the center that promised financing and support for other DIGS was delayed after the second phase.
The local political climate has grown tense and claimed that the center was trying to suppress Tamil’s heritage. By 2017, the excavations entered their third phase, but this time under the archaeologist PS Sriraman. After digging only about 400 square meters, Mr. Sriraman said there was no continuity in brick structures that were previously discovered. This stimulated the accusation that the center intentionally reduced the importance of Keeladi.
Madras High Court enters
Meanwhile, this problem reached the courts. The Madras High Court entered and his judges visited the place of excavations. Then they ordered to continue the excavations and also allow the involvement of the archaeological department of Tamil Nadu. The State Archaeology Department did this precisely and in 2019 they published a report claiming that Keeladi was a truly urban settlement dating back to the Sangam era between the 6th century BC and the 1 century.
Since the third phase of the excavation, it is the State Archaeology Department that continued the project, but these findings did not help solve the problem, instead the drama escalated. Cut until January 2023, when Amarnath Ramakrishn, who was transferred back to Tamil Nadu, presented his report on the first two stages of the excavation.
AMARNATHA RAMAKRISHNY MESSAGE PRO Probably
For about two and a half years, this report remained at about, and just last month, Mr. Ramakrishnu probably sent a letter asking him to revise the report. Archaeological survey of India questioned the dating and depth of certain findings, suggesting evidence for the earliest period, because it “seemed to be very early” and said that further analysis was needed. However, Amarnath Ramakrishno stood firmly and refused to rewrite his conclusions and prevented his work as a scientifically healthy, based on strict archaeological standards. He claimed that the chronology of the report was supported by stratigraphic sequences, material culture and even the mass spectrometry of the accelerator (AMS).
Political outrage
In this background, many political parties in Tamil Nadu, including DMK, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and historian R. Balakrishnan, who is also an officer in retirement, killed the decision. They called it an obvious attempt to suppress Tamil’s heritage. They argued that the rejection of the center to recognize Keeladi’s meaning was not only about science, but also about politics.
In the middle of the will of the Minister of the Union for the culture of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, she said that Mr. Ramakrishnan’s finding was not technically well supported by the verification of findings. He was looking for more results, data and evidence because he said that the only finding could not change the whole discourse.
The Minister of Finance Tamil Naduhan Thannaras, who also holds the portfolio of archeology, was particularly loud about this issue. He said rhetorically: “Although we are in the same country, why does the government have reservations? Is it because of his unmanageable desire to handle Tamils as second -class citizens?” It is not only for the minister not only Keeladi, but also on the symbolic struggle for Tamil identity and history.
MDMK VAIKO leader also claimed that the center was trying to suppress Tamil civilization and at the same time promote what he called “non -existent Sanskrit civilization”. His note reflected the growing story that the actions of the center were part of a wider political agenda.
However, Mr. Shekhawat continued to justify his position and claimed that Tamil Nadu was an integral part of India and its inheritance should be celebrated, not through distribution sentiments, but through scientific knowledge based on evidence. He told Chief Minister MK Stalin that the Union’s government has no hesitation in publishing any reports, and if such research is scientifically proven, it would also be proud to become a state. In order to receive a scientific community, more robust evidence is still needed, he added. The Minister of the Union wondered why the government of Tamil hesitated to hesitated with the center on this matter. The conflict continues.
AIADMKOVO SMOCE
Interestingly, Aiadmk, who was in power when Keeladi was proudly published, is now largely silent, thanks to his renewed bonds with BJP.
The controversy of Keeladi is not just about one message or one excavation; It’s a conflict of narration. The center insists on scientific validation, while Tamil considers it a matter of cultural pride and historical recognition. The state government is pushing the excavations that are taking place and have already established a new Museum in Keeladi, which attract thousands of visitors.
Published – June 18, 2025 02:17
