A role model for 2005

The Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Sri Satnaryan Maharaj, at a Ramayana Yajna at Good Hope Street, Sangre Grande in December 2004 told the large and attentive congregation that the Hindu community should look towards ‘Vibhishan’ the brother of Ravan as the role model for 2005. Vibhishan is a minor character in the Holy Ramayan yet for Hindus and indeed all Indo-Trinidadians he can serve as a much needed inspirational figure and provide succor in these times of trouble for Indo-Trinidadians. Surrounded by evil and an unrighteous environment Vibhishan still held on to faith and believed in God.

Mr Maharaj told the large appreciative audience that essentially Trinidad was slowly developing into that evil environment. No doubt Mr Maharaj was aware of the crime situtation where kidnappings abound, instances of discrimination are now commonplace, many Hindus are unemployed since the closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd. These and other examples are enough to depress any community, therefore Mr Maharaj pointed to a light in the Holy Ramayan similarly circumstanced as a model of salvation. Harsh Varma’s “Vibhishan – Traitor or Nation Builder?” provides intellectual support for the pronouncement of the Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha’s analysis.

Who was Vibishan? Vibhishan Varma states, was the youngest brother of Ravan and showed an inclination to a righteous life from a very early age. While his elder brothers sought and received boons of power and glory from Brahma, Vibhishan asked for a boon that would enable him to follow the path of truth. It was he who protested against the kidnapping of Sita. Hanuman also owed his life to Vibhishan’s timely intervention because Vibhishan reminded Ravan that a messenger could not be killed. Vibhishan’s wife was Sita’s constant companion and confidante — always there to comfort her. Vibhishan kept on trying to get Ravan to return Sita to Ram, but was constantly rebuffed. Finally, he was exiled by Ravan and ordered to leave Lanka else he would be put to death. Following this, Vibhishan and his friends left Lanka and took refuge with Sri Ram. Vibhishan gave invaluable help to Ram and was the target of  Rakshasa (soliders of Ravan) attacks in the battlefield.

When Ravan finally fell to his death, Vibhishan forgot his animosity with Ravan and openly wept in the battlefield for his brother. Finally, he became king of Lanka and ruled righteously. Thus it is clear that Vibhishan was devoted to the path of truth from a very early age. Throughout his life in Lanka, he tried to steer his brother to a righteous path and opposed his cruel and unjust actions. It was only when he was ordered to leave the court and threatened with death, that he decided to leave Ravan and join Ram. He joined Sri Ram because Sri Ram was already famous as a righteous prince and who had repeatedly offered to return to rule his kingdom provided Sita was restored to him. Thus, adherence to the path of truth and righteousness was the main objective of his life for which he was ready to endure banishment and infamy too.

Varma’s essay that analysed Vibhishan’s action in the Ramayan is worth quoting: “Curiously, there have been at least three major figures in the 20th century who have shown patterns similar to Vibhishan and who, unlike him, are deeply respected and revered even today. These are Wily Brandt, Charles De Gaulle and Sri Aurobindo. Wily Brandt, the post-war Chancellor of West Germany was a political leader in the Weimar Republic who recognised the Nazi menace and consistently opposed it. When the Nazis came to power and spread their totalitarian rule, he joined the Allies and actively worked in the German underground to defeat the Nazis. Following Germany’s defeat in the war and the restoration of democracy, he was elected Chancellor of West Germany and remained in that position for 20 years. It was he who rebuilt West Germany and made her a strong economic power.

Similarly, Charles de Gaulle joined the Allies when the Vichy government took office in France. He declared war against the French government and appealed to the French to oppose their government. Like Wily Brandt, he too got his much-deserved position when he became the President of France after the war. Both these individuals recognised the Nazi menace and its evil nature and opposed it. The third individual — and his reference in this context might unruffle a few feathers — is Sri Aurobindo, India’s mystic saint and former revolutionary. Following an enlightened beckon, he left politics and retired to Pondicherry. During the Second World War he went a step further and publicly asked his countrymen to support the Allies and contribute to the war effort. India was in the throes of the Quit India movement at that time and his remarks caused much dismay and turned into anger, when he actually took the step of contributing to the war efforts by making a token financial contribution and sending his disciples to fight as soldiers.

The whole country was stunned, but he remained unfazed. He too recognised the Nazi menace and saw the Nazis as a great evil while the rest of India only saw them as ones who would deliver India from the British rule. What is the relevance of Vibhishan today? For this it is necessary for us to understand the significance of mythology. According to depth psychologist Carl Jung, mythology is a way by which a culture passes its wisdom to the next generation. The role of myths was to guide individuals through the psychological crises of life. The myth of Vibhishan asks us to see our choices in the context of ideals. It exists to inspire us to work to end injustice and dare to stand alone if need be, for the greater good of society or the nation as a whole. At a time when our nations are riddled with cliques and social groups are mired in their own selfish pursuits, the significance of Vibhishan is clear.