Ram Sethu not an ancient monument, former V-C tells SC
Context: Senior academic and former Vice-Chancellor of Alagappa University A. Ramasamy has said that the Ram Setu or Adam’s Bridge does not meet the requirements of an “ancient monument” under the law, and the SC has no power to declare it a “national monument”.
Ram Setu:
- Ram Setu is a chain of limestone shoals between the coasts of India and Sri Lanka.
- According to the epic Ramayana, the bridge was built by the ‘Vanara army’ to rescue Sita, who was kidnapped by Ravana.
- A. Ramasamy, president of the Dravidian Historical Research Centre, quoted a 130-year-old German study, which had concluded that the “Adam’s Bridge is not man-made”. The German study described the narrative of Ramayana as a “pious fairy tale”.
Concern Raised:
- Only a permanent structure could be declared an ancient monument. Adam’s Bridge is not a permanent structure.
- Sand dunes are formed due to the streaming relationship of the Indian Ocean and the influence of the monsoon on the superficial sediments of the sea, plus negative beach pushing. The whole phenomenon depends on change in sea level.
- In short, Adam’s Bridge is a constantly changing structure which is repeatedly constructed and destroyed by natural processes.
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