The Normative Value of Ramayana in Contemporary Public Policy and Administration

Abstract

The Ramayana is one of the greatest epics of the Hindu, set in the Treta Yuga. It is widely known, read and heard, unconditional of the actuality of the receiver- intellectual or illiterate. The theology of the chronicle focuses on the pertinent values of bravery, loyalty, and truthfulness. Such perpetual political principles bound to remain of strict relevance as the contemporary society confronts its daily challenges for a better survival. The everlasting appeal of these treaties still govern to an exceptional extent, the cultural life and behaviour patterns of crores of Indians. Behind the fascinating narration, the fanciful description of event, the exquisite charms and splendour- there is a beautiful delineation of the real picture of the ancient Indian society and statesmanship. The main purpose of this paper is to acknowledge the normative values of both Ramayana in the contemporary realm of public policy and administration. Keywords Ramayana, Indian Society, Theology, Political principles I. INTRODUCTION "The word Ramayana, like the name Rama, has a world of significance and conveys in a compact and concise form the purport of the work Ramayana. It is a compound word formed with the combination of two component words Rama and Ayana. Rama is the main character in the composition and `ayana' (meaning March, movement or abode) is the characteristic feature of this pivotal personality."2 Ramayana is relevant because the story embodies timeless values and inspires us to broaden our consciousness from "me" to "we". Contemporary culture largely glamorizes the "me" paradigm, which impels people to seek their personal gratification without being considerate about its cost for others. Along these lines, the "me" worldview, in spite of its intuitive intrigue to our conscience, is tragically myopic. A very popular Indian television channel- Doordarshan became the highest-watched channel in India last week, due to the glory of shows like "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata". The shows 1 Author is a student at Amity Law School, Noida, India. 2 Kautilya, V.C. The Arthashastra, New York: Penguin Books (1992) (4th Century BC), Accessed on 12th June 2020. 2020. International Journal of Integrated Law Review