A.K. Ramanujan’s Controversial Ramayana Essay – ‘Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translations’ was dropped from from the BA (honours) syllabus by Delhi University
The History Department in
So we will be hearing lot of noises on this subject all routine – secular versus religious fundamentalists.
If you happen to be one troubled by all this noise – then form an opinion after reading the essay not by listening to the secularists and fundamentalists.
You can read the essay here - Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translations.
Same is embedded below
8 comments:
Hi Abhilashji,
http://anilbali49.sulekha.com/blog/post/2009/03/three-hundred-ramayanas-legal-notice-to-oxford-university.htm
pls visit the above link to know how treacherous and misleading people can become when it comes to Hindutava because of We, the Hindus who bear everything from Reservations to allegations of minority, that too in our own country!!!
Ramayan is a literary work. For being so ancient it has many different editions and copies. The different copies and editions will have different or similar episodes in them. The events spread over a large area and so different experiences would have been passed down and written.
Ram was a personality of great character. Through the Ramayan literature and the many other editions and references made to him in other works the character of Ram and his teachings are worthy of study and consideration. Ram followed good behaviour and did deeds that were befitting and becoming of his role. Continual respect should be given to all things and etiquette must be maintained and practiced in all circumstances. Duties must be followed through, studies must be undertaken, work must be done. Free and fair environment must be maintained. Stakeholders should be taken into reckoning on issues that may affect them. Good reasoning with information leading to consideration of outcomes. One must do their job role as is in their ability. One should familiarise themselves with different settings. One should carry out their social role in an appropriate manner. Good governance and good politics with something for everyone. Harmony in the household, family, friends, acquaintances, and wider society. Following tradition with respect given to culture and the arts. Upholding rights, respecting opinion and maintaining standards of behaviour of the individual. Taking responsibility for one's actions. Reverence for the divine, spirit and the mundane. Establising management systems with trustworthy staff. Delegating tasks and spreading power of decision through frameworks.
When we are dealing with the topics of this kind we have to keep in mind the historical importance these things are having. I find it funny when people write these essays without proper research and study and even more funny when other's blindly follow it without applying their common sense.
In the essay, they say that Valmiki's Ramayana is one of the many Ramayana's and that there is no proof that this is the original text. But they forgot to do research on when did Valmiki wrote Ramayana and when did others. When there is a comparison of this sort, it's a mere common sense to take timeline into consideration.
Next I saw in the text the author mentioning about the folk songs. They are trying to draw conclusions from them in the essay. It is like we are trying to understand Bible from the songs sung in the church.
When we are drawing conclusions based on the songs, we have to take the opinion of the people who sing them to understand what they are really referring to. But here the author seems to have presented his/her own understanding with limited knowledge.
There are many such descriptions in this essay that were written without proper understanding and research of Ramayana and its evolution.
I am not speaking for any religion or book.
But what I say is whenever you present a commentary or thesis on something, proper study and analysis is important.
Also I request our great academicians to do a proper study of the books and their impact on society before including them in any syllabus.
Because we should not forget that education defines the character and destiny of the country.
@ KC...enlightening. What you said is absolutely right.
I completly agree with KC. Our epics irrespective of religion, always teach the ways of life, and we need to respect them:)
Acquiring education from institutions that have qualified teachers with adequate resources for a syllabus that is varied and that can give skills and knowledge to the students that can give a chance to the attendees to make a livelihood for themselves after the phase of education in an institution or institutions. The students may then want to further their education in other institutions. When getting specialised in a subject the education offered should complement what the employment may require. The teacher has a bond with the learner(s). When the teacher becomes a tutor, mentor or instructor then the learners become tutees, mentees and instructees respectively. With a work contract they become employer(s) with employees. Academia or a job with scope for advancement are some of the options. Voluntary work and contributions are welcome. Finance for systems and projects is important. All education of whatever type can prove useful in a given situation. Lore and craft for a job.
what is wrong with you!!OUR country!not only are you living in the ancient past but you are totally ignorant of its origins also. the so called aryans who call themselves the original inhabitants themselves mih=grated to this country. and the others who you consider are the outsiders might have come later but the difference is only that of time. there is no so called "original" inhabitant in this country.moreover, you need to recognise it is not the majority's country , it is everyone's country and it has NO state religion. the constitution states that india is a secular, sovereign democratic republic, you fool. go join rss or some intolerant hindu right wing group.you should be burnt at the stake.and before doing that just check why the nation grants reservations to the SC,ST and OBC's..it is not because government likes inequality but because you upper caste hindus have oppressed them to such an extent that to be equal they now need help and reservation is a minor help in that direction. you people should actually have to face such atrocities that were faced by the lower caste people than you will know how difficult it is to survive let alone succeed in this world.
and as far as the ramayana is considered..face iot everyone it is the patriarchal assertion of a patriarchal nation that need to be deconstructed not upheld!
Mujhe English mein likhna athi nahi, but patdh sakthi hein.
Anju ji...Namaskar...
Aap ko Rss or Hindu's se ithni nafrath kyom lag rahi hein? Lower cast ke upliftment keliye awaz udhaya hei upperclass hounorable educated men, like Swami Vivekananda, SreeRamkrishna Paramhamsa, Mahathma Gandhiji ...men like them. RSS mane Rashtrreya Swayam Sevak, means" A female can live with a real swayam sevak without any fear a whole night" and it is impossible with other men of today, that much purity and discipline they have. Aap please swayam sevak logon se friendship kar deejiye thab patha chalega. They are very disciplined and sobber but if you hurt they will resist that is all.
Ramayana is awsome...Everybody should read it and follow the path of Lord Rama and Sitha and try to live like them and do sacrifices for other ...etc etc...feel the brother's love and respect of Shri Bharatha towards his brother Sree Rama...
Namthe Anju ji...Aap ho sake tho
Ramayan patdh leejiye and try to live like them...
Ek bar phir NAMASTHE...
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