Scientific questions to ASI on Ram Sethu
A truly rational scientist asks the following questions to the ASI.
Email to : directorgeneralasiindia at gmail dot com
To : The Director General - Archeological Survey of India
Dear Sir,
You may be aware that recently there has been a lot of anxiety about your affidavit stating that there is no scientific evidence that the Ram Sethu could have had a non-natural past. Your comments about the characters and events in the epic caused a lot of heartburn to the public.
On behalf of all people who want science to take its rightful place, I hope you can throw some light on the following questions.
1. What expeditions have you undertaken in the Palk Strait area ? Can we have a list made available on your website ? Were they underwater or just arial surveys ?2. What methodology have you used to locate submerged artifacts ? Any sonar / radio equipment ? Can you list them ?
3. How many rock and coral samples have you collected ? Have you taken expeditions in Sri Lankan waters ? Have you excavated at Mannar island and its surroundings ? I cant find any mention of excavations on your website in the Danushkodi area, in and around Pamban, or underwater in and around the Ram Sethu in Indian territorial waters. I cant find any mention of underwater archeology in the Palk Strait / Mannar Bay in Indian or Sri Lankan waters on your underwater archeology website. I also cannot find details of co-operation with the Sri Lankan side at and off Talaimannar.
4. A Congress MP claims that the ASI used to guide tourists at sites like Chitrakoot and Bharadwaj ashram. ASI information boards pointing to various sites associated with characters in the Ramayana were placed at these sites. Is this true?
I request you to make available these material on your website, preferably in PDF format.
Yours Truly,
CCCCC
A well wisher
PS: I would humbly request you to get a real email address instead of using a free GMAIL account. This is simply because all your emails including sensitive ones will be stored on overseas computers. The ASI is an important part of the Indian government, we cant afford to take a risk with the critical communications stored and controlled by other countries.
