What a man!

Dasharatha decided to coronate Rama, the crown prince. As the day drew closer, it became obvious to Kaikeyi that her own son would never ascend the throne. Manthara fomented and nurtured her insecurities, whispering ever so subtly into her ears about what a terrible fate it was for Bharata to be born after Rama. Dasharatha’s exceeding love for his eldest son exacerbated the poisoning. The declaration prompted her to swing into action. Kaikeyi entered the kopshala, feigned anger and extracted out of Dasharatha the boon he had promised her when she saved him on the battle field. Her overbearing love for her own flesh and blood blinded her, sending Sri Rama into exile – the adventurous journey that we enjoy as the Ramayana.

Rama, now an exiled prince, entered the dense forest tracts of India, accompanied by his loving wife Sita, and his devoted brother Lakshmana. After a brief period of peace, albeit away from the luxuries that a prince would ordinarily enjoy, Rama was forced to face the Rakshasa hordes that had made the forests their fief. Helping troubled sages and rescuing the local populace from the ravages of constant and oppressive Rakshasa raids brought him fame, glory and respect. However, this state of equilibrium was not to last long. Lo, and behold! Ravana, in the guise of a hermit, conspired to and successfully kidnapped Sita. Naturally, and quite humanly so, Rama was distraught. Lakshmana laid the blame on himself for ever doubting his older brother’s infallibility – a careless mistake that led to the consequences the exiled princes were now bearing the brunt of. The princes realised that moping around was futile; action was the only path that was of any consequence. Sita had shown presence of mind, leaving behind her a trail of the ornaments she wore. This trail led to an injured, dying Jatayu who provided them with intel. Rama made his way through the dark and dense forests, forged an alliance with the Vanaras and gained a loyal friend in Hanuman. Rama, with his army of Vanaras, was now a significant force. This army made its way to the very tip of India, built a bridge and crossed over to Lanka. A fierce battle ensued and soon enough Rama and his vanara army slew hordes of Rakshasas. The time had come to slay Ravana, to make him pay for his sins. At that opportune moment, Vibhishana crossed over from Ravana’s campt to that of Rama, giving away crucial information on Ravana’s weakness. Armed with both information and valour, Rama sent a single arrow flying straight towards Ravana. The arrow pierced through Ravana’s armour, tore asunder his tough skin, broke through his bones, rent his entrails and finally lodged itself in the mighty Rakshasa’s belly. The mighty Rakshasa fell. The battle was won and golden Lanka was conquered by Rama.

It is at this juncture that Rama’s exemplary patriotism, his love for his motherland comes to the fore. The Rakshasa lay dead, his surviving sibling was now on Rama’s side. Lanka, covered in gold and entirely defenseless was there for his taking. The unwavering, unfaltering Lakshmana too prompted Rama to think about the idea of assuming lordship over the island-city. Amidst all this, with such a tempting prospect right at hand, Rama’s character – one of immovable loyalty, makes itself unignorably evident. He says to Lakshmana “Api swarnamayee Lanka na me Lakshmana rochate. Janani janmabhoomischa swargaadapi gareeyasi”. What a man! If only such exemplary pervaded my nation’s masses, turning our fate around would be a cakewalk.