Bangalore, Jan. 4

Scientist and archaeologist Dr. S.R. Rao, who discovered the legendary Dwaraka city of Sri Krishna su-bmerged in the Arabian Sea 3,500 years ago [see pic alongside], passed away at his residence in Jayanagar here yesterday afternoon.

Last rites will be held at the burial ground near T.R. Mill in Chamarajpet today, according to family sources.

Dr. Rao had two major path-breaking excavations to his credit, namely the Harappan port of Lothal and the submerged city Dwarka of Lord Krishna. Dr. Rao had carried out excavation work at north Gujarat’s Siddhpur- based Rudramahal site amid protests by local Muslims. He had discovered a Mandir within the structure of converted mosque.

Dr. Rao had led the sixth marine archaeological expedition of the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, which discovered hitherto unknown features of Dwaraka. During Nov. 1987 to Feb. 1988 the expedition said it had come across the inner and outer gateways of the proto-historic port city, flanked by circular bastions built of massive blocks of sandstone. From the inner gateway, a flight of steps led to the Gomati river, the submerged channel of which has been traced over a length of 1.5 km in the seabed. Excavations done by Dr. S. R. Rao (one of Bharat’s most respected archaeologists) at Dwaraka prove that the descriptions as found in these texts are not to be discarded as fanciful but are to be treated as based on actualities as seen by their authors.

Before the legendary city of Dwaraka was discovered, some scholars were of the view that the Mahabharata being only a myth it would be futile to look for the remains of Dwa-raka and that too in the sea. Others held that the Mahabharata battle was a family feud exaggerated into a war.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> General News / January 04th, 2013