Author:
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: November 20, 2007
URL: http://in.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/20inter.htm
In an affidavit before the Supreme Court the
Union government recently said the Ram Sethu was a natural formation, and
in passing also questioned the existence of Lord Ram.
The affidavit was retracted following widespread
protests. Now Bharath Gyan, a Chennai-based NGO engaged in research on India's
traditions and culture, has produced a report which states that Lord Ram did
indeed exist, and even put a date on his birth: January 10, 5114 BCE (Before
the Christian Era).
The NGO says it arrived at the conclusion
by using a relatively new method -- archaeoastronomy, which combines astronomical
with archaeological data.
The NGO's founder-trustee D K Hari unveiled
the research findings at a presentation in Mumbai last week. "We can
say with confidence and pride that Ram existed historically," he told
the gathering. "The most authentic text on Rama is Valmiki's Ramayan
since it was written by Valmiki as a contemporary text. We have collaborated
different aspects of Rama's life as mentioned in the Ramayan with scientific
methodologies."
Bharath Gyan's Hari, who has been conducting
research on traditional Indian knowledge for the past six years, spoke to
rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa about the authenticity of his report, the reliability
of archaeoastronomy and other issues.
Q.: Your research shows that Ram was a mortal.
How will it go down in a culture that worships him as God?
A.: Ram was a human being and also a king. It is anybody's personal choice
to attribute divinity to him. In India we talk about mathrubhava and pithrubhava.
We worship our parents and teachers as God. So why not Ram? He was a noble
soul.
Q.: What do you attribute the divinity that
was conferred on him to?
A.: I don't want to comment on this. It is not my job.
Q.: There was a report by Pushkar Bhatnagar
in 2003, which said something similar to your report. How is your report different
from his? What is new in your report?
A.: My report is based on the one prepared by Pushkar Bhatnagar. Not only
his report, I have relied on several others to come to a conclusion through
scientific eliminations.
Q.: You seem to attach significant importance
to the Ram Sethu, suggesting that it should be looked into deeper for evidence
of Ram. But the Archaeological Survey of India has concluded that it is nothing
but a natural formation. What do you have to say to this?
A.: Let me make it clear. The ASI had not done any digging around the Ram
Sethu. In fact they do not have any knowledge on this. This is not what I
am saying. They themselves have said so. Even their affidavit before the Supreme
Court said so.
Q.: Archaeoastronomy sure is a mouthful. Why
don't you simplify it for the common man? Tell us how you go about things
in this science?
A.: It is a technique of charting the past or the future sky using a scientific
tool. This tool helps to arrive at planetary positions given a date in the
past or the future and vice versa -- given a set of planetary configurations,
arrive at the date either in the past or in the future.
Such tools are collectively called planetarium
software. There are probably over 50 such different software available. Each
software can be use specifically for a particular application, like plotting
the current night sky chart, predicting eclipses and the like.
Indian civilisation is characterised by being
embedded with night sky observations. Feeding the observations of the planetary
configurations into the planetarium software gives us the English calendar
dates for when these configurations could have occurred in the past. When
these dates are logically arranged along with the events, it helps us to scientifically
assign dates to events mentioned in Indian legends and historical texts and
validate them.
Thus, the astronomical remains left behind
in our literature can be analysed scientifically to arrive at historic dates
for various events. This approach is parallel to archaeology where physical
remains are analysed to arrive at historic dates and hence, gives rise to
a new branch of scientific dating which may be called archaeoastronomy.
Q.: Tell us how you deciphered the Ramayan
using archaeoastronomy. What were the difficulties you encountered during
this process?
A.: We relied upon several reports and mainly the configurations available
in the Ramayan. The dates mentioned in the earlier texts including the Ramayan
were tallied, entered into the software as mentioned above and a conclusion
was drawn.
I would not say that the entire exercise was
easy. It was a laborious procedure, which required plenty of study and patience.
Moreover, there was always this aspect that the issue was sensitive. We have
striven to be as accurate as possible.
Q.: How infallible is this exercise?
A.: This process can be repeated by any person in the world. No person should
unnecessarily deny the findings in our report. Let them do a study on the
same, tally it with our report and then come to a conclusion. If we have committed
a mistake, let them guide us or even correct us. We don't mind. But no person
should deny it for the heck of it.
Q.: As per the dates you have charted in the
Ramayan, Ram was almost 39 years old when he killed Ravana, not such a young
man. He must have then set out on vanvaas at the age of 25. Isn't that too
old for those times?
A.: Why do say that? I think Ram took over as king at the right age. At the
age of 25 he set out on vanvaas and at the age of 39 he defeated Ravana. This
can be proved through scientific methods. I think it is perfectly correct.
Q.: Your technique must also give you a date
for Ram's end?
A.: No. We have not given any end date to Ram. We are able to give our findings
based on the configurations mentioned in the various texts. The problem here
is that there is no text available anywhere which could give us a configuration
regarding the end of Ram. Hence, it is not possible to find out the exact
dates unless the configurations are made available.
Q.: Why this fascination with proving the
existence of Ram and other gods?
A.: The media has a taken a fascination to Ram. I have done a study on 64
different subjects. Moreover, I don't think it is wrong to find out about
Ram. You write so much about film stars. Ram is an international hero and
we ought to be proud of him as Indians.
Q.: What do you propose to do with your findings?
Approach the government? The ASI?
A.: I don't plan to approach the government with these findings. Why can't
the media do it instead? This report is meant to create awareness. Let people
discuss, debate it.
Q.: Your findings must be the toast of Hindu
outfits. Are you aligned with any of them?
A.: (Laughs) No, there is no alignment with any of the outfits. I think every
Indian should be proud of Ram.
