Ready to give land for Keezhadi museum: Ameer

Film directors Ameer, Karu Pazhaniappan and S.P.Jananathan visited Keezhadi archeological site and inspected the site and interacted with Archeological Survey of India (ASI) officials. 

Later Ameer met the media persons and claimed that they had heard that the huge pits dug up at Keezhadi were closed by ASI and hence they had visited the archeological site to know the truth. Only after reaching Keezhadi they came to know that efforts are taken by the ASI to downplay the rich culture, tradition and history of Tamil people by shifting the artefacts to Mysore.

The artefacts are so important that they reveal a lot about the history and lifestyle of Tamil people who had lived centuries ago here. The total area of Keezhadi is 110 (square) acres and state government should take steps to explore the entire area. It must also give priority to acquire land for further exploration at Keezhadi. If the government does not have the money to acquire land, we are ready to provide the amount, claimed Ameer.

When asked about setting up a museum near Keezhadi to store the artefacts unearthed from Keezhadi, he replied that he had learnt that only 2 acres are required for setting up of a museum and if the state government is not ready to donate the land he is ready to donate two acres of his own land. 

Then Karu Pazhaniappan when addressing the media persons claimed that the ASI had decided to shift the artefacts to Mysore and questioned that why the artefacts are not being shifted to the Government museum at Chennai. He also claimed that if the pits are closed down, the ASI officials would not re-dig them after the monsoon season. 

A similar issue had taken place at Arikkamedu near Puducherry when archeological excavation was first carried out in 1940s. Excavations were carried out for the second time only in 1990s. After that it was never opened again despite the ASI knowing the fact that history is buried under. He further claimed that if the excavated site is closed it would take another 30 years for the Tamil people to come to know of it, claimed Karu Pazhaniappan.