Ramayan in the time of corona has brought mixed reactions from people in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The re-run of the popular TV series produced by Ramanand Sagar which was first aired by Doordarshan in 1987 (when terms like satellite TV channels, Direct To Home Service and even local cable TV opetrators were unheard of in these parts of the country) is being telecast by the National channel of the Doordarshan twice in a day.
“Media is hounding us with corona news throughout the day and night. So Ramayan is soothing to our confused state of mind with the impending corona threats hanging over our heads,” said Vijayasree Ramesh, a social activist in Chennai.
But leaders of Dravidian outfits in Tamil Nadu (barring AIADMK) have not taken the telecasting kindly. They accuse the government of spreading communalism and Brahminism through public broadcaster.
“Ramayana spreads unbelievable irrational superstitious stories which make the people idiots and against the constitutional guarantee of scientific thinking which is enshrined in the Constitution of India. Ramayana encourages upper caste and lower caste system in the society. Brahmins are placed at the top and the lower caste soodras are portrayed as untouchables and have been created to serve the Brahmins,” said S Doraisamy, vice president, Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhakam, an offshoot of the Dravidian movement launched by E V R Naiker.
In a statement released to the media, Doraisamy said that telecasting of Ramayana was against Constitution of India. “It preaches unequal and slavery treatment to women. The epic encourages illegal intimacies and prostitution. The story itself was authored by Valmiki, a one time thief and sexual offender. Fomerr Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nahru had said that Ramayana was a mythology and fairy tale,” said Doraisamy. According to Doraisamy, Ramayana spreads unbelievable irrational superstitious stories which make the people idiots and it was against the constitutional guarantee of scientific thinking enshrined in the Constitution of India.
Ali Akbar, movie maker and an authority on the great epics rejected the Dravidian theory. “Both Ramayana and Maha Bharat are works authored by depressed classes and both have relevance even now. The allegation that they are promoting Brahminism and Hindutwa is nonsense. Show me an instance in these books which promote communalism or hatred. There are certain forces in India who do not want the new generation to know about Ramayana or Maha Bharata and they are the ones degrading these epic books,” said Akbar.
Jaya Raman, a class nine student in Ernakulam who watched both the episodes aired on Saturday was gung ho and was eagerly waiting for Sunday’s episodes.
“This is the first time I am watching it. I liked the parts in which the four brothers are taught the ancient Indian traditions by Sage Vasisht like getting up early in the morning, respecting one’s mother, father and teacher and to be punctual and disciplined,” he said.
Viewers dependent on local cable operators were in for disappointment as the latter are not relaying the DD National channel in their bouquet. “Only people in cities and towns get to watch all DD channels because they have DTH services. We are at the mercy of local cable operators who decide which channels should be seen by us,” said Palaniswamy of Padavedu village in Thiruvannamalai.
DD Bharati, another channel of Doordarshan is airing Maha Bharat, an equally popular epic serial produced by the House of B R Chopras. With the public broadcaster scheduling to air some of the evergreen serials of the 1980s vintage, there is a general feeling that cautions like 21-days Lock Down, Social Distancing and other restrictions may yield results provided the State electricity boards are in good mood!
