My first reaction to the news of the excavation by ASI at the Unnao Fort - just because a so-called seer claims to have been informed about 1000 tons of buried gold in a dream by a king who ruled the area around 2 centuries ago - was of utter disbelief. Are these guys certifiably insane? That's one possibility and a more believable one, considering the government actions of the past few months.
But there is another possibility (a very very slim one!) - an attempt to preserve the law and order in the area. Apparently, the seer is very much trusted by the local people. Clearly, people believe every word that he says. None of us would want a riot like situation if people decide to pick up shovels and go prospecting for some royal gold. If ISI stumbles upon some gold, it's a Happy Day scenario for the government - provided all of it ends up in government coffers (a fat chance!). If they don't find anything, the seer is automatically discredited.
Of course, there is a downside in both cases. If gold is indeed recovered, the seer's power will grow manifold. And even if it is not, the government will be powerless to stop people who will descend on the place in droves to try their luck, thus destroying a centuries-old structure (not that the governments have done anything to protect such sites in the past!).
What beats me is how in the world does a long-dead king know about the state of the Indian economy? That's a question worth it's weight in gold, what say?
But there is another possibility (a very very slim one!) - an attempt to preserve the law and order in the area. Apparently, the seer is very much trusted by the local people. Clearly, people believe every word that he says. None of us would want a riot like situation if people decide to pick up shovels and go prospecting for some royal gold. If ISI stumbles upon some gold, it's a Happy Day scenario for the government - provided all of it ends up in government coffers (a fat chance!). If they don't find anything, the seer is automatically discredited.
Of course, there is a downside in both cases. If gold is indeed recovered, the seer's power will grow manifold. And even if it is not, the government will be powerless to stop people who will descend on the place in droves to try their luck, thus destroying a centuries-old structure (not that the governments have done anything to protect such sites in the past!).
What beats me is how in the world does a long-dead king know about the state of the Indian economy? That's a question worth it's weight in gold, what say?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment