Download - Ramasetu28sept2007
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Rama Setu and security of rashtram
S. Kalyanaraman, Ph.D.,Director, Sarasvati Research Centre,Former Sr. Exec., Asian Development Bank,[email protected]
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Perspectives»nation’s wealth»geopolitical»scientific»oceanography (tsunami)»historical, cartographic» literary»archaeological, heritage»society, environment»religious, cultural»project, nautical» legal»rashtram
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Nation’s wealth
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Thorium/titanium placer deposits due to churning action of ocean currents, with Rama Setu acting like a sieve or cyclotron
Thorium deposits in Kerala (Aluva, Chavara), Tamilnadu (Manavalakurichi) that support nuclear power source for India will be desiccated if Rama Setu is damaged. If another tsunami strikes, the placer deposits will be submerged in the ocean.
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Heavy mineral rich Inayam Teri Sand Deposit, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu
•
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Importance of Thorium for Bharat
The currently known Indian thorium reserves (3.6 lakh tonnes) amount to 358,000 GWe-yr of electrical energy (Thorium reserves can generate 400,000 MW electricity per year for the next 389 years).
• India’s vast thorium deposits permit design and operation of U-233 fuelled breeder reactors. (Th-232 + neutron yields Uranium 233)
• These thorium-based breeder reactors are under development and would serve as the mainstay of the final thorium utilization stage of the Indian nuclear programme.
http://www.barc.ernet.in/webpages/about/anu1.htm
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Heavy mineral beach placers (ilmenite, rutile, garnet and monazite)
Kolachel to Kanniyakumari on 75 km.
Vattakottai and Lipuram to Manavalakurichi: 5 to 6 km. With a width of 3 to 5 m from the mouth of Valliyur River. (Data base, GSI)
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Richest monazite concentration in the world (32% of world thorium reserves)
The beach placers in Manavalakurichi, Aluva, Chavara, on an average contain 45 to 55% ilmenite, 7 to 14% garnet, 4 to 5% zircon, 3 to 4% monazite, 2 to 3% sillimanite, 2 to 3% rutile, 0.5 to 1% leucoxene and 10 to 25% others, including silica. (Database 1984, GSI)
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Geopolitical perspectives
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1. US Navy operational directive, 23 June 20052. Chairman TCPT replies to PMO 30 June 2005 3. Inauguration of SSCP 2 July 2005. • Agreement between Sri Lanka (Sirimavo Bandaranaike) and
India (Indira Gandhi) June 1974: declaration Gulf of Mannar as Historic waters; United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (1958), Convention of the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone recognizes HISTORIC Waters
•This claim is not recognized by the United States.
• U.S. conducted operational assertions in 1993 and 1994, 1999 in Gulf (or tadi eduttavan tandal kaaran) treating these as international waters.
• Geopolitics: USA naval bases : Diego garcia, Trincomalee, Straits of MalaccaChina naval bases: Gwadar, Haumtota, Sitwe
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Scientific perspectives
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Kodiyakkarai
Talaimannar
Pamban
Tirutturaipoondibea
ch (6000 years)
Manamelgudi
Devipattinam
Ramanathapuram
Uchchipuli
Thondi
shoreline (6000 years)
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A volcanic canyon west of Rama Setu, 1 m to 3000 m slope
Location map. Inset: bathymetry map of the Gulf of Mannar (reproduced from Murty et al., 1994)
http://www.Setusamudram.in/htmdocs/Articles/cp_rajendran_2.htm
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Canyon below the ocean?Question of stability of any channel on this slope.
• Abstract Two suites of slumps from opposite margins of the Gulf of Mannar, between Sri Lanka and southern India, have met and coalesced. The “Eastern Comorin” Slump is the more coherent of the two with a length of 70 to 100 km. The “Colombo” side slump consists of two to four blocks 15 to 35 km in length. Both slump-suites decrease to the south. A paleoslump underlies the western toe of the East Comorin Slump at a depth of some 800 meters. To the south, an enlarging and deepening submarine canyon marks the area of slump coalescence. See William Vestal and Allen Lowrie, Geology and Geophysics Branch-Code 7220, U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office NSTL Station, 39522, MS
• http://www.springerlink.com /content/m602j3k746342lnl/
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Rama’s hotspot
Heatflow in Rama Setu 100 to 180 milliwatt per sq. m. comparable to Himalayan hotsprings
Will dredging in the area activate these heat zones?.
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Tectonic setting:
Plate subduction
Sunda plate
Direction of inferred fault-line sucking in tsunami
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Mannar Volcanics 100 m. old: Rama Setu an ancient submarine canyon collapse
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Bore-hole locations on Rama Setu • Destruction of fragile coral islands by sediments
• Likely reactivation of sub-sea heatflows
• Alternatives: • Realign canal
through Pamban; like Panama Canal, locks could be provided both in the Palk bay side and Gulf of Mannar side so that such calamities could be prevented.
• Provide for tsunami-protection walls
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Geological, archaeological evidence: Dept. of Earth Sciences (March 2007) • Around Rameswaram, there are raised Teri
formations that supported a rich assemblage of mesolithic – microlithic tools indicating the presence of strong human habitation and activity in these areas as early as 8000 to 9000 years B.P and as recent as 4000 years B.P. On Sri Lanka side there are indications of human habitation extending to late Pleistocene (about 13,000 B.P) based on bone and fossils of human and animal form.
• All these point to a flourishing human activity on both sides of Adams Bridge and probably when the sea levels were just right the link between India and Sri Lanka could have been established.
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Evidence from ISRO and NASA websites
A news report date-lined Rameswaram, 15 April 2007 in the New Indian Express (page 7) noted:"... Baalu said the government and the Sethusamudram project officials had written to NASA on the Adam's Bridge, but there has been no reply from NASA." ISRO image gives the answer ! Why ask NASA?
Item 1: February 2000 Report of NASA http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/srilanka.htm Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) of NASA aboard space shuttle Endeavour launched in February 2000. "Sri Lanka is shaped like a giant teardrop falling from the southern tip of the vast Indian subcontinent. It is separated from India by the 50km (31mi) wide Palk Strait, although there is a series of stepping-stone coral islets known as Adam's Bridge that almost form a land bridge between the two countries."
Item 2: April 1966 Report of NASA http://history.nasa.gov/SP-168/section3b.htm Exploring space with a camera by NASA "[193] Gemini XI. This photograph from an altitude of 410 miles encompasses all of India, an area of 1250 000 square miles," GEORGE M. LOW, then the Deputy Director, Manned Spacecraft Center, NASA, notes. "Bombay is on the west coast, directly left of the spacecraft's can-shaped antenna New Delhi is just below the horizon near the upper left. Adam's Bridge between India and Ceylon , at the right, is clearly visible. A cloudless region surrounds the entire subcontinent. Differences in color, green near the west coast, and brown inland, delineate regions of heavy vegetation and semiarid areas." The picture by NASA is available on the NASA website. http://history.nasa.gov/SP-168/p193a.jpg
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Oceanography
Tsunami perspectives
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Valmiki ramayana, Sarga 21, YuddhakandamDescribes Rama’s victory over the ocean; he releases the arrow which makes a volcano erupt, resulting in a tsunami.This episode is validated by the heatflow and geotectonic maps of Bharatam in the Rama Setu region.
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Tsunami effect: 2,60,000 lives lostDestruction of Aceh island, damage in beaches north of Chennai and Nagapattinam
Sea-bed has risen by about 200 m. in some regions
2/3 of the aquatic life and corals devastated in the Biosphere Reserve/Marine National Parks
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Next tsunami through channel route will destroy Kerala and Tamilnadu coastline
Be prepared for a probable next tsunami. Fault-lines and earthquake zones http://www.bgr.de/b322/grafik/ginco_fig1_k.png
Indian plate dynamically moves northwards @6 cm. per year resulting in plate tectonics (e.g Bhuj earthquake, Aceh quake).
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Build tsunami protection walls as part of any canal project: example, tsunami wall in Japan
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Prof. Tad S. Murthy’s views • Prof. Tad S Murthy is a tsunami expert who advised Govt. of India on
tsunami warning system and edited Tsunami journal for over 20 years
• Prof. Tad S Murthy’s objections were cited in PMO’s letter of Jan. 2005
• He said: Change the mouth of the alignment (Bay of Bengal) norwestwards to avoid destruction of Kerala by next tsunami
• "The Sethusamudram canal has many characteristics similar to the Alberni canal, and this is the reason I am concerned. In the March 28, 1964, Alaska earthquake tsunami, outside of Alaska the largest tsunami amplitude was at the head of the Alberni canal well inland and not at the open coast as everyone expected. Later, I explained this was due to (a phenomenon known as) quarter wave resonance
• http://www.elaw.in/issue/sethu.htm
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History
Historical, cartography perspectives
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Rama Setu: ancient monument of international importance, whether man-made or natural; even a stone or a cave or a river is a monument under the 1958 Act.
From Setu to Himachalam defines the sovereign Bharatam according to the Suvey of India logo since 1767.
Suggestio falsi, suppressio veri: Ambika Soni
New Delhi, Mar 06, 2007: Government on Tuesday said there are no archaeological studies that reveal the existence of a Ram Setu bridge between India and Sri Lanka. However, a NASA satellite picture has shown the existence of a stretch of land bridge in the Palk Strait between the countries, Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today. She informed the house that as there are no archaeological studies to confirm the fact, the government was not planning to take any preservation initiative in this direction. http://zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=358346&sid=NAT
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Govt. has no plans to declare Ram Setu as national monument
• 15:38 IST Tuesday, August 14, 2007 Minister for Tourism and Culture Smt. Ambika Soni In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha said, no archaeological study has been made in respect of Ram Setu by the Archaeological Survey of India
• As per the scientific evidence available so far, Ram Setu does not fulfill the criteria to be declared as a monument of national importance under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
• http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=29871
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Malabar Bowen map (1747) drawn by Netherlands shows Ramarcoil I (that is, Rama temple).
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Map drawn by Joseph Parks, Australian Botanical explorer (1788) shows Ramar Bridge (Map in Sarasvati Mahal Lib., Thanjavur), the map Hon’ble TR Baalu saw !
Map of 1804, by James Rennel, First Surveyor General of India, renamed Ramar Bridge as Adam’s bridge
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Kamba ramayanam in Tamil has a separate sarga called Setubandha padalam. ‘Sethu’ is the waterbody in which SriRama purified himself from ‘Brammahatti dosha’ on his return from Lanka after killing Ravana. It is located in the sea in Rameshwaram area near ‘sethubandhanam’. Rameswaram is called: Setubandha Rameswaram. South Asia in the time of the Khaljis and Tughluqs, c. 1290-1390
Tulasidas:
Ramacharitamanas
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Setu, Setubandha RameswaramHampi inscription of Krishnadevaraya Saka 1430 (1508 CE) in Epigraphica Indica refers to Rama Setu
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Religious and cultural sites, 8th-12th centuries http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=071 Schwartzberg Atlas, p. 34.
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Islamic expansion and changing Western views of South
Asia, 7th-12th centuries (Al-Biruni’s record) http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=070 Schwartzberg Atlas, v. , p. 33.
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Puranic India (Bharata) http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=064 Schwartzberg Atlas, v. , p.
27.
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(Madras Presidency Administration Report, 1903 and a
Travelogue, 1744 refer to the bridge Glossary entry: Adam. …”Called the bridge of Rama… It
really joined Ceylon to India until 1480, when a breach was made through rocks during a storm. A subsequent storm enlarged this and foot traffic then ceased…Partly above and partly below water; but when covered has now here above three or four feet of water…”
Source: Manual of the Administration of the Madras Presidency./C.D. Maclean (1903). New Delhi, AES, 3 Vols., 2440 p., Contents: Vol. 1: Chapters 1-9 Containing: The Principal Articles of the Manual Arranged so as to Conform to the Order of Subjects in the Yearly Presidency Administration Report. Vol. 2: Appendices Containing: Articles and Statements, Supplementary of the Articles in Vol. 1 Arranged Under General Heads. Vol. 3: Glossary of the Madras Presidency: A Classification of Terminology, a Gazetteer and Economic Dictionary of the Province and Other Information, the Whole Arranged Alphabetically and Indexed.
Travelogue
A book by Alexander Hamilton, 1744, A New Account of the East Indies: Giving an Exact and Copious Description of the Situation, P. 338 describes his visit to ‘zeloan’ (alt. spelling for Ceylon) by walking on the bridge.
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Research report
Asiatic Society, 1799, Asiatick Researches: Or, Transactions of the Society Instituted in Bengal, P. 52 refers to the bridge called Setband (alt. spelling, setuband like Allahband; setu-bandha), broken in 3 places. It also notes “The people call it a bridge; or otherwise it appears to have wood growing on it, and to be inhabited.”
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Hon’ble Mu. Karunanidhi cites evidence for Rama Setu, there is also evidence from Sangam literature
•In a book titled, Ramanathapuram District Gazetteer published in 1972, Mu. Karunanidhi, the then Chief Minister writes a foreword and praises the contents
•The book refers to Rama Setu (also called Adam’s bridge or Nala Setu).
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Ancient texts
Literary perspectives
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‘setu’ in all bharatiya languages means ‘man-made bund’
• English word ‘bund’ comes from Bharatiya word: bandha• Valmiki describes the construction of Sethu in detai (85 shlokas).hastimaatraan mahaakaayaaH paaSaaNaamshca mahaabalaaH
parvataamshca samutpaaTya yantraiH parivahanti ca Valmiki Ramayana 2-22-58Vaanara having huge bodies, with mighty strength uprooted elephant-sized rocks and mountains and transported them by mechanical contrivances (yantraih).
• Vedavyasa refers to Nalasetunalasetur iti khyāto yo 'dyāpi prathito bhuvi rāmasyājñāṃ
puraskṛtya dhāryate girisaṃnibhaḥ MBh. 3.267.45 .... which even today, popular on earth as Nala's bridge, mountain-like, is
sustained out of respect for [Lord] Rama's command. (Nala was son of Vis’wakarma) Kalidasa's Raghuvams’a (sarga 13): Rama, while returning from SriLanka in pushpaka vimaana: "Behold, Sita, My Sethu of mountains dividing this frothy ocean is like the milky way dividing the sky into two parts"
Kaavya in Prakrit by Setubandha Kavya by the King Damodara Sen (5th Century).
King Pravarasena II (550-600 CE) called “Setu bandha or Ravanavaho, Dasamuha Vadha"
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Evidence from Sangam literature
1.kadunter iraaman udanpun.ar seetaiyaivalittakai arakkan vavviya jnaanr-ainilamcer madaran.i kan.d.a kurangincemmukap perunkil.ai izhaippolindaa anguaar-aa a varunakai yinidu per-r-ikume (Pur-anaanoor-u paadal 378) When Arakkan Ravana abducted Sita who came with Rama, the ornaments removed from her body and thrown by her to the ground, the monkey families adorned themselves erratically with these ornaments. People enjoyed seeing this sight.
2.venve_r- kavuniyar tonmudu ko_d.imuzhangirum pauvam iranku mun tur-aivelpo_r iraaman arumar-aikku avittapal veezh aalam po_lao_viyavintanr-aal iv azhunkaloore (Akanaanoor-u paadal 70) Before Sri Rama embarked upon his journey to Sri Lanka, he sat below a big banyan tree on the banks of the sacred Setu (tiruvan.aikkarai) and was engrossed in conversation with his friends. The birds on the banyan tree were chirping. Sri Rama stopped the chirping by his command.
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Heritage
Archaeological perspectives
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Ancient Setu (Aryachakravarti) coins of Jaffna, 13th century and Parantaka Chola copper plate (10th cent.)
(Nagaswamy R. 1979. Thiruttani and Velanjeri Copper Plates. State Dept. Of Archaeology, Tamilnadu. Madras. See: L’Hernault F. 1978. L’Iconographie de Subrahmanya au Tamilnad, Institut Francais d’ Indologie. Pondichery, p.111, ph. 63.) The copper plates indicate that Aparajitavarman went to Setutirtha.
Setupati coinage, 16th and 17th century Obverse: Sri Ganapati, seated.Reverse, in Tamil, Se-Tu-Pa-(Ti missing). Tamil script.
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Prambananan (Brahmavana), Indonesia
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Rama Setu in sculptures (9th and 10th centuries CE)
• Stone steles from the Ramayana wall carvings at Prambanan Temple, Java, Indonesia (built during the ninth and tenth centuries Common Era). Classical Javanese dance performances of the Ramayana are held seasonally at Prambanan temple. A 2006 earthquake in Central Java, however, caused considerable damage to the World Heritage Site.
• Devi Sita talking to Sri Hanuman• Vaanara Sena carrying stones, in their arms
and on their heads, to build Rama Setu, followed by Sri Rama, carrying a sword.
• Fish and other sea creatures handling stones from Rama's bridge to Lanka, during the construction of Nala Setu (Rama Setu).
• Source: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/multimedia/2616
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Kilakkarai and other places produce s’ankha, a cultural symbol venerated in Bharatiya traditions (West Bengal Dev. Corpn. In Kilakarai has an annual turnover of Rs. 100 crores to procure s’ankha from Rama Setu coastal zone)
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Only Bharatam coastline produces s’ankha
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S’ankha is unique to Bharatam coastline, not found anywhere else in the world
Date of the woman’s burial with ornaments 6500 Years Before Common Era.
Wide shell-bangle and shell ornaments
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Seven shell bangles from burial of an elderly woman, Harappa; worn on the left arm; three on the upper arm and four on the forearm; 6.3 X 5.7 cm to 8x9 cm marine shell, Turbinella pyrum (After Fig. 7.43, Kenoyer, 1998) Harappa museum. H87-635 to 637; 676 to 679.
S’ankha industry thrives in Kilakkarai (Rs. 100 crore annual turnover); s’ankha kr.s’aana (S’ankha cutter) mentioned in Rigveda, Atharvaveda
Wide bangle made from a single conch shell and carved with a chevron motif, Harappa; marine shell, Turbinella pyrum (After Fig. 7.44, Kenoyer, 1998) National Museum, Karachi. 54.3554. HM 13828.
8,500 year-old S’ankha industry, Gulf of Mannar
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Society, environment perspectives
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Impact on the livelihood of coastal people
U. Arulanandam, President, Singaravelar Fishermen's Forum : the project is being implemented to enforce the international boundary line in the waters.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2201/stories/20050114005902400.htm
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Save marine wealth:Vegetarian sea-cow, green turtle
The only place in the world where dugong lives.
Dugong is a sea-cow which eats only sea-grass.
There are over 3,600 unique aquatic species in the Gulf of Mannar Bioreserve national parks.
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Religious, Cultural perspectives
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Setu tirtham
Setubandha venerated as sacred tirtha by Alwars and Nayanmars
Rameswaram is one of the 12 jyotirlinga sthalams.
Pilgrimage to Ganga (Kas’ivis’wanatha) is complete only after the pilgrimage to Rameswaram and Setutirtham.
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TraditionsSetutirtha snaanam as sacred. Mahatittha in Sri Lanka.Setutirham for mothers desirous of childrenNo ploughs are used in Ramanathapuram district : peoples’ belief that
the earth is sacred since Sri Rama made three s’ivalinga using this earth
Any fisherman extracting stone together with algae does prayas’cittam• Skanda Purana (III.1.2.1-114), Vishnu Purana (IV.4.40-49),
Agni Purana (V-XI), Brahma Purana (138.1-40) refer to the construction of Rama Setu. Skanda Purana (VI.101.1-44) describes the installation of three Shiva linga at the end, middle and beginning of Rama Setu and making the same bridge submerged and thereby creating Setu-Teertham. This is also related in Kurma Purana (21.10-61). Garuda Purana (1.81.1-22) lists sacred places including Setubandh and Rameswar. Narada Purana (Uttara Bhag 76.1-20) extols the greatness of Rama-Setu.
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Nautical
Project, nautical perspectives
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Project location
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Alignment route 6, suddenly chosen, cutting through Rama Setu, ignores expert committee-recommended options. Canal versus channel passage. http://sethusamudram.gov.in
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Sir AR Mudaliar Committee Report 1956: Choose canal, NOT mid-ocean channel passage
Reasons:
•Shifting Sandbanks•No possibility of construction of protective works… definite navigational hazard•Channel would border on the Sethusamudram Medial Line.
“In these circumstances we have no doubt, whatever that the junction between the two sea should be effected by a Canal; and the idea of cutting a passage in the sea through Adam’s Bridge should be abandoned.”
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Nightmare ship salvage operation if Setusamudram is aligned as a mid-ocean channel passage
Suez canal uses special bollards every 200 ft. to salvage a grounded vessel
Such bollards are possible only if a land-based canal is used.
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Project does NOT make nautical senseAccording to Capt. Balakrishnan, the saving
in time from Kolkata to Tuthukudi (Tuticorin) for a ship will be only 1.5 hrs.
Crossing channel at 6 nautical miles paying pilotage charges (approx. Rs. 5 lakhs per passage)?
Even many small ships with only 30,000 Dead Weight Tonnes may prefer to navigate around Srilanka instead of using the channel.
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Legal
Legal perspectives
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Rama Setu: destruction status Sept. 3, 2007 23.58% (dredged quantity: 113,30,641cu.m.)Aug. 27, 2007 22.53% Aug 2, 2007 19.46%July 28, 2007 17.57%
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Eminent Jurists’ views
Justice VR Krishna Iyer’s letter to PM: I beseech you to reconsider the stand taken if any already. This is a matter of political party business or popularity or pro-American yen…the grave issue with which the nation shall defend its survival.
Justice KT Thomas: It is our duty to make in-depth study of all possible repercussions before destroy the natural geological formations. That apart, the religious sentiments of the majority community in India that Lord Rama created such sea wall must he honored and respected.
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Court Orders• Evidence for Rama Setu accepted. Courts use the word Rama Setu• Violation of Section 295 of IPC (AIR 1958 SC 1032 Veerapathra Chettiar
Vs. Ramaswamy Naicker)• Section 295: “with the intention of hereby insulting the religion of any class
of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to the religion.”
• HC noted: Sir A. Ramaswamy Mudaliar Committee expressly rejected the idea of cutting a channel through the bridge and said that the idea should be abandoned.
• Punjab and Haryana High Court held that Brahmasarovar was deemed to be a monument
• Ramanathapuram judge: Final opinion could be pronounced only after subjecting their documents to thorough scrutiny with the opinions of experts in the field (archaeology and geology)
• SC order: “Till September 14, the alleged Rama Sethu/Adam’s bridge shall not be damaged in any manner. Dredging activity may be carried out so long as it does not damage Rama Sethu.”
• More details at: http://kalyan97.wordpress.com
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Rashtram
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Rama Setu -- world heritageMany monuments have been declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO:
Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection in Panama Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in the PhilippinesKvarken Archipelago / High Coast in Sweden/FinlandGiant's causeway and Causeway coast in UKGreat Barrier Reef in AustraliaBelize Barrier Reef Reserve System in BelizeMont St. Michel and its bay in FranceHa Long Bay in VietnamMatobo Hills in Zimbabwe
US court backs Indian tribe (Navajo) to prevent desiccation of a sacred mountain in USA
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20070312-1046-environment-navajos.htmlhttp://whc.unesco.org/en/list/
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Why save Rama Setu ?To remember Sri Rama. The only surviving
monument related to Sri Rama who walked from Ayodhya to Srilanka
This social, cultural memory is sacred
Sri Rama vigrahavaan dharmah (the very embodiment of dharma)
Sri Rama is the role model for bharatiya values based on dharma and for integrity of the rashtram
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Sri Rama and s’ankha naadamSri Rama and s’ankha naadamVishnu’s fight Vishnu’s fight with the with the Rakshasas led byRakshasas led by MalyavaMalyavaaan, Man, Maaali li and Sumaand Sumaaali as li as narrated in the narrated in the Uttarkanda of the Uttarkanda of the Ramayana Ramayana (Canto VI-VIII)(Canto VI-VIII) A A
Terracotta Panel from Bhitargaon Showing a Terracotta Panel from Bhitargaon Showing a
Ramayana SceneRamayana Scene By P. B By P. Banerjeeanerjee http://ignca.nic.in/pb0020.htmhttp://ignca.nic.in/pb0020.htm
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(Om versus Rome!)
• Rama Setu is divya-kshetram• It is our sacred duty, dharma to protect
this teerthasthaanam• Let pranava, omkaara, anaahata
naadam emanating from sacred s’ankha reverberate around the world
• Let us save the nation’s wealth, uphold nation’s sovereignty
• Security of rashtram cannot be compromised or privatised