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BBC: Report on Hindu god Ram withdrawn [LINK-ZUM]

The Indian government has withdrawn a controversial report submitted in court earlier this week which questioned the existence of the Hindu god Ram. The report was withdrawn after huge protests by opposition parties. The report was presented to the Supreme Court on Wednesday in connection with a case against a proposed shipping canal project between India and Sri Lanka. [...]

They said there was no scientific evidence to prove that the events described in Ramayana ever took place or that the characters depicted in the epic were real. Hindu activists say the bridge was built by Lord Ram's monkey army to travel to Sri Lanka and has religious significance. In the last two days, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on the government for questioning the "faith of the million".

[Retaining or destroying a natural formation based on its current beauty or popularity compared to a potential function is tricky. The functionality can be quantified but it isn't something that is real. Popularity can be quantified but only to a limited degree as a few highly dedicated supporters might be equal to many moderate supporters. Beauty can't be quantified at all but is an entirely valid reason for leaving something be. Even leaving something be for tradition's sake alone has its place. There are good reasons to leave that natural land bridge alone. Honoring invisible monsters that command monkey armies is not one of them. And what weak monsters they are if holding a differing opinion about an article of faith threatens their very existence. I have no idea whether or not this natural land bridge should be left alone or changed or destroyed. I do know that there is no Ram, monkeys don't build bridges, and it is an error for governments to be run by superstition. - Trevor Blake]

Labels: architecture, hindu, theocracy

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