Ravana was actually a Brahmin, a scholar of the Sama Veda who had meditated in Kailash to get a boon from Lord Shiva. Lord Rama on the other hand was a Kshatriya.

The Dravidian movement, which includes DMK, MDMK, PMK, and DK, all allies of the Congress party, had turned its ire on Bhagwan Sri Rama, and wanted the Ramar Sethu to be demolished because it is a symbol of “north Indian” domination.

While the Hindu scriptures have given vivid and moving description of the construction of the Ramar Sethu, the existence of a causeway has now been confirmed by two scientific sources. In the first, NASA  by their satellites have photographed the area extensively. These photos establish the existence of a causeway-like formation even if NASA is not in a position to state whether it is naturally formed or constructed.

The government’s contention that it is a natural formation is, however, a blatant lie because an important document submitted to the government by Dr Badrinarayanan, Director (now retired) of the Geological Survey of India categorically states on the basis of boreholes experiments carried out that the formation is a constructed one. The Department of Earth Science of the Government of India in a report to the President in March 2007 has stated that shoal stones placement in the causeway make out that they were “deliberately placed there”, that is, as if it was constructed in the manner described by Valmiki, Kamban, and Tulsidas, saints who authored the Ramayana in Sanskrit, Tamil, and Hindi.

Such independent corroboration, therefore, cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence and not worthy of notice. It requires a full inquiry as to whether or not the said Ramar Sethu is a Hindu heritage site. Millions believe it to be so, and hence the government cannot take a narrow cynical view. 

While no rational opinion is against the project per se, what is sought is a feasible amendment of the SSCP, to avoid vandalising the Ramar Sethu and destroying it, thereby hurting the religious sentiment of millions of Hindus. The objective of SSCP  can be achieved by digging through the 20 km mainland stretch between Pamban and Dhanushkodi.

I would, therefore, suggest that the SSCP be put on hold for now, and the alternative canal route be researched by a committee. Imperatives of economic development and our commitment to protect our heritage are two ends that have always to be reconciled. A careful, intelligent balance should be struck between the two.

(The writer is a former Union minister)