Ramar Setu
The Ramar Setu is described in MSN Encarta as a group of islands connecting the Indian subcontinent and the Island of Sri Lanka.
The Ramar Setu has recently become a subject of argument and debate. Ships transporting cargo between the East Coast and the West Coast have to go around the island of Sri Lanka in the present day scenario. The Goverment of India apparently wanted to create a shorter route for these ships and make way by clearing this island cluster and deepening the straits.
The primary reason this is of interest to me is that this is a beautiful structure at least from the satellite imagery on google maps, only the Gods, so to speak 
have the imagination to build some thing of this scale and beauty.
Here are some reasons why this is interesting to me,
- Shipping as a mode of transportation is under-developed/under-utilized in India, Railways is the big kahuna for cargo transportation in this continent. This is only empirical, you can post some numbers in the comments section if you want to. This project will be a boost for shipping.
- The Indian sub continent has a vast coast line. Universities specialising in Marine Biology and Marine biologists are as rare as Indian olympic athletes in a country of over a billion people. Do you have a friend who went to university and studied marine biology? Probably not.
Marine biology and the beautiful tropical waters of this area may get some attention, at least one hopes that they will.
- The Archaeological Society of India (poor suckers -I pity them – I wonder what they think/say to each other every day they walk into work.). They may have to do some real work and “dig” up some convincing evidence.
- The party in power (DMK) that desperately wants to build this canal and dredge the straits, was born out of a social revolution movement and was based on the ethos of an “individual’s self respect”, “power of reasoning”. In essence , these were advocates of the “power of reasoning” over superstitions and blind faith. If your question to them is, Was ramar sethu built by Rama a mythological character in the Indian epic Ramayana and God to many present day faithful devotees? You pretty much have your answer.
Above all this is a classic Faith vs Science debate. Strangely and in a funny way, these kinds of debates rarely happen in India. This is a one of a kind.
If you were googling for Ramar Sethu and ended up seeing this video you have probably noticed the many flaws in the arguments and argument construction.
Ironically, this guy calls himself a scientist and proposes to protect the ramar setu as a monument of ancient heritage, funny.
As for me, I am content answering more trivial questions like who built the San Francisco Golden Gate bridge or the Brooklyn Bridge.
Vanakkam! until next time…
September 23rd, 2007 12:02
what are ur comments on the little cartoon of Prophet mohammed? and there was riots all over the world?
September 23rd, 2007 19:14
dear sri,
I have not seen this cartoon, besides how does it relate to the Ramar Setu? Please refrain from posting off-topic comments in the future.
September 29th, 2007 04:50
You points are very shallow and does not present a scientific or rational viewpoint. Remember just by questioning a religious belief or assuming to be rational will not make the case scientific.
There are indeed many reference to Ramar Setu that is scientific and in the interest of Indian culture and civilization. If you think of this issue as mere “Faith vs Science debate” then you are wrong.
September 29th, 2007 07:23
Vishnu,
One cannot see this issue as anything other than a “Faith vs Science” debate. Accepting an argument without questioning it, analyzing the facts and rationalizing it, is mere foolishness. In general,the Indian epics present a certain way of life and living in an elegant story form and present answers to ethical questions when you are in doubt.
Ramar is only going to guide us how to conduct ourselves, we are the ones who have to build bridges and dig canals for the present generation and our posterity.
Granted some of my points are not loaded with facts but aren’t we walking in shallow waters after all
October 2nd, 2007 01:32
Senthil,
It will be ignorant for someone to conclude about something when they are not certain of the facts. Well I will still hold that, this issue has nothing to do with “Faith vs Science debate”. Here what you see is a combination of Colonial-Historiography as View of History, Scientific Theories as Historical Facts and Political Motives as Direction of History. What is there to rationalize faith? It is nothing to do with real science. A true scientist will know well the limitation of science and will not argue based on theories to present their views on social issues.
Also, if you are talking about our posterity, then you should know that a sound prosperous nation is built on values, tradition, history, cultures, education, and economic developments. If Ramar is only going to guide us how to conduct ourselves then it is very essential for the nation.
October 10th, 2007 06:16
“A true scientist will know well the limitation of science and will not argue based on theories to present their views on social issues”
If you are right then the earth should be flat and be at the center of the universe. Faith and religion should not be allowed to come in the way of ramar setu canal project which is a social development project.
“Also, if you are talking about our posterity, then you should know that a sound prosperous nation is built on values, tradition, history, cultures, education, and economic developments.”
If the only ideal of the so called leaders and visionaries of a nation is a return to a glorious golden age that supposedly existed centuries ago (based on “historiography”) then I disagree.
We live in the present and look to the future.
What we need is a nation built on ideas and ideals that can be rationalized by facts and science.
Vanakkam.
June 8th, 2008 15:53
senthil,
If this is your opinion then there cannot be any changes. If it is an argument, it is open to discussion and you cannot say, “This is this”. First of all, I really liked your comment about the world being flat. Just to bring up the case that religion that is not supported by science cannot last forever. W
June 8th, 2008 15:59
Sorry. comment got cut. continuing.
We take it for granted that the pyramids were built by the human kind and accept supremacy. But is it not possible for seas to have been shallower? Maybe not 1700000000000000 years ago but 40000 years ago? Is it that far fetched a claim that Indians were not explorers at all? When you believe Columbus went across the seas. Magellan crossed the earth, Armstrong went to the moon?
It is not a question of talking of it as a religion. It is more of humankind’s achievement. The pride that without technology, without tools, someone managed to go across an untameable sea. There is no question denying that the bridge is there right?
Vote harvesting. Fostering dissesion and venom in everyone’s heart. And people madly following them without reason.
It is not the questoin of faith or science. It is more of a tribute that is owed and that must be paid. If not to Rama, to the mankind that built it.
Why dont think it might have actually been the Shrilankans who built the bridge to India? Small island and wanted to get out of there. So voila. there is the bridge.
We have a lame horse to buck and we kick it stronger to vent our frustation.
Better luck next time.