Ram is not some mythological person. He is in everyone of us. The name Ram itself evokes a feeling of Dutiful, soft spoken, sincere, true son. The most important impression we have is that of a dutiful Son.

But as once one of my professor put forth:

Was he a dutiful Son to his mother? Why did he give her pain of separation?

Was he a dutiful prince when he abandoned his subjects and kingdom? Was it right of him to sacrifice the welfare of his kingdom and maybe taking away the Might-be a great king away from his citizens? Couldn't he think of the greater good?

And the same Ram when sent his pregnant wife to the jungle, proving himself to be a dutiful king, didn't he himself prove that he wasn't either a dutiful husband? why and how could he forget the vows he took in front of the fire?

Isn't taking away a parent from the unborn children a crime? He wasn't even a dutiful father than?

When he took his wife and brother when he went to Jungle, he didn't take them forcefully, but was it right? How could he let his loving wife and brother suffer along with him? To be dutiful Son, he forgot to be a dutiful husband and a dutiful brother.

My professor had thrown so many questions in the class... Sometimes I wonder would I be blasphemous if I question the beliefs? Or would I be only questioning the ones who made up stories... or did they in the process unknowingly made Ram a weak person?


© Skywalker