Ram and Ramayana, live in the hearts of every Hindu, in India, as well as across the world. In order to get Sita back Ram had to get to cross the sea to reach Lanka. With the help of the animal kingdom of the Vanaras, Ram built the bridge we call RAM SETU. After building the bridge Ram crossed the sea, reached Lanka, fought, killed Ravan and got Sita back. The bridge since then has become sacred to every Hindu. Ram lived then and still lives now, in every heart of the Hindus.
Controversy has started when the Indian government have declared the decision to create a canal destroying the sacred bridge. This is despite the fact the bridge is so revered to millions of the Hindus. Not only that - to justify their case they have declared, Ram and Ramayana never existed. Even the Mughals and the British who ruled India have never performed such a despicable attack on the faith of the Hindus.
In Hindu tradition, our entire environment is regarded as sacred and there are specific instances, which provide important symbols for this. Our great rivers e.g. Ganga, Saraswati are sacred for their life giving and life sustaining qualities. The mountains like the Himalayas which source these life giving forces and provide protection and indeed the whole land which is regarded as the Mother in addition to the regard for the millions of plants and animals. The Ram Sethu land formation is an example of such a sacred symbol.
Creating a canal between Sri Lanka and itself means the destruction of the sacred bridge. They say it will bring benefits to the local people, bring jobs to many people in the building of the canal. However there will more cost than benefit. Millions of rupees will go into the building of the canal. It will attract international fishermen driving out the local fishermen and the local industries, destroying local communities en masse. There are non-economic costs. The bridge is a sacred place of worship and pilgrimage to millions of people. It will be a major offence to the Hindus.
There will be huge environmental cost through mass industrialisation and pollution created by it. Natural resources will be exploited, the habitat destroyed and ecosystems changed forever bringing the risks of natural disasters like the tsunami. The destruction of the natural habitat will kill the ancient way of life. The region is home to some 400 endangered marine species including many fish, turtles, and dolphins. These species will be destroyed with the dredging and heavy traffic.
Talking of traffic, what happens when one of these huge cargo ships or oil tankers has an accident and releases toxic waste into the sea? What happens to the more than 4000 species that exist along the Ram Sethu and the local shoreline and communities that depend on the seas for their existence? What happens to the area used for dumping the estimated 62 millions tonnes of silt that need to be excavated for this project? Unfortunately this time round, the ecological and Green lobby seem to have turned their back, in stark contrast to other parallel cases.
There is also vested interest of the nuclear club in the region. This region provides thorium used in the nuclear program to produce energy. There is the world’s largest deposit there – 32%. With the canal dug it will not only upset India’s rich heritage of the natural resource but also attract other big nations or multinationals to excavate and take away the deposit. India won’t be able to protect its rights to the deposits. The waters will be declared international, as there is no such boundary between India and Sri Lanka.
There has been huge resistance in Bharat. On September 12th, several hundred thousands of Hindus took to streets across India. This included mass rallies, and traffic blockades causing large scale disruption.
The Ramayana and Mahabahrat are historical facts written in terms of stories and passed down to generations. THERE IS AMPLE PROOF BESIDES the satellite pictures prove the existence of Ram built bridge. This has recently been endorsed by the famous Sunitha Williams, Indian origin NASA astronaut.
What more evidence is needed? Why is it that Hindus and their faith are always taken for granted, abused and insulted where ever and when ever? It is time we stood against this insults.
Ram was living then, and still lives on. He exists in every Hindu heart.
JAI SHRI RAM
LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.hinduvoice.co.uk/Issues/20/Rama.htm
http://www.hinduhumanrights.org/India/Bridge.htm
http://sethusamudram.gov.in/ (OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT LINK)
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=203&page=2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sethusamudram_Shipping_Canal_Project (WIKIPEDIA)
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/15setu.htm
(NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT DENIAL OF RAM’S EXISTENCE)
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