Unnao gold hunt: ASI moves out, Shobhan sarkar still hopeful

LUCKNOW: Shobhan Sarkar's golden dream to turn India into a superpower through a hidden treasure in Unnao's Daundiya Kheda met its end here on Tuesday with Archaeological Survey of India pulling out of the site after filling the trenches that were dug in search of the gold. But the seer and his believers are not ready to accept the outcome. Shobhan Sarkar's emissary Swami Omji Awasthi however continued to claim that gold treasure is there.
Talking to local reporters, he said that invisible forces were protecting the gold and unless Shobhan sarkar was involved in the digging process. "No scientist in this world can bring out the gold unless swamiji wants. This is the sole reason for gold being detected in geological survey of India testing and still not being unearthed by the ASI," Awasthi said. He also said that the seer should be given a fair chance to Shobhan Sarkar to supervise the digging work afresh in national interest. The seer has conveyed that he is ready to go to jail in case he fails in the individual effort.
Residents also of the village still believe that the seer's words will turn true on another occasion. Many of them were hoping that the fate of the village and its residents will change once gold comes out. The local gram sabha had also demanded that 20% of the worth of the gold found should be spent in the development of the area. But now, they all will have to go back to their usual life which lacked even the basics of life.
But the ASI's team isn't disheartened. Director, exploration and excavation, ASI, Syed Jamal Hasan also said that ASI is contended with the results of the department. "We have found relics dating back to 8th century BC. Till now it was believed that the site had historical evidence till the Kushan period (first century AD) Some of the remains, particularly the animal remains, will help in studying the age-old civilisation," he told reporters.
The evidence, which led to the conclusion, includes artefacts, black-slipped pottery and other human remains found at the site. The exact date of the artefacts and other evidences can only be arrived at after closer examination. Clarifying that ASI team was not behind any golden treasure, PK Mishra, superintending archaeologist, ASI's lucknow circle said, "what we have found is no less than gold." On being asked about the extent of wastage of effort and resources he said, "there is nothing like wastage of effort for us. Excavations help in establishing a certain thing existed or not. The conclusion derived is a tested fact."