EXISTENCE OF RAMA AND HENRY SCHLEIMANN

The Congress party is obviously gleeful (as the left will be) over the ASI contention that there is no proof for the existence of Rama. This is indeed wonderful. But let us look at certain things before we write off Rama.

There was a similar view about Troy and the Illiad of Homer. All archaeologists were unanimous that the whole epic was a figment of imagination of Homer and that neither Troy nor Helen, not any other character ever existed. But like typical scholars, these archaeologists searched everywhere for Troy except where Homer said it existed. And since they did not find Troy there, they assumed, and worse, asserted that Troy was imaginary and fictitious.

It just took one man and his belief to change this completely. The man was Henry Schleimann. He heard this assertion in his childhood. It became a passion for him to find Troy. In his adulthood he devoted his personal money to the search for Troy. His plan was simple - dig where Homer said Troy was. And Bingo! He found Troy sitting exactly where Homer had said it would be sitting and exactly where he dug.

Indian Archaeologists too have dug everywhere except where Valmiki says Rama was and where he went. So you have greats like H. D. Sankalia and B. B. Laal and others putting Ayodhya everywhere except where valmiki said it is.

The point is, why not dig where Valmiki says you should? Does this country of a billion and more not have a single person willing to do that and put his own finances at stake? better still, it fits Congress to say and do what it says and does. It shouldn't really; because even if you disregard the fact that the Hindus make the majority of this country, you cannot deny that they indeed are citizens of this country and have feelings and emotions for their religion too. Rama is an integral part of their religion. If you do not utter a single word when other religions are concerned and call other people communal even if an objective point is being raised, you should do the same when it is a matter concerned with hinduism.

The point is that that it still fits the Congress to say and do what it says and does. Is there no one in the VHP who can think and obtain necessary permission to dig where Valmiki says we should dig?

Also, if Babri masjid was such a holy grail that it could not be demolished and its demolition raised such a hue and cry, should the same criterion not be valid for for the Setu? After all the Setu is dear to a particular religion and its feelings are going to hurt.