This interview was taken by G.P. Srinivasan, an ISO 14001 lead auditor for environmental management systems, (EARA)along with Col. S.S. Rajan, retired as Additional Chief Engineer in the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army.
Dr S.R. Rao is the foremost marine archaeologist, and former Scientist emeritus, President- Society for Marine Archaeology in Indiawho discovered the submerged city of Dwarka of Sri Krishna, off the coast of Kutch, in Gujarat, which is considered to be the greatest archaeological find in the whole world, that an entire lost city of Sri.Krishna was discovered in independent India.
Dr. S.R Rao had represented India for three terms, of three years each, to the UNESCO convention to protect underwater cultural heritage. India has the longest coastline of 7500 km with the richest underwater cultural and archaeological repository including perhaps one of the greatest find, an entire city submerged that he himself discovered off the coast of Kutch. According to Dr S.R. Rao, SSCP has violated all international norms and conventions for saving underwater cultural heritage, a mandatory for every maritime member to “list, preserve and protect all underwater cultural sites.” Excerpts:
Why we must Save Rama Sethu?
Q: Why we must save Rama Sethu ?
"Submerged sites and towns as well as ship-wrecks constitute a very important cultural heritage of mankind; which the UNESCO wants the states to explore, list and protect them under a UN convention approved by the U.N. the ICOMOS international committee on underwater cultural heritage (ICUCH) consisting of “Underwater Cultural Heritage”.
"Ram Sethu is protecting South Tamil Nadu, during Tsunamis. It is important to save it. Large parts of South Tamilnadu, Tiruchendur & Tuticorin were not affected because of Rama Sethu which has acted as flood barrier"Q: How did you discover the city of Sri Krishna?
There was a modern building that was obstructing an ancient temple. It was then we decided to demolish the modern building. Underneath we found an ancient temple which led to subterranean steps that led to steps covered with mud. When we got them cleaned up, they led to passage that led to the seacoast and a port, which when probed led to the greatest discovery in the archaeological history—the discovery of submerged Dwarka city. On one side of the city was four kilometers long wall with a complete port and storage area, warehouse, and weighing stones that are completely intact for holding the ships from drifting away. Q: Are there any international conventions to save underwater heritage? I represented India and drafted the UNESCO charter in the convention for saving the underwater heritage. When I last checked, only six nations had signed the treaty. India as a responsible member of UNESCO must sign this convention as we have the richest reserves in marine archaeology and signing the convention will help get international funds allocated to “list, preserve and protect underwater cultural heritage”. As a responsible member of the United Nations India must sign the UNESCO charter for preservation of our underwater heritage and India should not shy away in this regard. Q: Can you explain the full details of the convention that you chaired?
Yes. I have the journal of marine archaeology volume 7 and 8 pages 66 and 68 published in 1988 which state among other things definition of underwater heritage, list them and describe ways and means to preserve and protect them. The rate of erosion by violent sea is so aggressive that when we excavated in Poompuhar we found brick walls of ancient city mentioned in Tamil literature. Q: What caused the destruction of the city?
Right from Ennore near Chennai if you travel down south, Mahabalipuram, Tarangambadi to Poompuhar, this belt has been historically known for violent seas, cyclones and sea erosion. We have experienced one of the most violent seas. A temple can be found taken away by the sea in Ennore.A Shiva temple can be found submerged at Tarangambadi. The rate of erosion is not what it was even 8 to 10 years ago, it is very rapid. Off the coast of Poompuhar four km into the sea the entire city mentioned in Silapadigaram was located and also a long brick wall of the port mentioned in the Tamil classic. I myself have been diving for over 15 years in the underwater expeditions off the coast of Gujarat, Poompuhar and Mahabalipuram. The Kannagi statue installed on the seacoast had to be shifted 10 meters by the government to save it from sea erosion some years ago. If this being the case it is Ram Sethu that is acting as natural barrier now saving the southern Tamil Nadu from violent seas. If this is damaged all hell will break loose. Poompuhar was a very important port and was very extensive of Sangam period but got submerged. What about Ramayana which was even earlier and several thousands of years older? It is absolutely certain that it is historical and of mythological importance. The sea in the western coast of India is not that violent but the eastern coast has been facing one of the most violent seas as we have encountered in our underwater expeditions. Hence this region contains the richest archaeological heritages of the world. Some researchers say there are so many such sites—as much as 20,000 in the world—and what is the definition of a underwater site?
The definition of the underwater cultural heritage should cover objects of archaeological interest. It should also cover sites and landscapes which are of great importance for understanding of our history. If the site of the naval battle of Salam’s (BC 480) and a recent 100-year-old Titanic (sunken luxury liner) could be mentioned as landscape sites then the protection should not only be guided by archaeological and historical interest but also by the need to preserve information about a site even if nothing is recovered from it. The chairman of the international convention stressed on the need to protect sites of mythological significance to traditional communities as non-human heritage. Everything dating back from before the 20th century should be protected. It was also observed that there is no such thing as a time limit to archaeology. About the committee formed, is it not the political abuse of history, an appointment of this committee of eminent persons? Yes indeed. The committee did not have any members from NIOT, which is the most competent to carry out the research, and has the equipment, technology and money and expertise and certainly not the ASI, which is ill-equipped for such mammoth mission. TOR Steel Foundation, a Bangalore-based company, had come forward to construct coffer dams to save Dwarka from further submergence. They could also be involved in the committee formed. What are the guiding principles for listing, preserving and protection? Two basic principles: The indivisibility of cultural heritage and the significance of it for humanity.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
PROTECTION OF RAM SETHU AS UNDERWATER CULTURAL HERITAGE
Statement by S.R.Rao, President, society for marine archaeology
Submerged sites and towns as well as ship-wrecks constitute a very important cultural heritage of mankind; which the UNESCO wants the states to explore, list and protect them under a UN convention approved by the U.N. the ICOMOS international committee on underwater cultural heritage (ICUCH) consisting of “Underwater Cultural Heritage”. The ILA’s
Definition on underwater Cultural Heritage includes all underwater traces of human existence, which are of historical or cultural importance including sites, buildings, shipwrecks, together with their archaeological and natural context. The Ram Sethu comes under this category. It is refereed to in the Epic Ramayana and in the Puranas. At the site known as Ram Sethu, the natural rock and the ‘piles of stone’ laid on it have been submerged with the rise in sea level over 5000 years or more. This rise of sea level was not confined to Dvaraka of Mahabharata period in saurashtra. The underwater exploration by Marine Archeology centre (MAC) in NIO Goa along west coast has revealed that the prehistoric ports of Somnath and Prabhas were also submerged as is evident from the submerged channel waylaid for bringing ships and the presence of anchors and mooring stones in it.In the Elephanta Island , the early historic brick structures of 1st century B.C to 3rd century A.D. have been submerged. The Buddhist period port of sopora is also submerged. On the east coast of India, traces of poompuhar port town have been found in the sea as well as intertidal zone. The rock of Ram Sethu must have been in the intertidal zone and stones must have been piled up to enable the army to cross the sea easily. Over thousands of years small size stone blocks of bridges must have been transported by waves and currents. The frequent textual references to Ram Sethu are not to be dismissed as myths. (Mr.R.Subbarayalu has compiled two millennium old references found in Tamil literature in a 200 page book ‘Sethu Bandhanam’). Even the submergence of Dvaraka was considered a myth until the buildings were discovered. The national institute of Oceanography in cooperation with ASI should be asked to undertake the survey listing and protection of important underwater sites and shipwrecks. This works must be undertaken by the Government of India and State Governments as laid down in UN Convention on Protection of Underwater cultural heritage. Ram Sethu must not be damaged but saved and protected.
The MAC had initiated certain steps for survey and listing of underwater cultural Heritage of India and even published a tentative map showing shipwrecks sites and submerged parts. Before further damage is done by nature and men to this vast underwater heritage of India, immediate survey listing of Sites with a brief note on each wreck or site should be done , giving highest priority to Ram Sethu.
Sd/-
S.R.Rao,
Former Scientist emeritus
President- Society for Marine Archaeology in India
Statement by S.R.Rao, President, society for marine archaeology
Submerged sites and towns as well as ship-wrecks constitute a very important cultural heritage of mankind; which the UNESCO wants the states to explore, list and protect them under a UN convention approved by the U.N. the ICOMOS international committee on underwater cultural heritage (ICUCH) consisting of “Underwater Cultural Heritage”. The ILA’s
Definition on underwater Cultural Heritage includes all underwater traces of human existence, which are of historical or cultural importance including sites, buildings, shipwrecks, together with their archaeological and natural context. The Ram Sethu comes under this category. It is refereed to in the Epic Ramayana and in the Puranas. At the site known as Ram Sethu, the natural rock and the ‘piles of stone’ laid on it have been submerged with the rise in sea level over 5000 years or more. This rise of sea level was not confined to Dvaraka of Mahabharata period in saurashtra. The underwater exploration by Marine Archeology centre (MAC) in NIO Goa along west coast has revealed that the prehistoric ports of Somnath and Prabhas were also submerged as is evident from the submerged channel waylaid for bringing ships and the presence of anchors and mooring stones in it.In the Elephanta Island , the early historic brick structures of 1st century B.C to 3rd century A.D. have been submerged. The Buddhist period port of sopora is also submerged. On the east coast of India, traces of poompuhar port town have been found in the sea as well as intertidal zone. The rock of Ram Sethu must have been in the intertidal zone and stones must have been piled up to enable the army to cross the sea easily. Over thousands of years small size stone blocks of bridges must have been transported by waves and currents. The frequent textual references to Ram Sethu are not to be dismissed as myths. (Mr.R.Subbarayalu has compiled two millennium old references found in Tamil literature in a 200 page book ‘Sethu Bandhanam’). Even the submergence of Dvaraka was considered a myth until the buildings were discovered. The national institute of Oceanography in cooperation with ASI should be asked to undertake the survey listing and protection of important underwater sites and shipwrecks. This works must be undertaken by the Government of India and State Governments as laid down in UN Convention on Protection of Underwater cultural heritage. Ram Sethu must not be damaged but saved and protected.
The MAC had initiated certain steps for survey and listing of underwater cultural Heritage of India and even published a tentative map showing shipwrecks sites and submerged parts. Before further damage is done by nature and men to this vast underwater heritage of India, immediate survey listing of Sites with a brief note on each wreck or site should be done , giving highest priority to Ram Sethu.
Sd/-
S.R.Rao,
Former Scientist emeritus
President- Society for Marine Archaeology in India
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)