An international Ramayana conference began at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee in Uttarakhand. The conference focuses on highlighting the role of the Ramayana in education.
The three-day event is being jointly organised by IIT Roorkee and Shri Ramcharit Bhavan, USA. Scholars, seers, and researchers from India and overseas are taking part, and nearly 150 research papers will be presented during the conference.
Speakers at the conference stressed the need for modern education to understand and absorb the values of the Ramayana. They said education should not be limited to earning a livelihood but should help individuals serve society.
Addressing the gathering, IIT Roorkee Director Professor K K Pant said the institute’s anthem was inspired by a verse from the Ramcharitmanas written by poet Goswami Tulsidas.
He said the line from the Ramcharitmanas, “Parhit saris dharma nahin bhai” (There is no greater religion than serving others), and IIT Roorkee’s anthem, “Sarjan hit jeevan nit arpit” (Life is always dedicated to the welfare of creation), both highlight the importance of social service. Pant added that the principles of the Indian knowledge tradition are invaluable.
Pant linked the teachings of the Ramayana, including duty towards parents, social responsibility, honesty in public life, and the idea of Ram Rajya, with present-day issues such as sustainable development, health, ethics, and nation-building.
The IIT Roorkee director urged young people to see knowledge not just as a way to earn high salaries, but as a means to serve society and help build a developed India by 2047.
Saint Mahamandaleshwar Swami Hari Chetananand spoke about the relevance of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and other religious texts in shaping character and bringing inner peace in an age dominated by mobile phones and material pursuits.
He thanked the organisers for bringing together scholars and seers on the banks of the Ganges and said the Ramayana offers a complete guide to life, teaching values such as sacrifice, devotion, respect for the guru, and social harmony.
The “Gita Shabd Anukramanika” (Gita Word Index) was also released during the inaugural session of the conference.
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