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| By Gemini AI |
“Whether Ram of my imagination ever lived on this
earth or not, the ancient ideal of the Ramayana is undoubtedly one of true
democracy in which the meanest citizen could be sure of swift justice without
an elaborate and costly procedure.” Mahatma Gandhi wrote that in one of his
many Young India articles.
The citizen is the centre of Rama Rajya. Not the king. Not the
king’s ministers and minions. Not a coterie. Not even a religion or a language
or a God. Even a washerman could raise a serious allegation against the king’s
wife in the original Rama Rajya. Did they also draw cartoons on Rama the King?
Probably not, because Rama was too good and didn’t require caricatures to see
his own distortions. Did Rama send his soldiers to arrest stand-up comedians
because they made jokes on him? Impossible. Did Rama have departments such as
Enforcement and Income Tax meant for raiding the institutions or homes of his
dissenters?
Rama Rajya refers to the ideal rule
of Rama, an era marked by justice, peace, prosperity, and dharma. For all, not
for any particular community of subjects. In Valmiki’s Ramayana, Rama Rajya
appears to be a utopia where people were happy and virtuous too.
What constitutes a Rama Rajya would
be:
·
Dharma (righteousness)
·
Justice and equality
·
Wellbeing of all citizens
·
Ethical leadership
Now, let us pause a moment and imagine… Imagine Lord
Rama returns to his home kingdom of Ayodhya today. What would he feel seeing
the grand temple, the shouts of Jai Sri Ram in unlikely places, and all the
zeal displayed by certain sections of people in the name of a Ram that Lord
Rama wouldn’t recognise?
I imagine Lord Rama looking
discomfited as he takes in the splendour of the new temple built for him. What
have they understood about my humility and spirit of renunciation? He would
ask himself, I hope, with an amused, if not chagrined, smile. How am I going
to be in touch with the starving millions of my kingdom, sitting in the
opulence of this palace? What am I, if I lose touch with the sweat of the
labourer?
When he comes to know about the sort
of things being done in his name, will he still choose to stay on or will he
flee with his life?
There is a story about
Jesus told by Ivan Karamazov in a Dostoevsky novel. Jesus returns to Russia to
remind the people of his real teachings which have all been forgotten now. But
a powerful Cardinal of the Russian Church, the Grand Inquisitor, arrests Jesus
and questions him. The Cardinal tells why Jesus is outdated in the present
Russia. The Church founded in the name of Jesus doesn’t require Jesus anymore!
In fact, Jesus is an enemy of the Church now. What Jesus taught – truth,
compassion, etc – won’t work now. The Devil is more effective today and the
Church is working for the Devil, out of compassion for humanity’s inherent
weaknesses.
Jesus, having listened to the
Cardinal, decides to leave Russia altogether. He goes to the aged Cardinal,
kisses him on the lips, and leaves. Never to return.
I am left wondering what Lord Rama
would do if he chooses to visit his great devotees today in a kingdom that
claims to be Maximum Governance Minimum Government.
The citizen stood supreme in the
ideal of Rama Rajya. Rama’s reign is remembered not for its grandeur or
conquests, but for the justness with which every individual – rich or poor,
powerful or voiceless – was heard and valued. His willingness to sacrifice
personal happiness for the sake of public wellbeing underscores the fundamental
principle that drove his governance: the ruler exists for the people, not the other way
around. Rama Rajya, the zenith of governance, is a model where governance is
rooted in empathy, accountability, and the unwavering belief that the true
measure of a kingdom lies in the dignity of all its citizens.
This post is part of an
A-Z series which concludes today.
Previous Posts in this series:
Acknowledgement
There are many people who stood by me in
my personal journey through the Ramayana. I would like to say a big thanks to
their encouraging presence in this space in their own unique ways. My heart
goes out in gratitude to:
· Yamini MacLean for reading
every post of mine thoroughly and commenting on them with deep insight. I must
add that ever since Yamini became a regular presence on my blog in 2021, I
started paying greater attention to my content. Thanks, Yamini, for inspiring
me to bring out the best in me.
· Romila Chitturi for her
detailed comments which highlighted the cardinal themes of each of my posts
succinctly.
· Liz for her
abiding presence in spite of her unfamiliarity with the epic and its baffling
lot of characters.
· Jose
Maliekal, longtime friend, some of whose remarks added an intellectual
dimension to my writing.
· To each
reader who contributed to the 40,000-odd ‘views’ of my blog in the month of
April 2025.
· And, most
importantly, Blogchatter
and its amazing team. They are the real fuel of many of my achievements in
blogosphere.
The way you juxtaposed the ideal of Rama Rajya with today's political reality is both thought-provoking and unsettling. You made me question whether the constant invocation of religious imagery in governance today truly reflects the humility, justice, and compassion Rama stood for. The Grand Inquisitor reference hit hard—such a clever way to show how even the divine might be rejected by systems built in their name. I found myself nodding when you hinted that spectacle often replaces substance. You’ve got a way of holding up a mirror without sounding preachy. This essay reminded me that it’s not just about the names or symbols we uphold, but the ethics we live by. You've challenged me to think deeper about what we accept in the name of tradition. Truly, this was a compelling and necessary read.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much that the epics can teach us. I've touched the tip of the iceberg, I guess. I hope to go deeper.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeletePranaams, Tomichan! This was brought out the purity and matched it well with the disparity that exists. If only those who shout His name loudest were also true to His example!
Thank you for all your efforts this month. I have greatly enjoyed watching your appreciation of this wonderful work unfold. I hope you will continue to explore... YAM xx
It was a delight in many ways to have you around as I've said more than once. I do hope to go further with this study.
DeleteYes. The Essence of Democracy isRight ton in being heard. The right to be hear" d is the cornerstone of Equality before Law. " Audire Alteram Partem." " Let the Other be heard. " Starting with the proverbial rumour-monger, the ubiquitous ever mobile washerman. Rumour could be an echo of truth. The truth, which is never heard, often eclipsed, because of its locatRajadharmsven about the Royal consort, Sita, the Divine, doubt could be expressed.. The right to express and be heard... Assuring that is Rajadharma.. Even if carried to the extreme.. " My dear young man, I do not agree to a wee bit of the nonsense, you are dishing out. But, I shall gve the last drop of my blood, to defend your freedom to utter it."
ReplyDeleteIn today's context, rumour is taking on dangerous guises with the help of IT.
DeleteThanks for your Jaitrayatra through the Ramayana. Enlightening and enabling contemporary delving into and dwellers ng on the many Ramayanas... Truly, this was a Tomicharamayanam... If there could be Tulasifasaramayanam... Kambaramayanam.. Ezhthachanramayanam... The list to go on... A Thousand Ramayanas... And a Million Mutinies... Insurrection(s) of knowledge(s).... As Focault would foreground the knowledges(s) from Below, Down Under, Ultima Tule (The Ultimate Pit) of Horace.
ReplyDeleteTomicharamayanam! I love that. But I do hope I didn't do any injustice to Valmiki Ramayana.
DeleteThe last drop of my blood is attributed to Volaire
ReplyDeleteYes, of course.
DeleteWhat an apt culmination! The question raised in this blog have been raised by several rational thinkers and teachers of meditation. If spiritual quest reigns supreme, mankind will require only minimum government as well as governance. Let Rama Rajya of the utopian return today! Thank you for the wonderful write ups!
ReplyDeleteMost welcome. I enjoyed doing this. That's what matters to me the most.
DeleteEvery time I read your posts, I’m left in awe of how deeply and widely read you are. You have a strong, distinct voice—and you own it unapologetically. That’s something I find truly inspiring every time I visit your page, Matheikal ji.
ReplyDeleteYour perspectives are refreshingly original, often nudging us to examine our own thoughts, biases, and beliefs. This take on the Ramayana was especially thought-provoking.
Stay you, stay awesome, sir!
Thank you. I hope you'll find time in future too to be here.
DeleteI had said earlier too, that though these posts are not political yet I had understood the message you wanted to convey in the present scenario in the country. And hence I was waiting for the last post eagerly . And I must say you have made your point brilliantly, eloquently & loudly ! I just hope the message reaches the right places and may we be able to build a Rama Rajya filled with compassion , humility & righteousness( Dharma) ! Thanks for penning down this series, Sir.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've understood me as a person too. Yes, I did have an objective when I started this series, an implicitly political objective. I'm glad it didn't become explicit except towards the end.
DeleteThank you for your kind and generous words of appreciation.
It is interesting to contemplate how our current world would react to these figures. And how they would react to us. You're right, it wouldn't go as those who are devout would think it would go.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it ironical that the devotees will be the first persons to deny their idols/gods?
Delete