‘Ramayana an epic, not doctrine’ - Valmiki Jayanthi

‘Ramayana an epic, not doctrine’ - Valmiki Jayanthi

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 09, 2014: Delivering a lecture during Valmiki Jayanthi celebrations of Dakshina Kannada district administration, Zilla Panchayat and other government departments in association with Dakshina Kannada Valmiki Nayaka Association at Zilla Panchayat on October 8, University College Kannada department Assistant Professor Dr Nagappa Gowda declared that  Ramayana is an epic written by Valmiki and not a religious doctrine and confined to a particular religion.

Nagappa Gowda further stated, a work on Valmiki ‘Valmiki yaru?’ has been banned by the State government recently. The work discusses about the origin of Valmiki, he said, and added that it is believed that Valmiki is a Kshatriya (warrior) and a descendent of Karthviryarjuna.

Valmiki’s predecessors fled their country in a bid to escape from Parashurama and started dwelling in forests. That was how Valmiki, initially known as Rathnakara, turned out to be a hunter. However, with rigorous penance, he became a great sage and composed Ramayana. The life of Valmiki shows how one can attain superiority from ground level, through devotion. Also, his work Ramayana is a depiction of noble values, Gowda added.

District in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai inaugurated the programme and said that though there are considerable number of people belonging to Valmiki community in districts like Chitradurga, Bellary and Raichur, their population in Dakshina Kannada is meager.

The community should establish itself by giving due importance to education. Caste is not one’s choice. But, one can come to the mainstream by utilising the opportunities meant for them, Rai said. In the district, communities like Koraga, Kudubi and Malekudiyas which dwell in forests, are deprived of social justice, he said and opined that officials concerned should strive towards providing these deprived class with basic facilities. Valmiki Jayanthi highlights the need for a society  sans  discrimination, he added.

Mangalore South MLA J R Lobo presided. Minister for Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fisheries K Abhayachandra Jain was the chief guest, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, Zilla Panchayat Vice President Sathish Kumpala and a good gathering too attended.