“Lockdown” telecast of “Ramayana” and” My take”

The telecasting of “Ramayana” serial by Doordharshan, seems to be a well thought strategy of the current dispensation to keep many who are doing nothing glued to T.V.  thus, keep them occupied and at the same time hopefully imbibe in them the eternal and ethical values of righteousness and social behavior, to tide over the current challenge and gloomy conditions, created by Novel Covid 19.

While the Sarkar rightfully took the decision to Lockdown the whole country for 21 days fulfilling its duty(Raj Dharma) i.e. “Jaan Hai to Jahan Hai” to contain spread and save lives, now after assessing the progress in last two weeks on spread  and its own preparedness to fight  the virus, seems to be looking at another two weeks of not complete but selective/graded Lockdown to ensure “Jaan aur Jahan” . I.e. save lives as well as ensure a slow but progressive plan to get back the economy going, keeping in mind the Raj Dharma of ensuring lives as well livelihood of most of the population.

As the epic is a gripping story of victory of good over evil, love, compassion, relationships and social behavior of all stakeholders, the conversations at crucial junctures of decision making are philosophical, value based and keeping in tune with Dharma( natural laws of right behavior and social order). While authorities seem to have taken it as above, “My Take” as a commoner, from watching the serial is as follows -:

Do an inward search, look for the Rama within you, work on him, isolate the Ravana and his ego. In today’s terminology, simply do your own SWOT analysis and work on it to evolve as a perfect man.

Always be respectful to all, nature, laws of the land and especially to your wife (if you are married) Remember that good deeds always comeback around in unexpected ways.

Always try to understand rather than be understood, seek truth, try and understand the meaning of all the virtues(dharmas) as depicted and shared in Ramayana to emulate for personal development.

Inculcate Love, it is all pervasive and binds all around you. Love is not only a noun but a verb too for e.g. an F1 driver who has a passion(noun) for driving, risks his life trying to  master(verb) the driving skills to win the same, similarly your love should not be only nurtured within but demonstrated too with your actions by being tolerant, forgiving, compassionate, helpful and treat all equally.

Always keep evolving (develop gradually), each failure shall be a step forward to succeed eventually, the continuous process of evolution will surely make you a Responsible human being, if not a perfect man. All of us have basic survival instincts and genes to succeed. Those who dream, dare and work towards their aims positively often succeed and become torchbearers of the society.

Litmus test
For the Govt it is easy to give slogans and make policy but difficult to deliver, thus actions are a must on ground to fulfil the Raj Dharma, save lives and livelihood in the days and months ahead. The Sarkar must “walk the talk” and the united society work spiritedly for the long struggle ahead.

It is easy to preach than practise, thus the charity begins at home, I will try and evolve- better late than never, I  may not emulate even a fraction of elements of a maryada purshottam(a perfect man-symbol of many virtues) but with the beginning and  continuous process of  efforts at least may become a responsible person, worthy enough to bow at his altar(centre of spirituality & all virtues)

Jaihind

Satish Shitut