This statement from the Ministry of Culture addresses recent media reports concerning the publication of the Keeladi excavation report by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The ASI clarifies that its standard procedure for publishing excavation reports involves expert vetting and revisions by the excavator. In the case of the Keeladi report, the excavator has yet to implement the suggested corrections from subject experts. The Ministry of Culture and ASI strongly deny claims that they are uninterested in publishing the Keeladi report, stating that such allegations are misleading and untrue. The statement emphasizes the importance of due process, including vetting, editing, and proofreading, before publication. The ASI encourages the media to thoroughly investigate technical subjects like archaeology before publishing related reports.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The government ministry issuing the disclaimer.
Keeladi Excavation Report: A report on excavations at Keeladi, the subject of media reports and the focus of the disclaimer.
29 MAY 2025: Date of the press release.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi, the source of the press release.
Keeladi Excavations, Distt Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu: Location of the Keeladi excavations.
Archaeological Survey of India: The organization responsible for the Keeladi excavations and the subject of the disclaimer.
Director General, ASI: The head of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India MASI: A publication series of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Director Excavations Explorations: A Director within the ASI overseeing excavations and explorations.
Director EE: Abbreviated form of 'Director Excavations Explorations'.
Ms. Nandini Bhattacharya Sahu: Joint Director General, ASI. Contact person for queries.
Sunil Kumar Tiwari: Individual who can be contacted at pibcultureatgmaildotcom.
Ministry of Culture
DISCLAIMER: Clarification Regarding Media Reports
on Keeladi Excavation Report
Posted On: 29 MAY 2025 1:25PM by PIB Delhi
With reference to the recently published news article on report publication of Keeladi Excavations, Distt
Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, by a section of the media, the following may be treated as a response and disclaimer
on part of the Archaeological Survey of India and may please be published immediately in the concerned
media publications.
The Archaeological Survey of India regularly publishes the reports of sites excavated under the aegis of
Director General, ASI. Great emphasis is given to this aspect, since much time, energy and money is spent on
every excavation work and the basic purpose of the excavation work otherwise, remains unfulfilled.
In a set process, after the submission of the reports by the excavators, those are then sent to various subject
experts, who are requested to vet the reports for publication. Various alterations, as suggested by the subject
experts, are carried out by the excavators and resubmitted finally for publication. These are then 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 the vetting to
experts. Accordingly, the excavator of the Keeladi has been communicated the suggestions of the experts for
making necessary correction in the draft report submitted by him, but he did not carry out the correction till
date.
The story being circulated in a part of the media is misleading, untrue and is being absolutely and vehemently
denied. The Director General and the ASI officials understand the importance of an excavated site, but all
reports need proper vetting, editing, proof reading and designing before it is sent for publication. That the ASI
is uninterested in publication of Keeladi report is a figment of imagination which aims purposefully to paint
the department in bad colours.
The letter from the Director (Excavations & Explorations) is a routine matter which the Director (EE)
regularly writes to the excavators for carrying out changes in the report or otherwise.
The Archaeological Survey of India, again, requests the media to understand the nuances of a
subject and investigate every aspect of a technical subject like archaeology and develop holistic
understanding before publishing. It also expects that the learned media would walk a few extra
miles even to understand the due processes associated with such technical matters.
For any query in this regard kindly contact to Ms. Nandini Bhattacharya Sahu, Joint Director
General, ASI (9324608991).
***
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com(Release ID: 2132267)