There is a reason why this writer is in the police force and not at an academic institute. This is such a rambling, superficial treatment of the question of the authenticity of Ram that it does damage to possibly legitimate scholars of the subject.
I wrote a paper like this when I was in 9th grade. My high school teacher gave me a C- for its lack of thought and evidence. I was lucky I didn't fail his class. It doesn't matter whether the paper is questioning so-called "Western" ideas or "Indian" ideas, any piece of writing that calls itself evidence and proof must hold itself to certain standards. Singh's article is a painful example of what happens when you have never been schooled or taken the patience to go through the schooling process yourself. Dr. Singh, the standards of good science and by association, good writing are universal. They are not Indian or "Western", because they are based on high standards of what can be accepted as truth.
First you focus on a question or a thesis: in this case, Singh's thesis is that Ram/Rama is based on a real character and not just a fictional character. Or so he claims. The reality is that more than half of this article is just a long diatribe of western treatment of Indian science, religion and mythology. However true these latter arguments may be, how is it relevant at all to Singh's thesis?
Ironically, Singh has adopted a rhetorical technique supported by the very anti-Ramu Sethu politicians he rejects. Instead of proving Ram's existence through direct evidence, Singh begins to discredit every writer who has anything potentially bad to say on Indian religion. This is called mud-slinging in politics. It is how politician regularly debate in Indian politics by highlighting his opponent's faults and not his own strengths. This article isn't even fit to be debated.
Second, you construct a clear, comprehensive line of reasoning: "The human history they know is only 5,000 years old. The ancestor of man was an ape or a chimpanzee." Dr. Singh, how is this relevant at all to the subject at hand? And more importantly, do you seriously think you can overturn decades of meticulously-collected evidence behind the theory of Darwinian evolution in one sentence?
RE:Stay in the police force
by Pavan on Apr 15, 2008 04:13 AM Permalink
Nair, your comment below, "do you seriously think you can overturn decades of meticulously-collected evidence behind the theory of Darwinian evolution in one sentence", is exactly what it is, decades old, and if you know science, nothing is written in stone. I am not against evolution, but have you ever thought why the plants have not evolved ?, the author is trying to instill a notion of confidence in the masses, not trying to perpetuate chirstian propoganda which has been happening since the british were here.
RE:Stay in the police force
by abdulla on Apr 15, 2008 03:22 AM Permalink
Allabisheikh Nayi R Do you have any scientific evidence about your Prophet? if not then STFU and beat it from here, no body wants or asked for your juvenile opinions okay..good night your mullah is waiting for you
RE:Stay in the police force
by abdulla on Apr 15, 2008 03:25 AM Permalink
You are a third class writer, no wonder you got a C grade. If I was your teacher then I would have bundled you out to meet your jehidi g=brethren in Porkistan. Anyway eat pork it is very tasty okay munna
RE:RE:RE:Stay in the police force
by Seenu Subbu on Apr 15, 2008 03:54 AM Permalink
And yours, I suppose, is the final version of the truth because you know all about Scientific writing and apparently you have a C- from your teacher for writing, to prove. And oh, may be you also have a Ph.D.
RE:Stay in the police force
by Tranquility on Apr 18, 2008 10:33 AM Permalink
Never in my life did I get a C minus.... (although that is not the point here)
Teacher jee didnt fail you so you could learn from your mistakes, not repeat them in a public forum to exhibit your stupidity.
RE:Stay in the police force
by Seenu Subbu on Apr 15, 2008 03:19 AM Permalink
You seem to have your intellectual knickers in a knot. All Dr.Satya Pal is trying to wind around is globally pervasive mentions, in historical and mythical writings, of the existence of Ram. Rediff is not a venue to publish "Scientific writings" and the author is not insisting on his article being one. Thanks for letting us know of your abundant knowledge, we don't really have time for all of that. That was not the original point of this exercise, if I may remind you again.
"Even if Adam's Bridge is a natural geological formation, it could have been beautifully used by Ram to construct a temporary bridge for his army to cross over to Sri Lanka."
Many on this forum are as usual saying "Oh beautiful article" and etc blah.
This article lacks in any rationale or scientific justification. Its like saying all those people who have spent their lives in the pursuit of truth and science are all dumb idiots.
The author, through this article is making his own statements, without proper logical basis, and is asking us to believe him. Sorry, it doesn't work that way.
What is God? The author apparently has seen the true glory of God. Isn't Lord Rama God? The author seems to suggest he was a man who has been glorified as God. I disagree. Of course, since I'm not the author, I will be asked for a scientific or logical explanation for my disagreement. But the author won't be! Funny!
RE:Beautiful article??
by JB on Apr 15, 2008 03:11 AM Permalink
No body has gotten any scientific facts yet.. This article warns about the so called researchers / historian like Max Mueller for distorting the facts for their own interest in the past which we know very well now. This article tells about the events & sources to back up them in the written forms , as no other physical evidence could be possible for a matter of that old. You even would be forgotten after your 3rd generation to the world leave the physical evidence alone.
RE:Beautiful article??
by Julius on Apr 15, 2008 03:24 AM Permalink
Err Any historical proof yet about the existence of Bullah and 72 virgins for 1d1ots who blow themselves? Any historical proof yet that pedo mo was the messenger of bullah?
RE:Beautiful article??
by Seenu Subbu on Apr 15, 2008 03:21 AM Permalink
He was trying to mention the historical evidence, not trying to make any one a believer. Did you read the last paragraph, or did you just take off on your rambling trip?
5114 BC sounds more reliable - It tallies with the scientific evidence. Of course, Rama was not the first Human to be recognized on earth - there had been human life existing for thousands of years before he was born.
RE:timing
by JB on Apr 15, 2008 03:13 AM Permalink
what scientific evidence you are talking about...those biased researchers now well know to the whole world for their hidden agenda behind that !
There is no point in trying to say that Darwin's theory of evolution is false, unless the writer wants to make a fool out of himself. The earth is around 4 billion years old, but mankind is not 2 billion years old. Overall, the other date of approx. 5000 BC seems more believable for Ramayana rather than the date that the writer tries to give.
RE:This article
by JB on Apr 15, 2008 03:25 AM Permalink
5000 BC is a fabrication casted by researchers like Max Muller to match everything as per the bible. The author has referred to a date in the article as per the interpretation from the Valmiki Ramayana & other excerpts from Mahabharta episodes.
RE:This article
by Pulsar on Apr 15, 2008 02:54 AM Permalink
And what is the writer's problem if Ram is treated as a God? Just because Valmiki treats Ram as human, does it mean everybody should treat Ram as human? The writer is probably more superstitious than the people that he accuses of being so.
RE:RE:This article
by Bhardwaj Velamakanni on Apr 15, 2008 02:59 AM Permalink
He is taking it to the other extremty of the argument .. while those pinkos/commies question the existnce Rama, this man takes the Ramayan period back to millions of years!
RE:RE:This article
by human on Apr 15, 2008 04:10 AM Permalink
Hi Pulsar Iam a doctor myself and I am convinced that Darwins theory of evolution is false and a big scietific fiasco-It does not explain the origin of species nor does it explain the transformation of one species to another-all it probably explains is the adaptability of species to different environments -There is a large bundle of scientific evidence in the world today which says that humans inhabited this planet not thousands of years ago as we are taught in schools but millions of years ago-there is evidence that intelligent humans in organised societies were existing much earlier than modern science believes but got some how wiped out-for a start read Michael Cremos book-Hidden history
Respected Police Officer, I am truly admired by your skills & I want to thank you personally for the beautiful article, I am from Tamil Nadu, basically our politians should read these kind of articles and must understand the history properly & educate the people properly rather than misuse them. I believe in god and i also believe MK will be given a proper pushment for his arrogance towards Lord Ram
Wonderful article .. I's infact looking for those references you quoted from various Puranas regarding the timing of the Lord's descent. There is one supposed to be in Matsya Puran which quotes all the Dasha avataras .. request u to share if you have it.
