सच्ची रामायण

by Periyar

च्ची रामायण ई.वी. रामासामी नायकर 'पेरियार' की बहुचर्चित और सबसे विवादस्पद कृति रही है। पेरियार रामायण को एक राजनीतिक ग्रन्थ मानते थे। उनका कहना था कि इसे दक्षिणवासी अनार्यों पर उत्तर के आर्यों की विजय और प्रभुत्व को जायज़ ठहराने के लिए लिखा गया और यह ग़ैर-ब्राह्मणों पर ब्राह्मणों और महिलाओं पर पुरुषों के वर्चस्व का उपकरण है। रामायण की मूल अन्तर्वस्तु को उजागर करने के लिए पेरियार ने 'वाल्मीकि रामायण' के अनुवादों सहित; अन्य राम कथाओं, जैसे—'कंब रामायण', 'तुलसीदास की रामायण' (रामचरित मानस), 'बौद्ध रामायण', 'जैन रामायण' आदि के अनुवादों तथा उनसे सम्बन्धित ग्रन्थों का चालीस वर्षों तक अध्ययन किया और 'रामायण पादीरंगल' (रामायण के पात्र) में उसका निचोड़ प्रस्तुत किया। यह पु

Genres: Nonfiction, Mythology, Religion, History

152 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (E.V. Ramasamy), commonly known as Periyar (பெரியார்), also referred to as Thandhai Periyar, was an Indian social activist and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam.

Periyar spent over fifty years giving speeches, propagating the realisation that everyone is an equal citizen and the differences on the basis of caste and creed were man-made to keep the innocent and ignorant as underdogs in the society. Although Periyar's speeches were targeted towards the illiterate and more mundane masses, scores of educated people were also swayed. Periyar viewed reasoning as a special tool. According to him, all were blessed with this tool, but very few used it. Thus Periyar used reasoning with respect to subjects of social interest in his presentations to his audiences. Communal differences in Tamil society were considered by many to be deep-rooted features until Periyar came to the scene.

The bedrock of E.V. Ramasamy’s principles and the movements that he started was rationalism. He thought that an insignificant minority in society was exploiting the majority and trying to keep it in a subordinate position forever. He wanted the exploited to sit up and think about their position, and use their reason to realise that they were being exploited by a handful of people. In a message to the Brahmin community, Periyar stated, "in the name of god, religion, and sastras you have duped us. We were the ruling people. Stop this life of cheating us from this year. Give room for rationalism and humanism". He added that "any opposition not based on rationalism, science, or experience will one day or another, reveal the fraud, selfishness, lies and conspiracies".

Periyar's philosophy of self-respect was based on his image of an ideal world and a universally accepted one. His philosophy preaches that human actions should be based on rational thinking. Further, the outcome of the natural instinct of human beings is to examine every object and every action and even nature with a spirit of inquiry, and to refuse to submit to anything irrational as equivalent to slavery. Thus, the philosophy of self-respect taught that human actions should be guided by reason, right and wrong should follow from rational thinking and conclusions drawn from reason should be respected under all circumstances. Freedom means respect to thoughts and actions considered right by human beings on the basis of reason. There is not much difference between freedom and self-respect.

Reviews

[Amrendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

दक्षिण भारत के महान सामाजिक क्रांतिकारी, दार्शनिक और देश के विधि और राजनीतिक संरचना में बदलाव लाने वाले रामासामी पेरियार द्रविड़ आत्मसम्मान आंदोलन के प्रणेता रहे हैं।

इस किताब में उन्होंने अपने अध्ययन के आधार पर रामायण की आलोचना प्रस्तुत की है। उनके हिसाब से रामायण अनार्यों या द्रविदों पर आर्यों के प्रभुत्व के विस्तार की कहानी है जिसमें द्रवीदों को बंदर और राक्षस बतलाया गया है। उन्होंने वाल्मीकि, कम्ब और अन्य कई रामायणों की समीक्षा की और पाया कि रामायण के किरदार कहीं भी मर्यादा और श्रेष्ठ व्यक्तित्व का प्रदर्शन नहीं करते अपितु इसके विपरित आचरण करते हैं। इस किताब में उन्होंने रामायण के प्रमुख किरदारों के व्यवहार से उनके चरित्र के बारे में निष्कर्ष निकाला है। रावण को वे श्रेष्ठ गुणों वाला राजा मानते हैं। उन्होंने रामायण को ब्राह्मणों द्वारा आर्यों का महिमामंडन बतलाया है। वे इसे एक राजनीतिक पुस्तक मानते हैं और इसे वास्तविकता से परे कपोल-कल्पना बतलाते है।

पेरियार द्रविड़ आंदोलन के प्रणेता के रूप में मूर्तिपूजा और जाति-व्यवस्था के विरोधी रहे और छुआछूत जैसी समस्याओं के विरुद्ध उनका संघर्ष रहा। इस परिप्रेक्ष्य में सच्ची रामायण में उन्होंने बतलाया है कैसे हमारे मुख्य काव्यों में शोषण और अनाचार को सही ठहराया गया है और क्यों इसे तर्क सहित पढ़ना और समझना आवश्यक है।

[Rishika Tripathi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is exactly how a propaganda book looks like. After reading this book, I came to realise that Periyar didn't bother to read even a single line of real Valmiki Ramayan. It's not a story with propaganda but propaganda with a story. Overall worser than worst book( Even using the term "book" for this propaganfic draft makes me feel guilty).

Ok if you want to read this draft then do read same but after reading it plz read real Valmiki Ramayan and try to distinguish between reality and propaganda being served to us by the "writer" ( I'm not using the term author here because this man proved from the book that he didn't have any authenticity).

[Thilak · Rating 5 out of 5]

logical derivation

[Akshay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Sachchi Ramayan by Periyar

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Review:

"Sachchi Ramayan" by Periyar is a thought-provoking reinterpretation of the classic Indian epic, the Ramayana, that challenges traditional narratives and offers a bold critique of social norms and religious dogma. Periyar's work is a testament to his iconoclastic spirit and commitment to rationalism, and while it may not be without controversy, it is undeniably a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Redefining Tradition:
One of the most striking aspects of "Sachchi Ramayan" is Periyar's willingness to challenge entrenched beliefs and question the authority of religious texts. In his reinterpretation of the Ramayana, Periyar offers a subversive perspective that challenges traditional notions of morality, gender roles, and social hierarchy. By presenting Rama as a flawed and fallible character rather than a divine hero, Periyar forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of power, privilege, and oppression.

Comparative Analysis:
In comparison to its contemporaries in the genre of reinterpretations of religious texts, such as "The Pregnant King" by Devdutt Pattanaik and "The Palace of Illusions" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, "Sachchi Ramayan" stands out for its radical and uncompromising approach. While Pattanaik and Divakaruni offer nuanced and imaginative retellings of the Mahabharata, Periyar's work is more confrontational and confronts readers with uncomfortable truths about the social and political implications of religious mythology.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, "Sachchi Ramayan" by Periyar is a bold and provocative reinterpretation of a timeless classic that challenges readers to question their assumptions and confront uncomfortable truths. While it may not be to everyone's taste, it is undeniably a powerful and thought-provoking work that deserves to be read and debated. Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, "Sachchi Ramayan" is sure to leave a lasting impression and spark important conversations about religion, society, and the nature of truth.

[Rupinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shocking, biting polemic.

[Indra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I precisely don't have any complaint against the ideas portrayed in the book. It is okay okay. I like the concept of an epic's underlying agenda of defaming a particular class, caste, creed, or a locality's people. Yeah. Dravidian's are at a disadvantage in the epic, agreed. But the other arguments which talked largely, but quite redundantly, about the character of the protagonist and his people of the epic is boring. But I know Periyar enough not to go with prejudice of him being ignorant or something. I just think he was aiming for the most normal of the audience that were there: people who blindly believed all that's told. May be he's trying to root out Ramayana from the Tamil land (for it was for them it was written), and for that, simply saying, "Don't worship a North Indian," wouldn't suffice, and the whole basis of the belief, that is, the morality of the epic, should be blemished. And to that end, he tried the best. And he did quite good, I should agree. Ignorant people might get influenced, but to what extent, is a curious question. Anyway. I am okay okay with what he had to say, but it was unsettling that he was quoting various versions of the story more than the original one. In this version, in that version, in his version, in Tamil version, in Bengali version, okay okay okay, alright. Sometimes in Valmiki's version too. But yeah, he was simply working towards his Bahujan or Communist agendas: afterall, Periyar was a social and political thinker, not a mythologist or a literary critic. So, chill: Hi-five old man, modernists overdid themselves, though!

First of all, I read this book in Telugu. Cause I don't know how to read Hindi. So, pretty Bahujan myself, it seems!

[Deepak Bagga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful but full of hatred... I get the writers perspective of highlighting the plight of dravadians by the hands of aryas but it took away the rational minded approach.. the writer, in his criticism of ramayan he become biased to provoke the feelings of dravadians instead of analysing it rationally.. and constant focus on ram and sita character makes it monotonous.

[Rajesh Kamboj · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recently read 'Sachchi Ramayan' by Periyar Ramaswami, and I must say, it is one of the worst critical books on the Ramayana. I felt that Ramaswami was very biased; he seemed to write this work solely to defame characters he perceived as Aryan, while attempting to glorify those he considered Dravidian. We know that scriptures like the Ramayana have been written over hundreds of years and have many regional versions, but Ramaswami primarily referenced English translations and the Bengali Ramayana, which may contain their own stories or manipulated ideas. I don't find it offensive because, as a Sikh, I believe in a universal Rama present everywhere, not solely the one mentioned in scripture. However, the attackful language used by Ramaswami seems to stem from academic study rather than spiritual devotion. I don't blame him for the incidents he mentioned because he provided references, but his own commentary reveals an inner fire that, in my opinion, a good person should not harbor for a thousand-year-old story.

[Dev Shani · Rating 2 out of 5]

मैंने शुरू से ही propaganda से उठकर कालजयी पत्रों के गुणों में कालिख खोजने की कोशिश की है जिन्हें धर्माधिकारी ने लेखकों ने चतुराई से छिपाया नजरंदाज किया. इसी वजह से मैंने ये क़िताब पढ़ने में रूचि दिखाई. पर मैने पाया की लेखक और प्रकाशक राम और उसके सहयोगी पात्रों के मीन-मेख निकालते है प्रॉब्लम है वो अटक जाते है एक ही बातें को repeat करते जाते है. लेखक रामायण को कपोल कल्पना बताते हैं फिर in पात्रों पर इतना प्रपंच क्यूँ.
काल्पनिक ही है तो kya फर्क पड़ता है

[Pooja · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a whole new story about Ramayana. Even though for a minute I am agreeing to believe that Ramayana is mythological but the way rudely it is represented in the book is quite shocking. Neither I am denying nor I am agreeing with this book but yes, it have some really controversial theories about each of the character.

[Knowkahindi Anand]

Sacchi Ramayan / सच्ची रामायण (Mass Market Paperback)
by Periyār ram hmare purvaj hai ram hi schchi ruh hai yh book bhut achchi hai information useful book. link: knowkahindi

[Deepak Badhgujjar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Politically motivated, base less and cherry picking for evidence

Worst book ever, writer just shown his hate towards Ramayan without any reference or cherry pick of it, I hope this kind of topic if wrriten is provided with evidence not speculation and assumptions

[Sanchita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different telling of the Ramayana, Periyar makes a string claim to refrain from imbuing the Ramayana and its characters with divinity.

[Neha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Amit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing substantiative only pointless rambling in this book.

[Viral · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pathetic reading!!

Absolutely pathetic reading!! Not worth giving your time. Please avoid this book, feel it's baseless and completely biased.
Just avoid!

[Tagore Wahika · Rating 1 out of 5]

this fake ramayan is nothing but propoganda. Please read the actual Valmiki"s Ramayan or Tulsidas Ramayan.

[Firozo Saug · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing but this book is based on dravida politics.

[Vavni Bhaz · Rating 1 out of 5]

What nonsense is written here , please read Valmiki or Tulsidas Ramayan instead.

[Gaduwan Norki · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is False Ramayan written by anti nationals.

[Quomi Khan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

[Sazur Pato · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fairytales made by south Indian grandpa.

[Rahte Munik · Rating 1 out of 5]

Periyar the grand deceiver.

[Nahuran Lijk · Rating 1 out of 5]

False propaganda written by the author who is an anti hindu.

[Yaterwi Shunak · Rating 1 out of 5]

People need to read either Valmiki Ramayana or Tulsidas Ramayan but this is nothing but a piece of propoganda by Periyar.

[Cafugh Boti · Rating 1 out of 5]

Periyar is his an old evil idiotic grandpa who tells made up stories.

[Danci Dior · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh!!

[Abhineet Singh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brutal. Blasphemous, at least from my perspective. The author has a kick-you-in-the-gut approach and he does not sugarcoat it. However, the choice of vile adjectives, when the writing does not demand it, points one to the bias that has crept into the writing. That does not mean that the book has no merit.

On the contrary, any historical piece of writing, such as the Ramayan or the Iliad, when viewed from present standards of morality, will be riddled with multiple faults.

Having been brought up in northern India, I must admit that it took a lot of effort to fathom this book. Recommended only if you really want to challenge yourself.

[Abhishek Singh]

good

[Vijay · Rating 4 out of 5]

ई.व्ही. रामासामी पेरियार (१७ सप्टेंबर १८७९ - २४ डिसेंबर १९७३) हे भारतातील दलित-बहुजन चळवळीतील प्रमुख नायकांपैकी एक आहेत. जोतीराव फुले आणि डॉ. भीमराव आंबेडकर यांच्यासह त्यांच्या त्रिकुटाने बहुजन चळवळीला वैचारिक आधार दिला. या तीन नायकांपैकी, पेरियार हे ब्राह्मणवादाच्या विरोधात अधिक कडक विचारांसाठी ओळखले जातात. त्यांनी ब्राह्मणवादावर आणि हिंदू धर्मातील वाईट गोष्टींवर ज्या पद्धतीने हल्ला केला आहे तो क्वचितच पाहायला मिळतो. पेरियार त्यांच्या विचारांमध्ये खूप क्रांतिकारी होते. आपल्या विवेकाने आणि तर्काने त्यांनी ब्राह्मणवाद आणि पितृसत्ता यावर प्रश्नचिन्ह उपस्थित केले. ते जातिव्यवस्थेचे कट्टर विरोधक होते. त्यांनी ब्राह्मणवादी संस्कृतीऐवजी दलित, बहुजन, द्रविड संस्कृती आणली आणि रामाऐवजी रावणाला आपला नायक मानले.

त्यांनी 'कंब रामायण', 'तुलसीदास की रामायण' (रामचरित मानस), 'बौद्ध रामायण', 'जैन रामायण' इत्यादि संबंधित रामायणांचा त्यांनी चाळीस वर्षे अभ्यास केला. या अभ्यासा वर त्यांनी 'रामायण पदीरंगल' (रामायणाचे पात्र) मध्ये त्याचे सार मांडले. हे पुस्तक १९४४ मध्ये तमिळ भाषेत प्रकाशित झाले. त्याचा इंग्रजी अनुवाद १९५९ मध्ये 'The Ramayana: a true reading' या नावाने प्रकाशित झाला. हे पुस्तक १९६८ मध्ये 'सच्ची रामायण' या नावाने हिंदीमध्ये प्रकाशित झाले होते, (आता हे पुस्तक मराठीमध्येही प्रकाशित झाले आहे) ज्याचे प्रकाशक लोकप्रिय बहुजन कार्यकर्ते ललाई सिंह होते. ९ डिसेंबर १९६९ रोजी तत्कालीन उत्तर प्रदेश सरकारने त्यावर बंदी घातली आणि पुस्तकाच्या सर्व प्रती जप्त केल्या. या बंदी आणि जप्तीला ललाई सिंग यादव यांनी अलाहाबाद उच्च न्यायालयात आव्हान दिले. त्यांनी उच्च न्यायालयात खटला जिंकला. उच्च न्यायालयाच्या निर्णयाविरुद्ध सरकारने सर्वोच्च न्यायालयात अपील केले. १६ सप्टेंबर १९७६ रोजी, सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाने या खटल्यावर एकमताने निर्णय दिला, राज्य सरकारचे अपील फेटाळून लावले आणि अभिव्यक्ती स्वातंत्र्याच्या बाजूने निर्णय दिला.

पेरियार यांनी लिहिलेले या रामाच्या कथेचे हे मूल्यांकन म्हणजे एका नवीन दृष्टिकोनातून कथा समजून घेण्याचा प्रयत्न आहे. हिंदूंच्या धार्मिक भावना दुखावल्याच्या आरोपाखाली या पुस्तकावर बंदी घालण्यात आली होती. उत्तर प्रदेशच्या राजकारणात भयंकर उलथापालथ झाली होती.

या पुस्तकात त्यांनी त्यांच्या अभ्यासाच्या वर रामायण समीक्षा लिहिली. त्यांना असे आढळले की रामायणातील पात्रांमध्ये कुठेही प्रतिष्ठा आणि चांगले व्यक्तिमत्व दिसून येत नाही. या पुस्तकात त्यांनी रामायणातील मुख्य पात्रांच्या वर्तनावरून त्यांच्या चारित्र्याबद्दल निष्कर्ष काढले आहेत. त्यांनी रामायण हे ब्राह्मणांनी केलेले आर्य���ंच्या स्तुतीचे पुस्तक म्हटले आहे. ते त्याला एक राजकीय पुस्तक मानतात आणि ते वास्तवाच्या पलीकडे असलेल्या कल्पनेचे काल्पनिक रूप म्हणतात.
त्यांच्या मते, रामायण ही आर्यांचे अनार्य किंवा द्रविडांवर वर्चस्व वाढवण्याची कथा आहे, ज्यामध्ये द्रविडांना वानर वा राक्षस म्हणून वर्णन केले आहे.

विजय
जसं वाटलं तसं
३१-०५-२०२५