RAMA

Introduction
R«ma, R«machandra, is a legendary hero of the Hindu period of Indian history. His father was Dashratha who was the king of Ayodhiyah. He had three wives, of which R«ma’s mother was Kausalyah. The king exiled R«ma for fourteen years to placate his other wife Kaikeyah and gave the throne to her son Bh«rat. R«ma and his wife Sât« obeyed the father’s command and went into exile. During this period they roamed about the length and breadth of the Indian sub-continent and faced the ignominy of the abduction of Sât« by R«vana who was a demon and ruled Lank« (now Sri Lanka). R«ma fought for a long time against R«vana and ultimately succeeded in freeing Sât« from him. After this they returned to Ayodhiyah and R«ma was crowned king there.

This story is related by V«lmâkâ, an Indian ascetic and poet of the fifth century B.C. He has eulogized R«ma and Sât« in his well known book in Sanskrit verse, known as R«m«yana. This book, is part of the Hindu mythology. V«lmikâ in this book has deified R«ma into being the seventh incarnation of Vishnë whom Hindus regard as the god of grace and who forms part of the trinity of Hindu mythology, comprised of Brahamah (the Creator), Vishnë (the preserver) and Shâv« (the destroyer). The belief in the divinity of R«ma was stated again by another Hindu poet named Tulsâ D«s (1532-1623) who wrote a simpler version of R«mayana, also in verse in 1575 in the then vernacular of Sanskrit, known as Hindi.

It is interesting to know that recently a historical commission appointed by the Government of India, in connection with the controversy whether the B«brâ Mosque in Ayodhiyah is really on the site of R«ma’s temple, has reported that there is no evidence that any man with the name of R«ma ever lived in Ayodhiyah. The whole story is a myth created by the R«m«yana of V«lmâkâ and perpetuated by that of Tulsâ D«s.

Irrespective of this mythology ‘All«mah Iqb«l considers him as a famous man of Indian folk lore and praises him in this poem for that reason.

Translation
Overflowing with the wine of  Truth is the cup of India
All philosophers of the Western world have acknowledged India

It is the result of the elegant thinking of Indians
That higher than the sky is the position of India

This country has had many people of angelic disposition
On whose account world renowned is the name of India

India is proud of the existence of R«ma
Spiritual  people consider him prelate of India

This alone is the miracle of this light of righteousness
That brighter than world’s morning is the evening of India

                He was expert in sword craft, was unique in bravery
                Was matchless in piety and in the enthusiasm of love