ASI dismisses claim of disinterest in publishing Keeladi report as ‘figment of imagination’

K. Amarnath Ramakrishnan. File
| Photo Credit: R. Ashok

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Thursday (May 29, 2025) dismissed as a “figment of imagination” the allegation that it is disinterested in publishing the report on the Keeladi excavation. It called such claims misleading and an attempt to malign the department.

Recently, the ASI had asked archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who unearthed an ancient civilisation in Keeladi in Sivaganga district, to resubmit his report about the excavation after making necessary corrections for taking further action. However, Mr. Ramakrishna defended his conclusions and refused to revise the findings.

In a statement released through the Press Information Bureau, the ASI said it regularly publishes reports on excavated sites and places great emphasis on this aspect, since much time, energy, and money are invested in every excavation. Without publication, the basic purpose of the excavation remains unfulfilled. After the submission of reports by excavators, they are sent to subject experts for vetting. Various alterations, as suggested by the subject experts, are carried out by the excavators and resubmitted finally for publication. The reports are eventually published as Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India (MASI).

“The same procedure was adopted in case of the Keeladi report, wherein the report was sent for vetting to experts. Accordingly, the excavator of Keeladi was communicated the suggestions of the experts for making necessary corrections in the draft report submitted by him, but he did not carry out the corrections till date,” the ASI said.

“The story being circulated in a part of the media is misleading and untrue. The Director General and the ASI officials understand the importance of an excavated site, but all reports need proper vetting, editing, proofreading, and designing before being sent for publication. That the ASI is uninterested in publication of the Keeladi report is a figment of imagination, which aims purposefully to paint the department in bad colours,” it added.