Madurai family from Jothimanickam Village finds the root 70000 years back

A 30-year-old systems administrator Virumandi Andithevar hailing from a sleepy village close to Madurai in Tamil Nadu has been identified as one of the direct descendants of the first ever settlers in India, who had migrated from the African coast some 70,000 years ago.

Dr Pitchappan, who heads the School of Biological Sciences at Madurai Kamaraj University is lead scientist for this 'Genographic Project'. He leads 10 scientists for this project.

Virumandi Andithevar is being presented before the media by the Discovery Channel in Chennai on Friday during the national launch of its serial The Story of India.

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