New Delhi: Former Chairman of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has said that a group of ‘Ramayana-Mahabharata’ countries can also be formed where these sacred epics are deeply engraved. In culture. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe recalled an incident that happened to him in Azerbaijan, where he saw a Hindu fire temple. “Many times it comes to mind that we have many groupings like G20, BIMSTEC, SAARC and probably others.
We can also create another group of Ramayana-Mahabharata countries. There are many countries which are associated with Ramayana and Mahabharata. I was in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, a few years ago. Just on the outskirts of the capital city, there is an ‘Agni Mandir’, which is a Hindu temple. As the place is said to be related to the story of Sahasrabuddhe, Daksha and Sati is now considered as Shaktipeeth. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe also mentioned that since 2015, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations has been continuously associated with Asian and South East Asian countries by organizing Ramayana Mahotsav.
“Since 2015, ICCR has been engaged in conducting Ramayana Utsav, which is an international festival and we invite soldiers from all countries where Ramayana is part of their tradition: Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka,” he said. Recalling his surprise at a group of Bruneian artists participating in the Ramayana Festival, Dr. Sahasrabuddhe said, “Bruneis also came. We did not expect anyone to come from Brunei because they are a 100 percent Islamic country. Our officers were few and were a bit surprised that a delegation came from Brunei.” “His group presented a play on the theme of Jatayu killing.
When we told them that we were not thinking that someone from your country would come, the chief leading the troupe said, you are mistaken, we have changed our course.” Religion, not culture,” he said. On the question of personalities like Jatayu and Varun, who hold importance in South East Asian countries but are not as influential in India, Sahasrabuddhe said this aspect should be researched. Sahasrabuddhe said, “It is interesting and needs deep research on why there is so much love and respect for the story of Jatayu and the kind of struggle he fought against Ravana to save Sita.” Dr. Vinay Prabhakar Sahasrabuddhe was a Rajya Sabha member from 2016 to 2022 and held the post of Vice President in BJP from 2014 to 2020.
