Kochi, 21 September (H.S.): BJP national secretary K. Surendran has said India's concept of 'Rama Rajya' stands apart from other models of governance because it emerged from intellectual, spiritual and cultural values rather than military conquest.

Addressing the concluding session of the three-day Janmabhumi Ramakatha National Conclave in Kochi, Surendran said the Ramayana had remained a powerful source of inspiration for India's civilisation and cultural identity.

He said Lord Rama, revered as 'Maryada Purushottama', represented the qualities of an ideal ruler. The principles associated with Rama's life and governance had influenced India's social and political thought for generations, he added.

Surendran announced that Janmabhumi had begun the second phase of its Ramayana campaign, aimed primarily at attracting young people and encouraging academic research into the epic and its cultural influence.

He said the newspaper had contributed significantly to popularising Kerala's spiritual and cultural traditions connected with the Ramayana. Recalling the work of the late Bharatiya Vichara Kendram director P. Parameswaran and other cultural leaders, Surendran said efforts to promote Ramayana reading during the Malayalam month of Karkidakam had initially encountered strong resistance.

However, the practice gradually gained acceptance and became part of the cultural life of households across Kerala. The Ramakatha conclave represented the next stage of that movement, with greater emphasis on youth participation and research, he said.

Surendran described the Ramayana as more than a religious text, saying it provided insights into India's past, helped people understand the present and offered a vision for the future.

The conclave, titled 'One Epic, Many Stories - Ram Katha Across Bharat and Beyond', was held at Bhaskareeyam in Kochi from September 18 to 20.

Organisers said the event brought together scholars, researchers, academicians, students and cultural practitioners. A total of 144 research papers examining different aspects of the Ramayana were presented during the three-day conclave.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman