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Webinar on influence of Ramayana in NE

By Staff Reporter - 15 Sep 2010 12:00 AM GMT

GUWAHATI, Oct 5 - The Ayodhya Research Institute in association with the Global Encyclopedia of Ramayana NE group on Saturday organised its second webinar to discuss the influence of the Ramayana in the north-eastern region through literature, art and culture.

Many professors, scholars, performing artistes�and researchers participated in the international webinar which began with the introduction by moderator and coordinator Dr Sanjib Kumar Sarma and a welcome speech by�convener of Global Ramayana project Anita Bose.

Speaking on the occasion, Yogendra Pratap Singh, director of Ayodhya Research Institute and chairman of Global Encyclopedia of Ramayana project, gave an outline of the project and said that it would take Ramayanic legends to the younger generation and cater to the needs of a holistic approach towards that end.

He added that they had taken up the project for the North East separately�as the region�s�folk elements were mostly influenced by the great epic Ramayana.

Former president of Asam Sahitya Sabha Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi said the epic Ramayana was not only a literary masterpiece that deeply impacted the lives and thoughts of the Indian masses, it also left a profound bearing on oral, written, sculptural and performing art traditions of the diverse racial and ethnic groups.

Distinguished folk researcher Dr Bijoya Barua asserted that the Assamese version of the Ramayana written by Madhab Kandali was the first regional version of the Ramayana in the North East which was written in 14th century AD. The Hindi, Bangla and Oriya versions came a century later, Dr Barua added.

�The Kachari king known as Varahi king Mahamanikya (a tribal king) patronised Madhab Kandali and extended the efforts for making Ramakatha popular with the common people,� Dr Barua said.

Philippines-based scholar Stephen PC Fernandez said that�the Ramayana acknowledged the indelible relation with India and mainstream Asia. �In the ubiquitous influences of Hinduism and Buddhism in Asia, history argues that Sanskrit traditions are extended in the Philippines. Moreover, contemporary performances have appropriated the Ramayana in a �Fillipino� context expressed in the transmedia of dance, music, text and drama. These trans-created performances continue to engage contemporary Philippines audience,� he said.

Litterateur Dr Malini�focused on the divine and human attributes of Rama with Valmiki�s Ramayana and Madhab Kandali�s Assamese Ramayana. Dills Lakhindar Singh spoke on�the impact of the Ramayani�cult in Bishnupriya Manipuri culture and literature.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winner noted mask artiste Hemchandra Goswami and Professor of Gauhati University and historian Paromita Das also spoke at the webinar.