RAM IS THE GREAT HERO OF WORLD CULTURE: PROF. BALRAJ THAKUR

RAM IS THE GREAT HERO OF WORLD CULTURE: PROF. BALRAJ THAKUR

28-MARCH-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------Under the aegis of the Bhojpur District Hindi Sahitya Sammelan (Hindi Literary Conference), a seminar was organized on the eve of Ram Navami, featuring discussions centered on Lord Ram. The seminar, held at the 'Apna Sabhagar' auditorium, was presided over by the President of the Sammelan—who is also a Senator at VKS University—Prof. Baliraj Thakur. In his presidential address, Prof. Thakur asserted that Ram is the great hero of world culture. Ram Navami, he noted, is a celebration of the immortal traditions of Indian culture, at the very heart of which lie the messages of propriety (*Maryada*), righteousness (*Dharma*), compassion, and an ideal way of life. The very conception of our glorious Indian culture remains incomplete without Lord Ram. Prof. Thakur further stated that Shri Ram—the very soul and essence of India's vast culture—is, in reality, not merely a hero of India but a great hero of global culture as a whole. Dr. Nandji Dubey, the General Secretary of the Sammelan, remarked that Ram is so deeply ingrained in our social, spiritual, and cultural lives that the mere utterance of His name evokes a profound sense of divine peace and bliss in the mind. Poet and critic Jitendra Kumar observed that the glory of Lord Ram extends far beyond the geographical boundaries of India; in numerous countries across the globe, the Lord is worshipped, and various versions of the *Ramayana* are read and recited. Dr. Diwakar Pandey, Head of the Department of Bhojpuri, highlighted that the journey of *Maryada Purushottam* (the Embodiment of Propriety) Shri Ram has spanned from India to Mauritius, Nepal, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka—a fact that serves as proof that Lord Ram's footsteps have indeed graced the soil of all these nations. Dr. Ayodhya Prasad Upadhyay noted that Ram temples—dedicated to the Lord who is the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu—have been established in every corner of the world. Shivdas Singh, the Organizing Secretary, enthralled the audience with a captivating rendition of *Chaita* devotional songs. Several speakers participated in the discussions on Ram, including Dr. Satyanarayan Upadhyay, Janardan Mishra, Radhaprasad Pathak, Dr. Mamta Mishra, Dr. Renu Mishra, Madhu Mishra, Rakesh Tripathi, Ravishankar Pandey, Dr. Suman Kumari, Brahmeshwar Pandey, Ramesh Prapanna, and Janmejay Ojha. The proceedings were anchored by... Dr. Diwakar Pandey and Pankaj Thakur delivered the vote of thanks.