• Meenakshi Natarajan, Ex-M.P.

We hear that you are done with your so-called ‘Prana-Pratishtha’ (sacred ceremony where the divine essence, referred to as prana, is invoked and transferred into an idol or image of a deity in a temple or at home). Fireworks continued throughout the day, slogans were raised, flags were waved at various places. Every flag carried your name with your image engraved on it. Also, of Lord Hanuman’s. By the way, I first heard about you from my grandmother. My entire childhood was spent listening to your stories. I read a lot about you again and again even in Amar Chitra Kathas. While listening to ‘Thumak Chalat Ramchandra’, I have cherished the beautiful imagination of your childlike form. At times, my eyes welled up while listening to it. This childlike form is called ‘Ramlala’, isn’t it? Apart from Balgopal, there are not many stories of your childhood. Balagopal was mischievous. You were the beloved of King Dasharatha. Symbol of dignity. ‘Karunanidhan, Kripasindhu, Sharanagatavatsal’ you have so many forms. This is how your image has been created.

But the last one week was spent in a lot of confusion. You were nowhere to be seen among so many flags. I kept searching for my ‘Kripasindhu’ in the angry expressions depicted on these flags. Even Hanuman, who established you in his heart, could not be found even after frantic searching. The intensity of Hanuman’s devotion, the innocent fun of his childhood and the dedication of becoming one with Rama were not visible in the fierce face depicted in the flag. The smoke and noise rising from the firecrackers seemed to blur the collective memory and conscience. The feeling of something being broken, the feeling of something being disintegrated and the feeling of innocent life being lost prematurely in the chaos that spread at that time, seemed as if dust had swallowed everything. That small, quiet inner voice was drowned out by the deafening chant of “Jai Shri Ram”.

It felt as if all this noise and ceremony had taken away my Ram from me. That Ram with whom I could argue, express my differences openly and whose companionship never stopped me from being a feminist. The Ram who always accepted me with my thoughts. Never allowed any conflict to be felt. There was no feeling of duplicity or guilt. Whereas I have had deep disagreements with you on at least two matters - Your abandonment of Sita and your treatment of Shambuk. But you have always let me fight. Then when I started recognizing you as the truth, all the conflicts disappeared naturally.

Will you settle only in Ayodhya? That too only in that courtyard? Kabir used to say that you reside in every corner? You reside in everyone’s heart and soul. Who can establish you, who resides in every mind and soul, anywhere else out there?

There are many popular versions of your story. Your different image comes to the fore in every story. In Dasharatha Jataka of Buddhist tradition, you make Bharat aware of the impermanence of the world, mutual interdependence. You make one realize the truth of impermanence and attachment at the root of sorrow. In Jain Ramayana, you are the embodiment of forgiveness. The story of the creator who first created your story is also heart-touching. You become a rebel on getting fed up with the inequality prevalent in Ratnakar society. The rich class loot the rich. Narad is found once by chance. Narad says that first ask your wife whether she is ready to share your religion or unrighteousness with you or not. Ratnakar is confident that his wife will support him. But the wife says that her moral duty is limited only to sharing his happiness and sorrow. Everyone’s path to religion is unique and one’s own. Ratnakar gets shocked and then Narad grooms him. Precious gems in the name of Ram are handed over to him. Even after chanting it in reverse, Ratnakar becomes a saint and anthills (Valmiki) are formed around him. He wakes up from his deep meditation and after seeing the pair of crow birds suffering in separation, he composes the first poetic stanza. That’s why Valmiki Ramayana is the story of your separation.

Tulsidas is shocked to hear his wife’s scolding. It would have been better if instead of being fascinated by this mortal body, the mind had been engrossed in Ram. Perhaps that is why Tulsi says: Ram resides in a heart free from lust, anger, pride, attachment and betrayal. But the image created in the flag is full of arrogance, anger and pride. But that is not you! You can’t be that Ram! That was the fame of fanaticism, the fame of commodification and commercialization of every emotion, devotion, faith beyond detachment. You didn’t go anywhere to return from! If you have any fame, what would it be like?

You know, whenever I passed through a signal or flyover in a big city, I could not make eye contact with you for weeks. How could I face you in the biting cold, the torrential rains, the blazing heat, when small children would play monkey games with their bodies naked? No Dasharatha held their hands or rolled laddus while they were dancing. Little girls and children becoming victims of child trafficking; need at least a loving hut, if not a palace (bare minimum if not the luxuries). Who will give love, education, security, health and respect to those living sons and daughters of Ram, those lakhs of innocent people whose parents died in the pandemic? Many innocent children lost their lives while walking on foot during the pandemic. Were they not someone’s children? So, it is my duty to strive for the rights, freedom and justice of these living sons and daughters of Ram. Without doing that, I will be at unrest to concentrate on any physical function! Translated from Hindi.

(The author is Chairperson of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan)