Government of India Denies Shri Rama’s Existence—Your Thoughts?
Most of us must have heard about the government of India’s statement on September 12, 2007, to the Supreme Court, claiming that there was no historical evidence to establish the existence of Lord Rama or the other characters in Ramayana. The affidavit was filed before the court by the Archaeological Survey of India, an Indian government agency. The affidavit declared that there is no “historical record” to prove the existence of the characters or the occurrences of the events depicted in the Ramayana.
This event was naturally met with tremendous protest from Hindus around the world. In a country where the Ramayana is embedded in daily life and guides people’s thinking, choices, and decisions, the government denied the existence of Rama and Sita, essentially insulting an integral part of Hindu culture and of the nation’s identity. The government’s act hurt the sentiments of one billion Hindus across the globe, one-sixth of the world’s population.
Such a statement about Hinduism, especially by the Indian government itself, is a source of great debate. As Hindus, we are all directly affected by this. How do you feel about the government’s decision to make such claims about Shri Rama?
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November 12th, 2007 05:43
I know for a fact that the government would never say that there is no historical evidence for Jesus or Moses or the events in the Koran. If they can point fingers at the Ramayana, then similar claims can be made about other scriptures that also have such fascinating tales. But no, the government would not dare say something like that about Islam or Christianity. The fact that they hurt the sentiments of 80%+ Hindu majority of the country is disturbing.
-Bhrugen Bhaleeya (New Jersey)
November 12th, 2007 05:44
No country or religion in this world has been so overshadowed by foreign interpretation of its history, religion, culture as much as India. How can a nation so glorious in its past have its history written by invaders bent on destroying its people? Hindu interpretations have only survived on Faith which again and again has stood the test of time. Its people, shattered for 1000 years, protected the beliefs with their lives with the dream that the next generation will finally be victorious. For the government to come and say Rama did not exist is a slap and humiliation for us and our ancestors who died defending our way of life in the face of worst type of tyranny.
-Manik Sharma (East Bay, California)
May 21st, 2008 09:04
There is NO substance whatsoever in propagandas and falsities spread by foreigners and imperialists who do not walk on the soils of Bharati Mata but lore in their luxuries and write without fully understanding or fully empathising with BharatiMata. I totally agree with Manik Sharma.
Raama is a word, a mantra of moksha, and greater than the incarnation of Bhagavan Vishnu is his name in mantra for scientifically proven, one who recites Rama Raksha Shtotra is verily protected and nurtured by Shree HanumanjiMaharaj. It is not a myth but the eternal TRUTH that Shree HanumanjiMaharaj is immortally alive on the earthen clay in the holy caves of Himalayas. Ramayan is our spiritual scripture and our holy scripture. Anyone condemning our Sannattana Dharma by creating paradoxes, confusions, intellectual debates are perpetrators and tresspassers of BharatiMata who have only one intention - to break the unity of Bharatas and Bharatis. Absurd and ridiculous, it hurts even to hear some horrible stuff against RAAMA. Utter rubbish.