Ram Sethu for dummies
Update: It seems like no scientific archeological study was ever done in the area. How bizarre ?
——————————–
Some people who read my previous article raised some basic questions about the project.
As a person who is deeply familiar with the geography of the Rameswaram island and its surroundings – let me attempt to answer some basic questions. I have provided links for more advanced references.
Q 1. Is the Ram Sethu an underwater bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka ?
Yes. It connects to Sri Lanka at a place called Talaimannar (not Jaffna – Yazhpaanam) The bridge is to the north of the port of Tuticorin. This means large ships between Chennai and Tuticorin (within the same state of TN) have to circumnavigate Sri Lanka. Small ships have no problem, see below.
Q 2. Is the Ram Sethu unbroken ? Is there no gap, say in between where we can dredge ?
No, there is no gap. Remember, you can only dredge in Indian territorial waters.
Q 3. Arent you being crazy, Mr Reality Check ? You say you support the Sethusamudram project, you also say the bridge must not be touched, you also say no natural gaps exist in the bridge. How is it possible ?
First, a geography lesson.
The Indian mainland ends at a place called Mandapam on the rocky waters of the Palk Strait. Proceeding in a south easterly direction over the Palk Strait for 2.5 kilometers you will reach the island of Rameswaram famous for its Ramanathaswamy temple. The 2.5 km Palk Strait is bridged by both rail and road via the Pamban bridge. This bridge already has a span in it that allows limited ships of moderate draft to pass through.
Once inside Rameswaram island you can proceed further in a south easterly direction for about 30 kms over a sandy causeway to a place called Danushkodi. The name Danushkodi refers to Rama’s bow. It was from here that Rama’s army constructed the bridge to Talaimannar according to Hindu faith.
The Ram Sethu bridge starts immediately from the head-end of Danushkodi and until it terminates at the other end in Talaimannar, it is unbroken in its entire stretch for the next 48 kms. There are no natural gaps which can be taken advantage of.
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So, the Ram Sethu is not from India to Talaimannar, but from Danushkodi to Talaimannar. You can build the Sethusamudram canal without touching the Ram Sethu via the Palk Strait route (see blue line in the map above).
There are other very serious objections to the proposed alignment via the Ram Sethu. They range from economics (toll cost of navigating channel vs circumnavigating SL), logistics (international vessels will anyway take a wide sweep around SL on the high seas), tonnage (large vessels such as oil tankers cannot pass), maintenance (shifting sand banks will threaten any canal). The most important being the ecological impact, the millions of cubic metres of dredged sand and broken coral will have to be dumped in Indian territorial waters only. These will seriously threaten the rich fishing industry in that belt.
I lack further expertise in that area, but here is a rich collection of links for further reading.
1. Presentation about the Sethu project in its current form.
2. Geological questions (megalithic portal UK)
3. The most comprehensive and rational articles on the subject.
Update
Some people have complained that this post is too simplistic. That is probably just because it is for “dummies”. The alternate route suggested here may have ecological problems. If you are asking these deeper questions, then I am happy, this post has worked !
[...] That is NASA denying interpretation of a photo as not theirs is proof positive that the interpretation is wrong. And since when have we started admitting assertions or otherwise by a foreign body as evidence in our courts? And ofcourse, Outlook being Outlook, does not fail to take condescending ad hominem potshots at Advani and the saffron brigade. While we are at this, here is a better FAQ. [...]
INI Signal - » How (not) to write FAQ
September 14, 2007 at 11:42 am
Thanks for this informative article.
The Ram Sethu is saved. The government has now totally surrendered!
Jai sri ram
ஜயராமன்
September 14, 2007 at 11:58 am
[...] Check has an interesting FAQ on the entire controversy. Q 1. Is the Ram Sethu an underwater bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka [...]
On Adams Bridge (Ram Setu) Controversy | DesiPundit
September 14, 2007 at 8:28 pm
[...] Posts: Ram Setu for dummies, via Reality Check; On the controversy it has dug up: Jaffna over at the Cynical Nerd’s blog; [...]
The Acorn » Regarding Sethusamudram
September 15, 2007 at 2:41 am
Very informative! It really helped me by providing an objective ,factual perspective in a brief manner. Thanks again.
dodo
September 15, 2007 at 8:48 am
[...] Reality Check has an interesting FAQ on the entire controversy. [...]
Rama Setu: bombing Ramayana and asking for s’aranaagati « Hinducivilization
September 15, 2007 at 1:35 pm
[...] by religion. The debate on sethusamudram is by no means settled. As Reality Check points out in this informative post, there are serious concerns–both about its economic viability as well as its effect on the [...]
Retributions » The Absurdiy That is India
September 15, 2007 at 5:07 pm
[...] they read RealityCheck? In a major development, the Centre on Friday informed the Supreme Court that it would consider [...]
INI Signal - » A new direction for Sethusamudram
September 16, 2007 at 12:59 pm
The dredging of the canal will continue. It is for India’s best. It will help India, especially south India, improve its economic strength in relationship to the entire world. It is unfortunate that the Archaelogical Society produced a paper that caused so much rioting and mishap.
indian
September 16, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Very informative! Please keep posting.
ranjeet rain
September 17, 2007 at 2:51 pm
RC,
You have been called Hindu Fundamentalist on a well known liberal blog.
Welcome to the club!
Barbarindian
September 17, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Barb,
Which one ?
realitycheck
September 18, 2007 at 3:42 am
Barb, I found it !
In short ,
Where science and statistics rule – we want life stories instead.
Where life stories rule – we want science
I am waiting for a blog post exposing how It would be scientifically impossible for a monkey carrying a mountain to generate enough lift to become airborne.
This is the stuff 5th standard kids are made of. I believe the blogosphere has moved beyond that.
realitycheck
September 18, 2007 at 4:00 am
Dear RC,
Welcome to the Dark Side
. Now feel divine love of Jagadguru.
Gaurav
September 18, 2007 at 7:43 am
ram setu should be saved this is the question of faith. but unfortunatly the political party who came in power owing the name of ram, that made the project to break the ram setu is shameful.
shashank
September 18, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Shashank,
There were several alternate alignments being considered by the NDA.
This is the one that cuts right through the Ram Sethu.
Debate the project scientifically by all means. Do not debate Ram, the characters in the Ramayana, or the events in the text.
We Indians need to think big,
Why not cut right through the mainland using a system of locks behind the Mandapam peninsula ?
Why not cut through Danushkodi causeway behind the Ram Sethu ? Then we can build a bridge over the cut to reconnect the lost township of Danushkodi.
realitycheck
September 18, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I think it is well known in DMK circles that insiders close to Karunanidhi and TR Baalu stand to benefit from dredging contracts. Maybe money has already exchanged hands, hence the unseemly haste. Of course it also gives that man a chance to poke fun at Hindu mythology. Why do they take votes from Hindus if they dislike them so much? He has now circulated an ordinance providing exclusive reservation for Muslims and Christians. While the likes of Dr. Bruno would be thrilled, this has upset some communities like the Thevars and Gounders, who are now planning a state-wide agitation. They have suggested he can deduct the 7% from the MBC quota since the Vaniars anyway dominate that sub-quota. I think DMK may face a lot of problem in the future because of the legacy of divisiveness and corruption by this man. Here is the link:
http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID={C0F9FB51-2BC0-47B5-B45B-DEC8FA08E0D6}&CATEGORYNAME=TAMNA
BCs to challenge the ordinance
Search for More News
Coimbatore, Sept 18: The Kongu Velala Goundergal Peravai (an association of Backward Community) today said it would challenge the Government ordinance providing reservation for Muslims and Christians, in the appropriate court.
The ordinance is taking away seven per cent from the 30 per cent already reserved for Backward Community, which formed 60 per cent of the population of Tamil Nadu, Kongu M Loganathan, the district secretary of the association told reporters here.
Accusing DMK and its Chief Minister M Karunanidhi of reducing the percentage of reservation to BCs whenever it was in power, he said the 50 per cent reservation enjoyed by BCs were brought to down 30 per cent, by giving 20 per cent to Mos Backward Community (MBC).
Since the BCs, with 141 different communities, would be entitled only for 23 per cent, the Government could take the seven per cent from the 20 per cent reserved for MBC, which wa dominated by Vanniyars, he said.
The association would also discuss the issue with the representatives of all other BCs to chalk out a strategy, including a State-wide agitation against the ordinance, which deprived the BCs their benefits and rights, Loganathan said.
It was not understood on what basis the reservation was provided, since there was no exact data of the population including the Muslms and Christians in the State, as recommend ed by Justice Janarthanam Commission, he said. (Agencies)
Observer
September 19, 2007 at 2:12 am
When it comes to religious figures like Mohammed and Jesus, there is some proof they lived. Hinduism being much more ancient may not have much proof beyond some allegories contained in the mythological texts. But the lack of archaeological evidence does not mean such a person never existed. After all, Dwaraka was also supposed to be a myth until archaeological evidence was unearthed.
However, it is really beside the point to question the details of how Allah appeared to Mohammed in his visions, and the nature of those hallucinations, and whether the stone at the Kaabah was really blessed by him based on collecting his DNA evidence. Nor can we delve too deep into how the “virgin” Mary got pregnant and gave birth to Jesus, or how the Red Sea was parted by the patriarch of the Jews, or whether a place called Eden existed and a couple called Adam and Eve really ate an apple provided by a snake etc. I think the spiritual figures or mythological figures serve as vehicles to reinforce a set of principles and beliefs that appeal to a group of people, and performing a scientific analysis misses the point there.
Observer
September 19, 2007 at 2:28 am
Observer,
The constitutional issues with the new 7% reservation are mind boggling. The CM openly said that this was a “poll promise” which was being fulfilled. This is exactly what the lawyers are arguing in the supreme court (that quotas work on a quid-pro-quo basis in exchange for votes).
It is inconcievable that Christians are educationally backward, being in control of educational institutions at all levels.
As far as muslims are concerned, the Sachar report itself has claimed that this community has a much higher literacy rate than the state average and upto 20% higher than the SCs.
So where is the basis for this ? Socially, these two communities do not have castes (or so they claim with respect to Hinduism).
Data is not just for benefits, but more importantly a way to distribute those benefits.
Prudent men will anticipate the destructive nature of these divisive policies and act now.
realitycheck
September 19, 2007 at 8:08 am
Check this site, it’s pretty comprehensive on this issue.
Bridge of Ram
Kumar
September 19, 2007 at 2:33 pm
[...] I read through the numerous posts written on this issue, I am stuck mostly by the comments that follow – case in point the latest at the Desi [...]
Random Thoughts » Setus, Ramas and general religious nuttiness
September 20, 2007 at 11:00 pm
This sort of “natural mounts connecting an island with the near by land” can be seen in many places around the world… Little wonder who built them .. For a start, see Australia and Papua New Guinea
Few questions
1. Did The same Rama built the under water bridges all over the world (at least 55 are there is the same images published by NASA)
2. Why is that no one made any noise before this project started
3. Armies of Rama defeated Armies of Ravana. Can you ask Srilanka to be a part of India Today as they were defeated by us
Ashwametha yaga's horse
September 21, 2007 at 6:27 am
It is a matter of faith. Hindus have faith in this natural mound and not the mound in Papua New Guinea. This is the same way that hindus revere Manasarovar and not the Se La lake. Revere Mt Kailash, but not Mt Everest, even though Mt Everest can kick Mt Kailash’s butt to the atheist. Lets leave it at that.
I have little doubt that this project can only happen if the Hindu majority can be taken into confidence. You cannot bad mouth their beliefs and use foul language. Even a legitimate project will acquire a sinister image in that environment.
realitycheck
September 21, 2007 at 6:40 am
Add to the previous -
This is the same as ordinary Tamils (non party workers) of all castes who revere the Kartigai deepam in Tiruvannamalai but dont revere the halogen lamp on the Chennai street corner.
realitycheck
September 21, 2007 at 7:12 am
So, you do accept that this is a natural mount. That is sensible. Great.
Questions are still unanswered
More questions
Was this spot worshipped before this controversy ??
How many pujas were so far conducted in this bridge
no one is trying to damage the shore temples of mahabalipuram or the caves paintings of sithanavasal which are different. This is a “mounts of sand” which was never cared till date
there was no issue about this till date. the only concern was environment. but suddenly to prevent economic development of tamil nadu and to help srilanka this issue about the “natural mound” has been raked up
Ashwametha yaga's horse
September 21, 2007 at 7:49 am
I heard that it is given that Rama wanted the bridge to be destroyed after the lanka battle so that lanka is free from intrusion
why are certain devotees of rama against his wish
Ashwametha yaga's horse
September 21, 2007 at 3:03 pm
a simple question and a conclusion
Hanuman blew up in size to bring an entire mountain because he didn the exact herb on that mountain.
then he flew to himalay from sri lanka and back.
Question:
couldnt he blow up in size and take ram and his army , so there would have been no need to build the setu at all
Conclusion:
the ramayan may be true , but not all that is wrtten is true. many things are exaggerated over the centuries.
constructing the bandra worli seaface has taken more than 3 years. how can the setu have been built in 5 days?? this is something even retards will understand, but not some humans
phreak
September 21, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Phreak,
Your scientific acumen is astounding.
Gaurav
September 21, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Science can only been able to unravel less than 1% of world’s mysteries. To this the brightest scientists agree. Belief and that too in these Mega numbers has to be given weight. Its not just about the Ram Sethu, its the way in which Hindus are treated in their own motherland that is appalling. For instance, look at the recent affidavit submitted to the supreme court by the GOI. Such insensitive rubbish. This has been followed by outright outrageous blasphemy. No one can tolerate such insult except for Indians.
Gapal Das
September 21, 2007 at 7:24 pm
thank you gaurav, atleast you understand. but Mr.taunt, can we have our comments so we can taunt u
phreak
September 22, 2007 at 6:01 am
on September 21st, 2007 on 3:20 pm
a simple question and a conclusion
Hanuman blew up in size to bring an entire mountain because he didn the exact herb on that mountain.
then he flew to himalay from sri lanka and back.
Question:
couldnt he blow up in size and take ram and his army , so there would have been no need to build the setu at all
Conclusion:
the ramayan may be true , but not all that is wrtten is true. many things are exaggerated over the centuries.
constructing the bandra worli seaface has taken more than 3 years. how can the setu have been built in 5 days?? this is something even retards will understand, but not some humans
I believe we are at a stage where the population is transitioning between a state of knowing about what is possible and impossible in the real world, and a set of beliefs they had inherited at one time when things were not easily understood. I believe the above argumentative approach has value, but the approach is poor nonetheless. It provides an opening to other mud-slinging claims like why did Mary have to be a virgin, how can a man part 3 billion gallons of water with one hand assuming the gravitational acceleration was still 9.81 m/s^2 4000 years ago, did Mohammed use a particle beam to ascend from the Al-Aqsa mosque to heaven? Why did he not ask Allah to provide a space-plane to take a more comfortable journey? Where is heaven located, and why has the Hubble telescope not been able to find it? Why do we have mosques if Allah is everywhere?
One cannot argue that rationalists have really produced astounding advances in science even 60 years after independence, or 80 years of “rationalist” paradise. It is a purely reactionary mechanism to justify ethno-linguistic identity. Such movements are necessarily bound to be hollow. The crux of the argument is that as a secular government, a government institution must apply the same principles to all matters of faith. I believe it is thins singling out of the the application of rationality to a particular religion, and not others which is leading to all this turmoil.
Observer
September 22, 2007 at 2:31 pm
>> The crux of the argument is that as a secular government, a government institution must apply the same principles to all matters of faith. >>
Well said.
In the west esp USA, it is okay to “think racist” but it is not okay to “act racist”.
This is what is happening today in India.
You can think “aryan invasion, ie racist”, but you cant act on it. This may sound like hyperbole, but in reality people of Tamilnadu are classified based on this theory, is it not ?
There is a lot of churning happening due to increased nervousness about the various cases related to the political “magic wand”. Some media channels are going overboard in questioning the contempt laws.
My prediction is that “contempt of court” will be the number one issue in the media in the next 3-6 months. Simply put, we have never tested what happens if an elected body asks the SC to take a hike. Trouble for the chief secretary ? Dismissal of government ? What if the government is friendly or critical to a coalition ? Sending in central forces ?
Very sad state of affairs due to the uncontrolled brazenness of a few.
realitycheck
September 22, 2007 at 4:05 pm
reality check- your analysis does provide an alternate solution but I dont believe it can be implemented.
It will be difficult for large vessels to navigate through a narrow Palk Strait route. Moreover the objective of saving time cannot be met as the speeds have to be considerably reduced.
Also, I really dont see the economical benefit of having this canal. The ships do not gain a ’significant’ amount of time. The area also has high LTTE activity. Ships wouldnt want to sail through an insecure route.
Pranam
September 23, 2007 at 7:59 am
Pranam,
It is 2.5 kms wide, we only need 300m for a canal. There are however ecological objections to going close to the mainland. The purpose of this post was to illustrate the geography of that region. Let experts figure out a solution. (How about running right though the Danushkodi causeway ?)
Navigation is not going to be easy even with the proposed alignment 6. You need pilot boats or tug boats for the entire stretch.
The LTTE should not be a factor in our national decision. It would be a very high risk route for them to take. There is not much evidence of TN ports of Chennai / Tuticorin helping the LTTE with logistics. Most of their shipping interests are eastbound (towards Burma, Thailand). The SL navy has a strong presence south of the proposed canal.
I dont understand why S.Swamy is raising the LTTE issue. It just helps to build a negative sentiment among the Tamils (of SL).
realitycheck
September 23, 2007 at 8:21 am
With so many changes taking place in terms of balance of power in the world (China’s might, re-emergence of Russia…… etcetera), it would be very prudent to keep India’s security concerns topmost on the list. If Ram Sethu is blasted, we will be bound to allow international traffic to pass through just as in Panama Canal or Suez Canal. I am not a military expert, but it is worth considering the ramifications of opening these waters for international navigation.
Adityan
September 23, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Also, I really dont see the economical benefit of having this canal. The ships do not gain a ’significant’ amount of time. The area also has high LTTE activity. Ships wouldnt want to sail through an insecure route.
I think you are missing the point. Economical benefits are definitely there, namely the dredging companies who have committed money to DMK ministers bank accounts, a cut of which is taken by Karu as a tithe being the head law-breaker..errr….I mean the head lawmaker.
Also, it would provide great cover for the LTTE to be able to smuggle arms and other goods amidst the increased traffic. It should be noted all the so-called Tamil “nationalist” parties who are aligned with the LTTE are in favor of this project. Now of course, this issue has assumed an air of Tamil identity versus Aryan/North Indian God identity. I wonder if the same Tamil parties would be so brazen if the bridge had instead been a “Murugan Sethu” bridge?
Observer
September 23, 2007 at 5:52 pm
What may be a useful guide:
http://suvratk.blogspot.com/2007/09/ram-sethu-dummies-guide.html
Informative. Covers only the science behind the issue, does not get into the politics. I am unaware of this blogger’s politics.
found in the comment thread on the proses_anonymitus blog, placed by Krish. Thanks.
regards,
Jai
Jai_Choorakkot
September 24, 2007 at 9:15 am
well. Ram sethu project will charge about 5000 us$ for a ship to pass through. if i were a shipping merchant, i prefer staying away from a such an expensive passage and go round lanka happily at lower cost to me. and i will also avoid nosy indian staff at the stuff i am carrying. and i will also stay away from LTTE pirates as much as possible. i would want to be caught in a cross fire between indian navy and the LTTE.
ah ah ah ah . let Sonia baby enjoy the dolors pilfered from the project and dole out some few bucks to that old man in madras who likes to lick her boot.
pook
September 25, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Jai,
I read his article. His article is along the lines of what you would expect from a Geologist. Assuming his post is backed by field work, parts of his post would be one of the inputs to the project. Obviously, we cannot place much value on points 9, 10 (about Ramayan). Another input would be from marine biologists. However, the prime input is archeology.
What ever the geology, it is still possible (the author admits) that there could have been some un-natural placement of rocks. Now, this can only be discoved by a full archeological expedition.
I think all scientists are going to remain really silent on this one. There seems to have been no study of the area at all. This betrays a hidden agenda of the scientific community, to needle the religious feelings.
This is soo freakishly unscientific. It is like observing a result without conducting an experiment.
realitycheck
September 25, 2007 at 3:18 pm
>> thread on the proses_anonymitus blog, placed by Krish >>
Lol, did he try to get them to remove a link to my post ?
realitycheck
September 25, 2007 at 3:22 pm
i have been banned
phreak
September 25, 2007 at 5:48 pm
i am not able to post my reply
phreak
September 25, 2007 at 5:50 pm
observer said
“I believe it is this singling out of the the application of rationality to a particular religion, and not others which is leading to all this turmoil.”
the context of the argument is ramayan, hence the particular example given by me. ofcourse the other examples given by you are hilarious. rationality does not apply to a particular religion, i was just talking in the context of the argument, i did not want to deviate from the context.
mud slinging is what our politicians are displaying ( karunanidhi v/s vedanti). i nver indulged in mud slinging as you have suggested.i just pointed out a fictional description of an event described in the ramayan. i wont hesitate to comment on other religions , but the context should arise.
then u said
“One cannot argue that rationalists have really produced astounding advances in science even 60 years after independence, or 80 years of “rationalist” paradise. It is a purely reactionary mechanism to justify ethno-linguistic identity. Such movements are necessarily bound to be hollow.”
please visit this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalist_movement
now if you say albert einstein, voltaire, galeilio, charles darwin, benjamin franklin …… have not produced astounding advances in science , then maybe you consider the contributions of sadhus, mullas or priests as the basis of all science.
what made you ask this question in the first place? infact, i ask you the same question, what have non rationalists contributed to science?
and if you are talking of the rationalists of india, then it is obvious that the non rationalists are so many in number and the rationalists so few, that the contributions of rationalists are not so visible.
see, we need more rationalist people, contrary to your argument.
you said
“he crux of the argument is that as a secular government, a government institution must apply the same principles to all matters of faith.”
i agree with you on this sole issue. but the government has to think rationally for that, dont you agree?
shantanu
September 25, 2007 at 5:50 pm
i posted from a different username and id(i am phreak)
shantanu
September 25, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Disappointed again. I visited the geologist link. It started with great fanfare. What a bummer. Well, tell us something we don’t know. Yeah, there are lots of rocks out there.
What does science have to do with rationalism? Why does even the principle of rationality apply here?
Remember that science believes in Darwin.
Barbarindian
September 26, 2007 at 1:55 am
Well, we have come a long way in terms of science and technology and have deduced many aspects with scientific and rational thinking.
Can anyone tell me that we have the knowledge of everything that has happened, happening and would happen ?
The Answer is no……..
We should realise that Our knowledge is like a lamp in the forest….. whose light spreads only upto a certain boundary. We don’t know what is beyond. We don’t know what is hidden in the forest.
Nag
September 26, 2007 at 12:47 pm
What nonsense dude? You give an alignment idea which has existed for a hundred years and claim credit for it? How can the Palk Strait be dredged so close to the Tamilnadu coast causing enormous damage to the coral reefs and the fishing communities?
Your (no its not yours!) alignment will eliminate the Gulf of Mannar National Marine reserve completely. Get back to your senses dude. People who conceived the Setu Project aren’t that stupid.
Balaji
September 26, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Balaji,
I dont claim credit for anything.
Read the post completely till the last paragraph.It might do wonders for your comprehension skills.
realitycheck
September 27, 2007 at 3:42 am
i am waiting for your comments Mr.observer.
shantanu
September 28, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Not Sure who the Author is……..
A BRIDGE TOO FAR
The Lord surveyed the Ram Setu and said “Hanuman, how diligently and strenuously you and your vanara sena had built this bridge several centuries back. It is remarkable that it has withstood the ravages of the climatic and geographical changes over centuries. It is indeed an amazing feat especially considering the fact that a bridge at Hyderabad built by Gammon using latest technology collapsed the other day even before they could stick the posters on its pillars.”
Hanuman with all humility spoke “Jai Sri Ram, it is all because of your grace. We just scribbled your name on the bricks and threw them in the sea and they held. No steel from TISCO or cement from Ambuja or ACC was ever used. But Lord, why rake up the old issue now.”
Ram spoke “Well, Hanuman some people down there want to demolish the bridge and construct a canal. The contract involves lot of money and lot of money will be made. They will make money on demolition and make more money on construction. ”
Hanuman humbly bowed down and said “Why not we go down and present our case”
Ram said “Times have changed since we were down there. They will ask us to submit age proof and we don’t have either a birth certificate or school leaving certificate. We traveled mainly on foot and some times in bullock carts and so we don’t have a driving license either. As far as the address proof is concerned the fact that I was born at Ayodhya is itself under litigation for over half a century, If I go in a traditional attire with bow and arrow, the ordinary folks may recognize me but Arjun Singh may take me to be some tribal and, at the most, offer a seat at IIT under the reserved category. Also, a God cannot walk in dressed in a three-piece suit and announce his arrival. It would make even the devotees suspicious. So it is dilemma so to say.”
“I can vouch for you by saying that I personally built the bridge.”
“My dear, Anjani putra, it will not work. They will ask you to produce the lay-out plan, the project details, including financial outlay and how the project cost was met and the completion certificate. Nothing is accepted without documentary evidence in India. You may cough but unless a doctor certifies it, you have no cough. A pensioner may present himself personally but the authorities do not take it as proof. He has to produce a life-certificate to prove that he is alive. It is that complicated.”
“Lord can’t understand these historians. Over the years you have given darshan once every hundred years to saints like Surdas, Tulsidas, Saint Thyagaraja, Jayadeva, Bhadrachala Ramdas and even Sant Tukaram and still they disbelieve your existence and say Ramayana is a myth. The only option, I see, is to re-enact Ramayana on earth and set the government records straight once for all.”
Lord smiled “It isn’t that easy today. Ravan is apprehensive that he may look like a saint in front of Karunanidhi. I also spoke to his mama Mareecha, who appeared as a golden deer to tempt Sita maiyya when I was in the forest and he said that he won’t take a chance of stepping on earth as long as Salman Khan is around.”
harish
September 29, 2007 at 4:00 am
wow what a hilarious post.
but i hope it was just a joke.
shantanu
September 29, 2007 at 3:24 pm
[...] مدونة Reality check India عرضاً لأهم المعطيات حول راما سيتو و الشهادة الخطية [...]
Global Voices بالعربية » الأرشيف » من الهند: حول جسر آدم, البنية التحتية, الحكومة و الدين
September 29, 2007 at 9:42 pm
[...] Before we delve into a detailed analysis, I would suggest a reading of Ram Sethu for dummies. [...]
Brutal Sinners Eyeing on Archaelogical Monuments with Envy « Views and Reviews
October 1, 2007 at 5:26 am
There is ramsetu which is true but it is todays need to create ram setu between india & shrilanka..so we support to indain govt to built ram setu..it is todays need to inmrove our contary
Prashant
October 1, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Want to start your private office arms race right now?
I just got my own USB rocket launcher
Awsome thing.
Plug into your computer and you got a remote controlled office missile launcher with 360 degrees horizontal and 45 degree vertival rotation with a range of more than 6 meters – which gives you a coverage of 113 square meters round your workplace.
You can get the gadget here: http://tinyurl.com/2qul3c
Check out the video they have on the page.
Cheers
Marko Fando
markofando
October 2, 2007 at 3:07 am
As shown in the picture we can make way for the ships.We can build the Sethusamudram canal without touching the Ram Sethu via the Palk Strait route as shown in blue line.
Vinod
October 4, 2007 at 8:12 am
This is very good inforrmation about Ram Sethu.
As shown in the picture there is way for the ships.Sethusamudram canal can be built without touching the Ram Sethu via the Palk Strait route as shown in blue line.
I don’t understand why the Govt is not willing to go from this route.
basavaraj artal
October 6, 2007 at 6:52 am
Basavaraj,
That route may have ecological problems. There are other routes possible such as cutting through the causeway before the Sethu starts.
If you are asking these questions, then this post has worked.. You now understand the geography of that region to ask such intelligent questions.
realitycheck
October 6, 2007 at 8:40 am
hey guys,
Stop your non sense discussions about sethu samuthram project.
Never say ram sethu or nala sethu bridge it is just sethu samuthram shols
Get down from himalayas see the thamizhans…
We will construct sethu samudram canal project breakng the shoals…
Shout whatever you want.
If a single tamizhan gets goodness from it we will do it
Since many number of tamizhans are going to get goodness we will contruct sedu canal in the specified path
YOu guys have shouted for 80 yrs preventing the canal project completion
Puratchi Thamizhan
October 19, 2007 at 1:25 pm
cool, i like your thinking
while this is still a hot topic
i plan on writing an article about it
and this has given me interesting arguments and good points
cool
yasaswi
October 21, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I strongly beleive that Lord Ram built this bridge..
Beyond everything ..the govt is trying to break the canal with giant machines which are broken..so far 3 were broken and not able to do it..they are sunk into the sea now..stop breaking the divine bridge… It helps for the ships to less travel by only 2 hours..which is not the ideal reason to play with Hindu beleifs…
Jai Sri Ram…
bala
November 27, 2007 at 7:32 pm
[...] Confused published in Desipundit [8]) like that of The Great Bong [9], Jaafna [10], Parseval [11], Reality Check [12], Suvrat Kher [13] all of whom, using the results of the experiments conducted recently and [...]
Philosophia Inconsequentia » On the Expected Effects of Imbibing the Scientific and the Political Spirit in India
December 13, 2007 at 9:01 am
Sethusamudram, a project to create alternative shorter route for ships to cross the Gulf of Mannar, is a wonderful idea — one which is more than 150 years old. The channel, originally an idea of a British commander named A D Taylor was put forth in 1860. In 1955, the Government of India set up the Sethusamudram project committee to look into the feasibility of the project and five routes were discussed till 2001 but nothing happened. The National Democratic Alliance government sanctioned a few crore rupees to study the project but before a final decision on the route could be taken, the government lost power.
That is the memory so beautifully adopted by the Geological Survey of India in its logo, which describes India in this line etched at the bottom of its insignia — Aasetu Himachal, meaning India is spread between the Bridge and the Himalayas. That is the Ram Setu Bridge on the southern tip of our motherland, an identity of the nation, under destruction now.
Now when the media and political leaders are busy with the Uttar Pradesh election and exit polls, the Sethusamudram dredgers are busy destroying a great world heritage site India has.
contact-us;—amitprem_delhi@yahoo.com
Amit:————————————————-JAI SRI RAM
Amit
December 26, 2007 at 2:09 pm
[...] Confused published in Desipundit [8]) like that of The Great Bong [9], Jaafna [10], Parseval [11], Reality Check [12], Suvrat Kher [13] all of whom, using the results of the experiments conducted recently and [...]
Unruled Notebook » Blog Archive » On the Expected Effects of Imbibing the Scientific and the Political Spirit in India
February 5, 2008 at 12:31 pm
This is really a good approach to make people aware. As most of Hindu never know about this real evidence of Baghvan Rama existence. So far Ram Setu was a mythical identity. Really appreciate you to make it alive for Hindu community.
JAI SHRI RAM
Rajeev Sharma
April 16, 2008 at 4:44 am
[...] Confused published in Desipundit [8]) like that of The Great Bong [9], Jaafna [10], Parseval [11], Reality Check [12], Suvrat Kher [13] all of whom, using the results of the experiments conducted recently and [...]
Nonoscience » On the Expected Effects of Imbibing the Scientific and the Political Spirit in India
April 18, 2008 at 8:17 pm
[...] 3. Ram sethu for Dummies [...]
chennai Television » Blog Archive » The Ram’s divide
May 7, 2008 at 1:28 pm
My question is what all these BJP leaders were doing when Vajpaie government approved this route and plan. Realy if they are concerned of Ram bridge why any objection were not raised when there were sitting as decision makers.
It’s all political gimmicks as Babar masjid which was forgotten completely during their rule and till now.
Now election in nearing , we can hear Babri masji , Ram sethu bridge …etc. from this BJP leaders .
Naren
August 14, 2008 at 11:35 am
[...] Confused published in Desipundit [8]) like that of The Great Bong [9], Jaafna [10], Parseval [11], Reality Check [12], Suvrat Kher [13] all of whom, using the results of the experiments conducted recently and [...]
Nonoscience / On the Expected Effects of Imbibing the Scientific and the Political Spirit in India
August 14, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Where is Palk Strait and Manar strait?
longhinos
September 16, 2008 at 3:56 pm
[...] Confused published in Desipundit [8]) like that of The Great Bong [9], Jaafna [10], Parseval [11], Reality Check [12], Suvrat Kher [13] all of whom, using the results of the experiments conducted recently and [...]
On the Expected Effects of Imbibing the Scientific and the Political Spirit in India « Unruled Notebook
April 26, 2009 at 11:23 am
Nice Post for dummies on Rama-Sethu. Being a liberal observer, I dont understand why you get bashed from my kin. It doesn’t matter whether you are religious (or not), Hindu (or Not) a believer (or not). We stand to loose every bit by demolishing RamaSethu.
Destroy Rama Sethu and you loose
1. Coral Reef Biolife
2. Protection of West/Southern Coast from Eastern Tsunamis (and Vice Versa, by definition)
3. Protection of Mineral Wealth along Coastal land.
4. Protection of India as a whole.
What’s to prevent another 12/26 Mumbai Style attack using our own constructed channel on Rama Sethu.
Liberal Observer
September 28, 2009 at 1:46 am
And may I also suggest a book on Rama Sethu by Dr Subramanian Swamy. It retails for less than 10 bucks. The book has an excellent coverage of historical, economical, ecological views on Rama Sethu. If Dr Swamy’s numbers are right, the politicians behind this are taking Indians (aam Admi) for a ride.
Liberal Observer
September 28, 2009 at 2:02 am