Mahatma Ghandis Views and Opinions of the Rama Essay

There are hundreds of different versions of the Ramayana in various geographical locations. Even though the main characters stay consistent most of the time, their themes, actions and motifs often vary, which gives different groups of people multiple interpretations of how to use these stories. This is especially true for Rama because many people view him as the Supreme God, especially Ghandi and the RSS, although they have differing opinions on Rama’s image. Mahatma Ghandi was arguably one of the most prominent figures during the 20th century due to his views about the assimilation of religions in India, rebellion through nonviolence, and eliminating British rule in India. Some Hindus, especially the RSS, wanted to get rid of the Muslim†¦show more content†¦A true satyagrahi does something purely because it is their moral duty. If a satyagrahi has truth on his side, he will win, and if his thought is faulty, he will suffer the consequences of his fault (Gandhi in Mukherjee 1993: 128). Truth is the highest dharma a person can attain. Dharma, is a person’s duty and righteousness according to their â€Å"caste, social class, or stage of life (Narayanan 2004: 58).† This is why Rama is considered the Supreme God and a satyagrahi, because he always followed dharma. He always did his duty, and what he considered to be right. Therefore, a true satyagrahi will have good dharma, and Rama represents the ultimate satyagrahi. The Ramayan had at least 2 revivals in the last hundred years, the first was when Mahatma Gandhi described an ideal polity and just rule as Ramrajya (Vajpeyi 2011: 2). This was when Ghandi was criticizing British colonialism. He gets his views from his portrayal of Rama because he perceives Rama as the Supreme Being. â€Å"I must say that the independence of my dream means Ramayana, i.e. the Kingdom of God on Earth (Gandhi in Mukherjee 1993: 82).† Ghandi believed Rama to be non-violent, not overly aggressive, and one who had conquered self-pride. Rama also has virtues that are said to be common in all human beings, according to dharma, which include gratitude, non-violence, compassion, and generosity (Narayanan. 2004: 58). For example, in the Ramayana written by Naranjuan, Rama shows compassion