The much-awaited launch of Vedic speaker Dushyanth Sridhar‘s book, Rāmāyaṇam (Vol 1) took place on 22 June 2024 at Narada Gana Sabha in Chennai. The book was released by a multitude of luminaries such as Editor of Tamil weekly, Thuglak, S Gurumurthy, political analyst and scientist Anand Ranganathan, Carnatic musician sisters Ranjani Gayatri, and noted journalist Rangaraj Pandey.

The list of chief guests also included Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party chief K Annamalai and film star Rajinikanth. However, owing to the developments in the state over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, Annamalai could not attend the event. Rajinikanth also had to skip the event due to other commitments.

However, the approximately 900-strong audience (live) was left enthralled by the nearly 3-hour programme that satisfied their thirst for music, dance, and Bhakti. The entire evening was filled with claps, laughter, and joy as evident from their reactions.

The programme began with a recital by noted danceuse Anita Guha’s Bharatanjali team which put together the “Parishvanga Pattabhishekam” scene for the audience. The piece included scenes from the Sundarakandam and depicted how Hanuman meets Devi Sita and encounters Ravana, the burning of Lanka (Lanka Dahan) followed by bringing the good news to Lord Rama about having met Devi Sita.

This was followed by a presentation of a medley of songs on Lord Rama (Rama Bhakti Geetam) sung by budding Carnatic singers Anahita and Apoorva, which gave the audience an aural treat and the visual treat by Pranauti, a young Bharatnatyam danceuse and disciple of exponent Urmila Satyanarayanan.

The closing of this performance left the audience literally astounded, as the divine darshan of Ayodhya’s Ram Lalla made them leave a little gasp together.

This was followed by a rendition of the national song, Vande Mataram by Anahita and Apoorva.

The contributors to the book were honored following this rendition. They include the editor of the book, Latha from Nairobi, and illustrators Keshav and Upasana Govindarajan. Historians and authors TS Krishnan and Jayashree Saranathan were also honored for their contributions to the book.

Following the launch of the book, the guests made their speeches. S Gurumurthy recollected the Ramjanmabhoomi movement and explained how the word Rama itself was a spiritual power that brought people together and how the word Rama changed the course of India – historically, politically, and culturally.

He recollected how the BJP touched Rama at Palampur resolution and there was no stopping its rise since 1989 when the Ramjanmabhoomi movement became a part of its political manifesto.

He called the book launch a nationalist event and not a spiritual or religious one and said that it was an integrated celebration of our civilization.

This was followed by a short speech by scientist, Anand Ranganathan who said it was incredible that Ramayana is still being written and read even in this day and age. He also said that Ramayana was special and beyond that, our civilization is also very special, and this struck home on 22 January 2024 (Pran Prathishta event). He described the joy that even little children and teens found during the Pran Prathishta event and wondered what connection it was that someone so young danced on the streets of Ayodhya that day. He also added that because of this continuity, Sanatan Dharma cannot be eradicated because the families of people who want to do it are themselves devotees of Rama.

Ranganathan also uttered the last two stanzas of the Vande Mataram which was originally objected to as India’s national song by Mohammed Ali Jinnah. He said, “We have mutilated the greatest creation, sacrificed the core of our civilization in the name of secularism (pseudo-secularism).

Carnatic music singer duo Ranjani and Gayatri spoke about how eternally relevant the Ramayana is to Hindus even today. They described the qualities of Lord Rama and explained why Bharat worships Him even today. The sisters sang a few Tamil verses from the Kamba Ramayanam in the most soulful way.

Following this lilting rendition, journalist Rangaraj Pandey praised the performances. Narrating an incident that happened the previous day, he said, “We don’t know when and how we will die but we can understand how to live a good life and for that, Ramayanam is a good guide. Rama lived as a common man and lived as an example for others.”

He enumerated the qualities of Lord Rama such as Ekapatnivrata (married to and loyal to only one wife, at a time when everyone including his father had many wives) and Pitruvakyaparipalana – one who obeyed his father’s words without hesitation.

He also noted that the language of the book was English and also observed that this was done in order to connect and deliver/reach the message to the next generation.

He further added, “An ordinary Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi became Mahatma Gandhi because of the words Hey Ram.”

The author of the book, Dushyanth Sridhar delivered the vote of thanks. He narrated the process that went into the making of the book. He added, “As long as the rivers flow and the mountains rise and stand tall, so shall Ramayana live.” But today mountains have been quarried and rivers have become dry and their sand taken away. So the situation today warrants this explanation for the modern day, “Till Ramayanam is written and spoken about, till then rivers will flow and mountains shall stand.”

Dushyanth Sridhar also explained why the book was launched in Chennai of all places. He said, “Bhakti was born in Tamil Nadu, which is a state that has maximum temples.” He further said, “Tamil Nadu was a state where Rama was paraded with chappal mala, where Rama was called by different names, how many every prayaschittams we do, we need more, this is a prayaschittam to that aparadham.”

He also added that the book will be translated into Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu in about a year and that even before the book was launched it had already hit the best-seller list.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.