Religion in Modern India with reference to Ramayan
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The role of religion in society has once again come to the fore with the Hindu nationalist winning electoral battles twice with a thumping majority in 2014 and 2019. They won the elections in many states as well despite the rising unemployment, inflation and poor management of the economy. Their victory is in part attributed to the religious symbols and their religious appeal to the Hindus. This begets the question why is religion salient in politics?
Is religion more important to human beings than the daily livelihood issues? Has the influence of religion declined or increased in the Indian society?
Is it necessary to be in conflict with another religion to adhere with one‟s religion? In order to partially answer these questions, Dr. Uday Mehta, as scholar par excellence of religion and society has compiled four essays which we have previously published, in this volume. These four essays by very eminent scholars give deep insights into the role and relevance of religions to the Indian society. Indian society is characterized by religious pluralism unlike the Western Nations-states and Western Nations-societies. Indian societies always welcomed religious influence from various parts of the world through layers of migrations. The last two essays in this volume by Prof. Nagin Das Sanghavai and Prof. Ram Puniyani bring about the rich diversity in the various versions of Ramayanas as these epic stories were told and retold over generations and in various social and geographical locations. Even though the versions of Ramayana are diverse and there are many variations in its narrations, they still bring out the morality of the community and in its versions of ideal humans. These various versions need not divide us unless one version seeks hegemonies and displaces all other versions, as the Hindu nationalist want to do.
Dr. A.R. Desai and Dr. Uday Mehta‟s essays explore the various roles religion can have in human lives, society as well as in politics.
I am sure, although these essays were written few years ago, but they still give deep insights and appear still to be relevant today. The readers will benefit from these essays. I have always enjoyed a deep intellectual and emotional relationship with Dr. Uday Mehta. Dr. Uday Mehta has been my philosopher and guide and I have learned a lot from his scholarship and expertise in sociology of religion. I have read all his writings voraciously. I am thankful to him for compiling this volume.