An Event in Delhi

A seminar and panel discussion on ‘Rāma Rājya Vision and Values for Today,’ was held under the joint auspices of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Tattvāloka, and Aatmalaya Academy of Arts and Culture, at the Bhavan’s Hall, New Delhi, on July 14, 2019.

The well attended programme, was intended to disseminate the grand message of Tattvāloka’s ‘Onward March to Rāma Rājya’ campaign. The event saw participation by eminent citizens of the capital.

Professor Shashibala, Dean, Centre of Indology, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, in her welcome address highlighted the relevance of having insight into our real Self which would help to bring about universal peace and harmonious co-existence.

Rohit Viswanath from Tattvāloka traced the genesis of the campaign and took the audience through its two modules, viz. a distinguished lecture series and regular articles on the subject published by Tattvāloka. A total of six lectures have so far been delivered by prominent personalities over the past eighteen months and four articles published.

Time Ripe for Rāma Rājya

Delivering the keynote address, Padma Bhushan Dr. M.B. Athreya , the well-known management guru and editorial advisor to Tattvāloka, explained that after three centuries of industrialisation, growth and its associated problems, such as climate change, inequality, the hazards of regional and world conflicts, etc., the time is now ripe for recapturing and practising, at all levels, the Vision and Values of Rāma Rājya. This has also been the teaching of Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Sivananda and other great Gurus.

Rāma Rājya is based on the values personified by the maryādā puruṣottama, Lord Rāma. Dharma is its foundation. It is a society that envisions flourishing of scholarship, art and culture, aided by responsible citizenry, along with universal peace, joy and brotherhood.

Dr. Athreya suggested a shared action plan for accelerating our collective journey towards Rāma Rājya, focussing on the spread of right values through the family, educational institutions, other organisations and the government.

Dr. Padmaja Suresh, a noted Bharatanāṭyaṁ exponent, scholar and an ‘Onward March to Rāma Rājya’ distinguished speaker, highlighted the role of nāṭya in re-instating dharmic values. She touched upon how the arts contribute to the spiritual evolution of an individual and thereby to the betterment of society at large.

Panel Discussion

A panel discussion followed with eminent persons, such as Sri Bharat Gupt, a versatile scholar, Sri Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Foreign Editor of the Hindustan Times, Sri Anil Patni, Team Leader of the EU Public Diplomacy in India programme, Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan, the well-known Bharatanāṭyaṁ danseuse and Dr. Padmaja Suresh, on the panel.

The discussion, moderated by Dr. Athreya, covered a wide range of topics including finer aspects of democracy, responsibility of elected representatives, duties and rights, and India’s role as the torch bearer of dharma.

The audience was well engaged with seasoned remarks from the panellists as well as floor participants.

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