India kept its date with civilisational history on Jan 22, 2024.
This piece may be thought provoking... but my analysis is more in societal context ... 'Individually' ....Ram was a failure, he suffered, yet he kept SMILING: life is all about that... who knows better than a struggling journalist, a 'failed writer'
.....Give me strength, to continue smiling !!
And here begins a new journey. Firstly, there is a need to understand that our duty comes first. The 'Ram Rajya' as propounded by Ramayana itself essentially means the rule of a faceless individual. The poor 'individual's' wish becomes the King Ram's wish.
This ought to be understood from a civilisational aspect. Sanatan Dharma is not about praying or following rituals. The principal emphasis is on 'Kartavya' and Kartavya (responsibilities) comes Karm -- that is action or work.
The episode in Ramayan where the King Ram bows before the wish of his subject actually lays a very strong foundation for Democracy ..."people's rule".
That's why one can safely say -Sanata or Ram's teachings also clearly lay the foundation of a democratic set up.
This spirit comes in Mahabharat as well when King Bharat has to decide about his successor. That right or responsibility, King Bharat says cannot be decided simply by the criterion of inheritance of dynastic rule.
Lord Ram was deeply committed to Sita but he was also the King of Ayodhya and the King followed what his subjects wanted him to do. God Ram was 'nara rup-mey Narayan' -- meaning, Narayan that is Vishnu was born as a mortal man. He lives a normal human being's life struggles life long. But his struggles are not linked to becoming a more powerful king/prince or collection of more power and wealth.
His struggles on possibly every stage of life are linked to upholding Truth and Values.
That is why he is called “Maryada Purushottam” which translates to an ideal or honorable man.
A man who is a steadfast example of unwavering dedication to one’s duties and the love and loyalty one holds for parents, family, people and friends.
Banishment of Sita is being debated in many ways. One of them is to give a spin that such a move was anti-woman. This is a narrow way of interpreting the episode.
This episode actually puts forward the necessity of understanding what one’s prime focus in life either a common man or the King is to do his Duty and and performing that 'duty' with the utmost reverence. A King is a 'king' not for himself or his family; he is for the people and that is why a faceless man also matters.
In terms of Ethics, Ramayan teaches the value of commitment. A son keeps his commitment given to his father; and after Dasarath expires and all Queens and Ram's brother Bharat request Ram to return to Ayodhya, cutting short his 'exile' period -- Ram's simple answer with a smile on his face is : "Sorry mother Kaikeyi and brother Bharat, I am in exile because it is my father's wish. I am keeping the 'respect and prestige' of his words given to my mother. And I have to uphold it".
Now comes an interestingly important part and that is again a very critical lesson in the context of challenges faced in the modern world.
The over emphasis of properties and material richness have blinded the human race.
From a spiritual perspective oriental values have always made an impact in the west.
But some of the problems faced by the western countries are also universal. People are selfish even in this part of the world today.
But does material richness give us happiness? We have the experience that millions of western people come to Kashi/Varanasi and other pilgrim centres of Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism in India seeking inner peace.
Look what has been going around in cash-rich countries like America. The material wealth cannot give them what these pilgrim centres can give them spiritually. People with enormous amount of wealth also go into depression and from time to time we hear gunmen shooting out school children merely out of frustration in his personal and professional life.
Ram's example of living a life with a smile on his face itself offers a teaching.
If one sees it from an individualistic sense, Ram was not a successful individual.
He lost his kingdom, lands in jungles and then loses his wife. But one thing remains firm and permanent with him - that's his steadfast commitment to Truth, Values and his Smiles.
Even Ravan was a "more sincere devotee" than Ram. Ravan was more powerful and much richer. And Ram was a hermit. Yet, he wins. Ram wins because of his character -- 'charitra'.
That's why Tulsi Das's Ramayana is aptly named -- 'Ram-Charit Manas'.
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