{"id":1241,"date":"2011-09-16T06:24:26","date_gmt":"2011-09-16T06:24:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/2011\/09\/16\/dr-gopee-78\/"},"modified":"2019-12-16T21:59:15","modified_gmt":"2019-12-16T17:59:15","slug":"dr-gopee-78","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/dr-gopee-78\/","title":{"rendered":"Culture Without Borders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fostering Mauritianism at the Ramayana Centre
\n<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

By Dr R Neerunjun Gopee<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On the occasion of Tulsi Jayantee that was celebrated on 6 August at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture, Phoenix, the Ramayana Centre had launched essay competitions in Hindi and English, and for the first time a Painting and Drawing Competition. Numerous entries were received for all the competitions, and first, second and third prizes awarded for each. In the case of the Painting and Drawing Competition, which was for lower and upper forms of secondary schools separately, several themes were proposed, such as the meeting between Lord Rama and his brother Bharata when the latter went to seek him in the forest and request him to return and occupy the royal throne, or the building of the bridge over the sea between India and Sri Lanka and so on.<\/span><\/p>\n

The number and quality of entries surpassed our expectations by far. In fact nearly 700 entries were submitted, and the most interesting thing was that there were about 70 entries from non-Hindu students. In the junior category, one of them received second prize. Some of the participants were asked how they went about to do their activity, drawing or painting. They replied that they had either read the Ramayana in book form and\/or searched the Internet for supplementary information about the respective themes they had chosen. The panel of judges who are experts in the field was very impressed by the works submitted, and indeed they had a very difficult task sorting out the winners, who received first, second and third prizes corresponding to Rs 10 000, 8000 and 5000 respectively, along with other material. All other participants received a participation certificate and consolation prizes (in kind) too.<\/span><\/p>\n

The prizes were awarded during the Tulsi Jayantee ceremony, at which the President of the Republic Sir Anerood Jugnauth was the Chief Guest. The hall overflowed with guests, many of whom unfortunately had to stand because of insufficient sitting space. Practically all participants in the various competitions had attended with their parents and relatives, to our great joy \u2013 but also discomfiture as we realized that later arrivals were not getting to sit, and we will definitely have to anticipate and plan accordingly for our future functions. Nevertheless, after this initial embarrassment, there was shared joy as the programme unfolded with the lively performance of various artists. What was also a matter of great satisfaction to us is that everyone left only after having their hot lunch.<\/span><\/p>\n

More than that, though, was the joy of having welcomed in our midst our fellow citizens belonging to other faiths who had come to celebrate with us, as also receive prizes. It made us very proud to have our compatriots with us, for it proved to us that true culture is really without boundaries, and there must be a universality of appeal which attracted the participation of so many others. Indeed, the values of the Ramayana are universal \u2013 truth, loyalty, respect for elders and the sanctity of family relationships, non-violence, keeping one\u2019s promise and so on. They are beyond any faith, applying equally to humans wherever they are. <\/span>
\nTwo of the objects of the Ramayana Centre were met through these competitions:<\/span><\/p>\n