US prof to read Ramayan

The event will feature Prof Paula Richman of Oberlin College, Ohio in the United States of America who teaches in the Department of South Asian Religions.

Prof Richman spent several years studying Tamil and Sanskrit, both Indian classical languages deeply rooted in the religious and cultural literature of India.

She has been a student of the Ramayan for over 20 years. Prof Richman has published many tellings of the Ramayan which deals with South Indian devotional poetry which explores love of God through vaatsalya baav — love of parent for child. Prof Richman visited Trinidad in 2006 to witness Ramdilla on the invitation of Baal Ramdilla. She is currently in Trinidad pursuing research on Comparative Ramleela and Ramdilla in South Africa, UK and Trinidad.

Prof Richman loves to tell Ramayana stories to both adults and children.

She will deliver a series of selected Ramayana stories on Sunday at the Hindu Prachar Kendra, Raghunanan Road in Enterprise, Chaguanas.

Discussions on the stories and treats for children will follow.

The event is being organised and hosted by children of Baal Ramdilla and all are invited.

It is the norm for pundits to tell the Ramayan story at yagnas (Hindu readings of a religious nature).

It is the first time a professional is going to tell the story of the Ramayan.