“Victory of good over evil” is what Deepavali is all about. This is the message that over a billion Hindus worldwide vociferously propagate on this joyous occasion. But is there a possibility that this benign and inclusive message could be interpreted out of context and be exploited dogmatically for political gains? How would persons with rigid views about true Gods vs false gods, Satan, idolatry, heathenism, and paganism view this?

Deepavali is a celebration marking the return of King Rama to his kingdom in Ayodhya after winning a war with King Ravana of Lanka, who had abducted his spouse Sita while they were living in exile in the jungle. There is no ambiguity here. Yet some who are antagonistic towards Hinduism have adopted a narrative that the celebration of Deepavali is against their faith, that it somehow represents “typical Brahminical hegemony”.

Yet the critics allege that Deepavali (or Diwali) glorifies the subjugation of the supposedly lower caste Tamil-speaking Ravana by a higher caste Rama, and attempt to fuel a Northern vs Southern casteist divisiveness, even a colour bias. This is often encouraged by Western academia whose understanding of India is perhaps limited to knowing the difference between Yoga and Curry.  

Perhaps it is time to take a closer look at “truth,” beginning with the question of Ravana’s identity.

Ravana was the eldest son of sage Vishrava and Kaikasi, was well-versed in the six shastras and the four Vedas, and composed the Shiva Tandava Stotra, was one of the most revered devotees of Shiva, a great scholar, a capable ruler, and a maestro of the Veena. Ravana is also depicted as the author of the Ravana Samhita, a book on Hindu astrology, the Arka Prakasham, Siddha medicine and treatment, had a thorough knowledge of political science and was, above all, a Brahmin.

He is believed to have possessed the nectar of immortality due to a celestial boon from Brahma. This is not exactly a symbol of evil, so what did he do to be labelled as evil?

King Ravana, despite many sterling qualities, was prone to lust and greed, abducting many women and holding them against their wishes, including Sita, the spouse of Rama. When negotiations and reason failed, Sita was liberated in a war in which Ravana was killed by Rama.

Ravana’s devotion could not mitigate his ill-treatment of women and weaker individuals and resulted in a fearsome retribution. Hindu civilisation judged him as a person who had committed unpardonable crimes against women and weaker chieftains, and not as a devout Hindu or a ruler who wielded power with wisdom, such as Sita’s father, King Janak of Mithila.

Thus, modern-day attempts to change the narrative by suggesting that he was killed due to his alleged lower caste, linguistic status and so on are an adulteration of history and have failed to capture the public imagination – especially in regions where most of these attempts originate!

“People like to say that the conflict is between good and evil. The real conflict is between truth and lies.” - Don Miguel Ruiz

One powerful reason why the legacy of the Ramayana can never be obliterated from the cultural heritage of southern India is because his most devout servitor, Hanuman, an avatar of Rudra (Shiva), hailed from a tribe near Hampi in modern-day Karnataka. He found the abducted Sita in Lanka and played an important role in the war, before returning to Ayodhya with Rama and Sita, and thus cementing the unity of the north and south (that was always known to the believers and savants like Valmiki).

Rama is an inspiring role model advocating fair-mindedness to rise above bias, impart justice without being influenced by personal attachments, friends, family, cultural, or national identity. Epics like the Ramayana are a handbook for generations, to be impartial in their roles as teachers, principals, administrators, law enforcement officials, judges, to uphold the truth rather than be influenced and weakened on the basis of attachment or propaganda.

Sadly, the advent of social media has enabled the dissemination of views, counter views, and propaganda in the guise of freedom of speech, often fuelling negative passions worldwide. A raging mob can be mustered at short notice at the cost and effort of sending a text; the victims bear the brunt. Communities, cities, and nations are devastated by perverse propaganda.

“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not to his own facts” - Daniel Patrick Moyniham

Talking of attachment and falsehood clouding one’s judgement, Bhagavan Shri Ram did not have any attachment anxieties. He dismissed his brother Lakshman’s anxiety while giving asylum to Ravana’s younger brother, Vibhishana, discerning the inherent good qualities of a true leader in him. 

Millennia apart, Arjuna in the Mahabharata, facing battle with his uncles and relatives to establish Dharma, was full of anxiety and attachment, and hesitated to perform his duty as a warrior prince. Bhagavan Shri Krishna pierced through his fears and delusions with His discourse on duty and truth (The Bhagavad Gita) and counselled the prince to perform his duty without attachment.

karma?y-evadhikaras te ma phale?hu kadachana

ma karma-phala-hetur bhur ma te sa?go ’stvakarma?i

You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.

Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.

- Bhagavad Gita:II.47

The Ramayana was in Treta yuga, a period of higher virtue and judgement, followed by a decline in values in subsequent Dvapara yuga and Kali yugas. The cycle of Yugas in Hindu Cosmology represents a historical framework of four repeating ages - Satya, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali - characterizing the gradual decline of virtue and the rise of vice, reflecting a cyclical nature of time and morality.

The virtues and values upheld in the Ramayana are a constant reminder for us in the Kaliyuga to rise above cultural, religious, linguistic, racial biases and function in a healthy robust society as the world today comprises largely of multi-cultural societies and nations.