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I am pleased to know that the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan will be bringing out a special Ramanavami issue of Bhavan's Journal.
The theme "What Ramayana Means to me", which you have chosen for the special issue, is indeed an appropriate one. The Ramayana offers to all its readers an ageless lesson on how to live one's life by doing one's duty conscientiously. The popular belief that Rama was an ideal human being (Maryada Purushothama) epitomizing the highest qualities both in personal and public life, is rooted in the epic's moving narrative. The narrative has lost none of its appeal on the Indian mind even in modern times. Together with the Mahabharata, it has continued to nourish India's national culture down the ages. The tales from the two great epics that I heard in my childhood from my mother are still fresh in my mind.
By extolling the principles of justice and fairness towards all, the Ramayana also presents an ideal for the administration of our country. Its immortal message deeply influenced the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and sustained him in his "Experiments with Truth". Even today, many devout people find peace and soul-strength by simply reciting its shlokas. Its message transcends religious and culture and has also traversed across our national boundaries.
The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan has done much to popularize the Ramayana especially among non-Hindi speaking people. This special issue of its prestigious Journal will further help to increase our understanding of the importance of the Ramayana to our national ethos.
I complement the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for producing this special issue and I commend it to all.
A.B. Vajpayee
Former Prime Minister
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