Skeleton stays of kids unheamed as a part of keeladi excavations in konthagai, sivaganga district on july 7, 2020. Picture Credit score: Ashok R
A Newly Laid Street Runs By Keladi, A Village in Sivaganga District of Tamil Nadu, that has now earned a major place on India’s Political and Cultural Map. A gentle stream of holiday makers, specific college students, flock to the state-of-the -art museum established by the tamil nadu authorities which showcases the findings from the keelaadi excavation web site.
On the opposite aspect of the village, nestled amongst coconut groves, staff beneath the supervision of archaeologists proceed to excavate land on alce on with have Sq.-shaped trenches Reveal Remnants of furnals containing soot and ash, confirming that keeladi was a middle for manufacturing beads constructed from Quartz, Carnelian, Glass, Angate, Angate, Angate. Carbon Relationship of Charcoal Found on the Web site in February 2017 Establaced that the Settlement Dates Again to sixth Century BCE. These excavations supply compeling proof that city civilization existed in tamil nadu through the sangam age. The findings additionally point out commerce and cultural change with the indus Valley Civilization.
For Tamil Nadu Politicians, Significantly The Leaders of the Ruling DMK, The Findings Supplied the much-Wanted Grist for his political narrative. Chief Minister mk stalin in January this 12 months introduced a $ 1 million prize for experiences or organizations Marks present in Tamil Nadu Had Parallels to the Symbols Discovered on Indus Seals.
Lengthy-standing divide
The findings additionally fuelled the long-standing aryan-driveidian divide, and a few expressed reservations about accepting the findings from keelaadi. This was adopted by the switch of archaeologist amarnath ramakrishna of the archaeeological survey of India (asi), who lead the primary two phases of the excavation, to assam in 2017. One other archaeologist, ps sriman, who reported that there was no proceed within the brick buildings. Excavations resume solely after the intervention of the Madras Excessive Court docket. The tamil nadu state division of archaeology additionally took up the mission and, in its report, assessed that keeladi was on a web site of city civilization, a declare that reMains a degree of content material Archaeologists.
Thos who dispute the declare of an city settlement level to websites corresponding to harppa, mohenjo-daro, and others in gujarat, which, they argue, “Bear Testimony to the existence of an uraban initiation” Keladi, They Contend, is simply one other Excavation Web site with Enough Proof to Qualify as an City Heart.

The return of the 982-Web page Report by Amarnath Ramakrishna of the Asi, with Directions to Present Additional Proof and Rewrite it, Stirred But One other Controversy. In Tamil Nadu, this transfer is personalised as indicative of the BJP-LED NDA Authorities’s Bias In opposition to Discoveries Rising from the South.
The present dispensation on the heart is seen as reluctant to simply accept something projected as superir to the indo-aryan heroitage. Given the middle’s stance on Indian Tradition, Language, and Faith, The ASI’s Directive to Mr. Ramakrishna and his subsequent switch is Seen with Suspicion – even when there’s a real tutorial bonds for it.
Mr. Ramakrishna, Reasonably than Pursuing The Matter By Educational Channels, Has Joined The Refrain of Tamil Nadu Politicians, Thought Many Consider the Heart the Heart’s Motives are clear for all to Mr. Ramakrishna, from the start, has been sustaining that there was no proof for spiritual worship.
What stays undisputed is the necessity for prolonged Excavation in Keladi and Surrounding Areas. Madurai and its neighbouring areas alongside the banks of the vaigai are undeniably historic settlements. It’s essential to have excavations on the dimensions of that at harppa and mohenjo-daro to Substantiate the declare of a flourishing city civilization in tamil nadu. The asi has the accountable of enterprise this effort with the assist of the tamil nadu authorities.
Printed – June 29, 2025 03:20 AM IST
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