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Indian Express
09-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: How is Keeladi excavation relevant for UPSC Exam?
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on Keeladi excavation and other recently excavated sites. What was once a quiet village on the banks of the river Vaigai in Tamil Nadu is today emerging as one of the most significant archaeological sites in India. Excavations at Keezhadi (or Keeladi) have revealed the existence of an advanced urban settlement, possibly going back as far as the 8th to the 5th century BCE. 1. Initiated in 2014 and led by archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishnaunder the ASI, the Keezhadi (or Keeladi) site revealed remnants of an advanced urban civilisation — brick structures, industrial furnaces, drainage systems, graffiti-marked pottery, and terracotta artefacts. 2. Ramakrishna submitted his final report in January 2023, concluding that the site dated back to between the 8th and 3rd century BCE, based on stratigraphic analysis and AMS-dated artefacts. 3. However, more than two years later, in May 2025, the ASI's Exploration and Excavation division returned the report and asked Ramakrishna to revise it based on comments from two unnamed experts. The ASI's letter argued that the proposed dating was 'very early' and suggested the earliest period should be revised to 'at the maximum, somewhere in pre-300 BCE'. Ramakrishna, in a formal written reply, defended the scientific basis of his chronology and rejected the demand to rework the sequence. 4. Notably, the findings — which include evidence of trade, such as carnelian beads, and literacy, in the form of Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions on potsherds — paint a compelling picture of a flourishing civilisation in South India dating back much further than previously believed. 5. The discoveries at Keezhadi are significant not only for Tamil Nadu, but for all of India, as they challenge long-standing historical narratives and offer proof that urbanisation may have developed parallelly in different regions of the Subcontinent. 6. Adrija Roychowdhury of The Indian Express writes in 'Proximity to Madurai put Keeladi on archaeological map, the findings there took village to centre of Tamil consciousness'– Archaeologists working at the site say enough scientific evidence has now been found to suggest that civilisation and literacy emerged in the south as far back in time as the sixth century BCE, disproving what we knew till now of these changes first taking place in the Gangetic plains of the north. 7. Archaeologist and Historian Nayanjot Lahiri explains that much of the excitement at Keeladi was because of it being a Sangam era site. 'Sangam culture is very much a part of the living cultural tradition of South India. It's like the Ramayana and Mahabharata,' she says. 'So for instance if an excavation takes place in Hastinapur, Sonepat, Purana Quila — which are part of the epics — it immediately catches the imagination of people because they have read about them. It is similar for the Sangam sites in the south.' 8. Lahiri, however, argues that it would be wrong to suggest that before Keeladi there was no evidence of an early urban culture in South India. She emphasises upon the findings of two other archaeological sites, Porunthal and Kodumanal, which were excavated before Keeladi, from 2009 onwards by archaeologist K Rajan and threw up enough evidence to suggest that the beginnings of urban development and writing in Tamil Nadu happened before the intervention of the Mauryas in South India. 9. Recently, archaeologists working at Keeladi, a historic excavation site located 12 km southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, have unearthed a crystal quartz weighing unit from the Sangam era. 10. In addition, archaeologists also found a terracotta hopscotch, an iron nail, black and red ware, and red slipped ware. Archaeologists also found an earthen snake figurine. 11. This discovery has stirred excitement among historians and archaeologists as weighing units in the past were primarily made of stones. 12. Adrija Roychowdhury of The Indian Express writes– 'The resonance of Sangam texts is perhaps the most crucial aspect of the findings at Keeladi. It is worth noting the conscious effort in narrating the story of the artifacts in close association with the Sangam texts. Verses from the Sangam texts are put up on display upon the walls of the newly constructed museum. Almost every finding displayed is accompanied by a short description note that carries the serial number of the poem in the Sangam corpus that gives reference to it.' 13. 'For instance, there are many songs in the Sangam texts that describe the making of iron,' says Ajay Kumar, archaeological officer in charge of Keeladi. He explains that the iron smelting tools found in Keeladi corroborate the same process as mentioned in the texts. 14. Kumar points out another poem 'kalam sei kovey', in the text 'Purananuru' that talks about burial traditions. 'This poem suggests that one must make an urn wide enough for two people to be buried in it together,' says Kumar, adding that they did discover one urn from the site that carried the remains of two people. 15. 'Other discoveries from the site such as carnelian beads, playing dice, iron daggers, iron sickle among several others are said to have references in the Sangam texts as well. Names such as 'Aadhan' found in the potsherds at Keeladi also find mention in the Sangam corpus,' writes Adrija Roychowdhury. 1. At a time when the excavation work is underway at the over 5,000-year-old Harappan site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana's Hisar district (located in the Ghaggar-Hakra river plain), the central government declared mounds at the largest Harappan civilisation site at Rakhigarhi village in Hisar district protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. 2. Rakhigarhi is considered one of the two big Harappan sites in the country, with the other being Dholavira in Gujarat. 3. Earlier, a three-month long excavation at three of the seven mounds at the Harappan site in 2022 had revealed the structure of some houses, lanes and drainage system, and what could possibly be a jewellery-making unit apart from pieces of copper and gold jewellery, terracotta toys, besides thousands of earthen pots and seals. 4. The site was first excavated by Amarendra Nath of ASI. Earlier Mohenjodaro (Pakistan) was considered to be the largest Harappan site until Prof. Vasanth Shinde and his team started fresh excavations at Rakhigarhi. 5. The findings confirm both early and mature phases of this 5,000-years-old Harappan site of Rakhigarhi. An important find from this site is a cylindrical seal with 5 Harappan characters on one side and a symbol of an alligator on the other. 6. An important find from this site is a cylindrical seal with 5 Harappan characters on one side and a symbol of an alligator on the other. 7. The ritual system is signified by an animal sacrificial pit lined with mud-brick and triangular and circular fire altars on the mud floor. A DNA study from skeletal remains from the cemetery at Rakhigarhi found that the Harappan people had an independent origin. The study clearly negates the theory of the Harappans having ancestral links with steppe pastoral or ancient Iranian farmers. 8. Rakhigarhi gives the first evidence of a double burial where the skeletons are clearly male (38) and female (25). excavation work at the 5th-13th century Buddhist complex in Ratnagiri has unearthed a colossal Buddha head, a massive palm, an ancient wall, and inscribed Buddhist relics, all of which are estimated to date back to the 8th and 9th centuries AD. It has underlined the significance of Ratnagiri in Odisha's Jajpur district as a prominent Buddhist historical site. 2. The first excavations were carried out between 1958 and 1961 by Debala Mitra, an archaeologist who eventually served as ASI's first woman director general (1981-83). However, the site was not excavated further after 1961, even though a number of other structures and sculptures were partially visible. Instead, the ASI turned its attention to other Buddhist sites in Odisha. 3. Ratnagiri, literally 'Hill of Jewels', is located 100 km northeast of Bhubaneswar. It stands on a hill between Birupa and Brahmani rivers and is Odisha's most famous — and the most excavated – Buddhist site. 4. Ratnagiri is one of the three points of Odisha's famous Diamond Triangle along with Udaygiri and Lalitgiri. All three Buddhist heritage sites are located close to each other in the Jajpur and Cuttack districts of southeastern Odisha. 5. The Ratnagiri site is believed to be an important early centre of the Vajrayana (or Tantrayana) school of Buddhism which believed in acquiring mystical power through Vajra, meaning thunderbolt or diamond. That is why the three Buddhist sites in Odisha are called the 'Diamond Triangle.' 6. The Ratnagiri monastery is the only Buddhist monastery in India with a curvilinear roof. Historical evidence suggests that at its peak, the monastery was home to around 500 monks, who followed the Tantrayana form of Buddhism. Which are the historical/cultural sites often called as a part of 'The Diamond Triangle': (a) Ratnagiri, Udaygiri, and Lalitgiri (b) Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda (c) Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elphanta Caves (d) Brihadeeswarar Temple, Meenakshi Temple, Chidambaram temple (Sources: Evidence, not politics, must shape the story from Keezhadi, Political battle over Tamil Nadu history escalates', Proximity to Madurai put Keeladi on archaeological map, the findings there took village to centre of Tamil consciousness,The 'rediscovery' of Sangam literature) ALSO READ: Proximity to Madurai put Keeladi on archaeological map, the findings there took village to centre of Tamil consciousness Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Evidence, not politics, must shape the story from Keezhadi
What was once a quiet village on the banks of the river Vaigai in Tamil Nadu is today emerging as one of the most significant archaeological sites in India. Excavations at Keezhadi (or Keeladi) have revealed the existence of an advanced urban settlement, possibly going back as far as the 8th to the 5th century BCE. The findings — which include evidence of trade, such as carnelian beads, and literacy, in the form of Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions on potsherds — paint a compelling picture of a flourishing civilisation in South India dating back much further than previously believed. The discoveries at Keezhadi are significant not only for Tamil Nadu, but for all of India, as they challenge long-standing historical narratives and offer proof that urbanisation may have developed parallelly in different regions of the Subcontinent. Yet, the thrill of the discovery has been marred by an unseemly politicking. Allegations of administrative interference and accusations of downplaying the excavation's findings threaten to undermine the credibility of the process. The DMK-led state government, which sees the Keezhadi findings as key to its 'Dravidian pride' politics, arguing for a Tamil civilisation that is as old as the Indus Valley Civilisation, has accused the Union government of attempting to 'sabotage' the excavations to suit its own ideology. The Centre, in turn, has alleged attempts to play up regional pride at the cost of scientific study; earlier this month, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat raised questions over the 989-page 'final' report submitted in 2023 by archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna, who had led the Keezhadi dig, saying that it was not 'technically well-supported and established yet'. The latest trading of accusations comes after Ramakrishna's transfer following his refusal to revise his report when the ASI, in May this year, sought fresh justification for the dating of the findings. The Tamil Nadu government has hit out at the Centre over the transfer, with Chief Minister MK Stalin describing it as yet another 'hurdle' placed before the 'Tamil race'. Whether or not it shows evidence of a civilisation that is as old as the one unearthed at the Indus Valley sites, Keezhadi can help uncover much more about India's complex and deeply interconnected past. Politics cannot be allowed to distort what is one of the most exciting archaeological discoveries of recent times — evidence alone must shape the narrative. It is vital that the site is not reduced to an ideological battleground. Given its potential to transform the current understanding of Indian history, what Keezhadi calls for is rigorous and transparent research, free from ideological pressures.
India Today
22-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
How unearthing Keeladi became a row over India's past
Archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, who led the initial phases of excavation at Keeladi in Tamil Nadu, has become a key figure in an ongoing national debate about the interpretation of India's ancient past. His work, which began in 2014, brought to light evidence of an early, urbanised civilisation in South India. But his recent transfer and the Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) rejection of his excavation report have rekindled discussions about the intersection of archaeology, politics and 982-page report submitted by Ramakrishna in 2023, covering the first two seasons of excavation, remains unpublished. The ASI requested revisions, citing the need for clarity on stratigraphic layers, the application of dating methods such as Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and broader interpretative consistency. Ramakrishna declined to revise the report, maintaining that the findings were based on established scientific Keeladi site, located near Madurai, gained prominence after excavations unearthed Tamil-Brahmi inscribed pottery, brick structures, an early drainage system, ivory dice and symbolic graffiti. These findings suggested the existence of a well-organised settlement dating back at least to the 2nd century BCE. Radiocarbon dating and stratigraphic evidence indicated a potentially earlier timeline, with some layers dated as far back as 600 implications were significant. The discoveries offered material evidence of an advanced society in the Tamil region, prompting comparisons with the Sangam era and raising questions about prevailing narratives of ancient Indian civilisation, which have often been weighted towards North Indian contexts. Ramakrishna's transfer to Noida in June, and the non-publication of his report, drew swift political response in Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin posted on social media: 'How many obstacles do Tamils face? We have been fighting against all of them for thousands of years, and with the help of science, we have been establishing the antiquity of our race. Yet some minds refuse to accept it. It's not the statements that need to be corrected; it's some minds.'advertisementSince 2017, observers say, Amarnath Ramakrishna has faced a sustained pattern of institutional sidelining and political persecution. His transfer to Assam in 2017, just as Keeladi's excavation was gaining national attention, was the first clear signal of an attempt to derail the narrative he was helping construct—a narrative that unearthed evidence of a sophisticated, secular, urban Tamil civilisation from the Sangam era. His subsequent postings—far removed from active fieldwork—have systematically curtailed his influence. In his new posting, he was removed from his antiquities role and retained only as director of the NMMA—a unit that has remained largely defunct since its inception in in Keeladi, Amarnath's successor, P.S. Sriraman, took charge of the third phase and, after excavating merely 400 square metres of land, reported there was no continuity in the brick structures earlier uncovered—a claim that sharply contradicted previous findings and was seen by many as an attempt to downplay Keeladi's historical Ramakrishna's reassignment in 2017, Tamil Nadu's State Department of Archaeology has continued excavations at Keeladi. The site has since expanded, and a museum dedicated to its findings has been established. While the state has celebrated Keeladi as a symbol of Tamil antiquity, the Centre's call for caution appears misplaced—stemming less from methodological concerns and more from Keeladi's divergence from its preferred ideological Nadu's Minister for Finance and Archaeology, Thangam Thennarasu, offered a strong response to the ASI's actions. 'Crossing countless hurdles that threaten the pride and antiquity of the Tamil race, we continue to make the world aware of the richness of our heritage and language, backed by scientific evidence. Yet, some minds still refuse to accept the truth,' he said. 'To confront such denial, reports alone are not enough; rather, we carry the responsibility of changing those minds.'Union minister for culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekawat said the reports were not yet technically well supported or established. 'A lot remains to be done before recognising or accrediting the findings presented by the archaeologist who conducted the survey. Let them come with more results, data and evidence, because a single finding cannot change the entire discourse. We must be cautious, and let archaeologists, historians and technical experts lead this conversation—not politicians.'In response, Thennarasu suggested the central government's reluctance to endorse Keeladi's findings stemmed from treating Tamils as 'second-class citizens'.The Keeladi debate escalated as Stalin accused the AIADMK of staying silent when the Centre downplayed the site's significance, blaming their BJP alliance for the muted response. Former minister R.B. Udhayakumar countered that it was the AIADMK government that sanctioned Rs 55 lakh for the 2018 excavations. Senior AIADMK leader Mafoi Pandiarajan who was in charge of archaeology during the AIADMK reign under Edappadi Palaniswamy hailed the latter as 'Keeladi Nayakar' (hero of Keeladi), crediting him with establishing Tamil antiquity. A senior DMK leader dismissed this, saying, 'Their belated pride in Keeladi rings hollow when they put alliance politics above Tamil identity.'advertisementCPI(M) MP from Madurai S. Venkatesan, who has closely followed the developments around Keeladi, described Ramakrishna's transfer as the latest in a series of administrative hurdles. 'Transferring an official is not in itself a major issue—it is part of administrative procedures,' he said. 'But Amarnath Ramakrishna worked on the Keeladi excavation for eight years, without compromising on the truth. He was removed, reassigned and denied the opportunity to publish his findings. Only after court intervention was he allowed to write the report.'Venkatesan noted that the ASI had assured both the court and Parliament that the report would be published within 11 months, a timeline that was not met. 'Now, at the final stage, they suddenly say more scientific evidence is needed. This, after years of delays and obstructions,' he said. He characterised the actions against Ramakrishna as setting a precedent: 'The message is clear: If you do not align with our views, this is what will be done to you. This is not just about an individual—it's a discriminatory act against Tamil Nadu and against South Indian history itself.'advertisementAt the core of the Keeladi debate lies a methodological question—how evidence is collected, dated and interpreted. Yet, observers point out that the controversy has grown far beyond technicalities. It now reflects deeper concerns about how historical narratives are constructed, whose past is legitimised and how institutions mediate questions of the precise dating of Keeladi's layers and their implications for early South Indian civilisation continue to be subjects of academic scrutiny, there is broad scholarly agreement on the site's significance. 'Keeladi has emerged as one of the most important sites in reconstructing the cultural and urban history of early South India. The findings deserve open debate—not suppression,' notes a senior and political analysts argue that the persistent bureaucratic obstacles, the shelving of a report grounded in scientific evidence and the series of administrative actions against the archaeologist cannot be seen in isolation. They argue this is not about professional differences but more 'an attempt to discipline a regional narrative that challenges the dominant, Sanskritised version of Indian antiquity.'advertisementObservers suggest the implications go beyond archaeology. 'This is about who gets to write India's history,' said a political analyst. 'When the state selectively obstructs certain findings, it sends a message that history must serve ideology. In this case, it seems Tamil Nadu is being punished for asserting a past that does not fit the official narrative.'In this framing, the Keeladi controversy becomes not just an academic dispute but a struggle over memory, identity and power. As the analyst observed, 'The excavation trenches of Keeladi are turning into battlegrounds—not only over potsherds and carbon dates, but over who belongs in the centre of India's civilisational story.'Subscribe to India Today Magazine
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu History Congress urges Centre to immediately release Keeladi reports
The Tamil Nadu History Congress on Wednesday urged the Union government to immediately release reports submitted to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) by archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who headed two phases of excavations in Keeladi in the Sivaganga district. In a statement, S.S. Sundaram, general secretary, Tamil Nadu History Congress, said over two years, Mr. Ramakrishna excavated several artifacts at Keeladi that were scientifically tested in various labs in the U.S. and in India. Results confirmed the existence of an advanced urban Tamil civilisation dating back 2,600 years. Despite this, Mr. Ramakrishna was abruptly transferred to Assam, and a subsequent report in 2017 claimed little archaeological potential remained, recommending closure of the excavation. Then the State Archaeology Department resumed the excavations and unearthed over 5,800 artifacts, including several with Tamil-Brahmi script, he said, adding that the Centre, without any further delay, should release the Keeladi report.
India Today
03-06-2025
- General
- India Today
The age of historical disagreements
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated June 9, 2025)In times when historical controversies can raise enough dust to bury entire civilisations, the ancient Tamil site of Keezhadi has re-emerged as a flashpoint. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has asked the site's lead archaeologist to revise his final report of January 2023—essentially, to locate the site on a much later timeline than the 6th-8th century BC originally suggested by the has sparked fresh allegations of political interference in historical research. 'Post-dating' the site would take away all the excitement from a discovery that had conferred greater civilisational depth to Tamil Nadu, pushing back its Sangam era by three K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, who led the early phases of excavation, has rejected the ASI's demand, stating that he stands by his 982-page report. His conclusions, he says, were based on unimpeachable scientific methods like stratigraphy and accelerator mass spectrometry. The state of the art in radiocarbon dating, the latter method has a precision of 40 years for recent antiquity. A MATTER OF TIMETo be sure, Keezhadi still awaits full scholarly consensus, specifically on whether the prime evidence for antiquity—potsherds with early Tamil inscriptions—are coeval with the carbon-dated charcoal layers. Also, whether its ceramic style accords with ancient Tamil Nadu's pottery chronology. But the ASI's May 2025 letter doesn't just seek corroboration. It calls for 'necessary corrections' and insists the earliest layer not be dated before 300 BC. Ramakrishna isn't the only one who spies a prejudicial edge in the ASI adopting such an approach to 'well-reasoned findings'. For many in the South, it's part of a broader pattern—one where 'science is subordinated to ideology, and archaeological evidence inconvenient to the dominant historical narrative is sidelined'.advertisement Keezhadi offers signs of a literate, urban Tamil civilisation along the Vaigai river dating back over 2,600 years. Nearby sites like Agaram and Konthagai buttress that idea, with some lines of inquiry even suggesting possible evolutionary links of early Tamil-Brahmi to the Indus script. The trouble this runs into, of course, is that it challenges the Centre's Vedic-centred view of antiquity. Hence, the ASI missive is seen by many experts less as pure academic scrutiny, more as a formal curb on the kind of story Keezhadi can tell. If fully unfurled, that narrative can subvert the privileged space conferred on the Vedic/Sanskritic lineage, suggesting a parallel civilisational track in the South—with its own language, script and cultural norms. A putative continuum with Harappa would deepen that as Keezhadi's findings were gaining national and international attention, Ramakrishna was abruptly transferred from Tamil Nadu to Assam in 2017 and ASI-led excavations slowed, later declaring no significant discoveries. In response, the state archaeology department took over Keezhadi work. Over time, that unearthed over 7,500 artefacts that buttressed Ramakrishna's hasn't been enough, it seems, to persuade New Delhi. 'The ASI has never been eager to acknowledge Keezhadi's truths,' says CPI(M) MP and writer S. Venkatesan, who has written extensively on Keezhadi. 'The BJP pushes mythology as history, but it works just as hard to erase our real past. But Tamil antiquity cannot be erased by government order.'BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan counters that the Centre had funded the initial excavation. 'The report was likely returned for administrative reasons, perhaps to avoid future questions,' she says. In response, Venkatesan asks: 'Why did you stop funding? If an excavation yields nothing, you may stop. But Keezhadi yielded everything. You stopped because what was discovered unsettled the very history you have been narrating.'Subscribe to India Today Magazine
