Mahabharata, Ramayana great knowledge source on politics: Lal Krishna Advani
New Delhi, Dec 14: After Union Minister Sushma Swaraj favoured declaring Gita as "national scripture", veteran BJP leader LK Advani on Sunday urged people to read Mahabharata and Ramayana saying the epics are a great source of knowledge on politics and morality.
Reminiscing
his
days
during
pre-independence
era,
the
87-year-old
leader
said
his
grandmother
would
ask
him
to
read
the
'Mahabharata' in
parts
and
not
entirely,
as
there
is
a
myth
that
keeping
the
epic
at
home
was
jinxed.
"I
believe
no
other
epic
than
Mahabharata
is
a
great
source
of
pedagogy,
great
source
of
information
on
politics
as
well
as
moral
teachings,
unity
and
courage,"
he
said.
The former deputy prime minister was speaking at a cultural programme and award ceremony to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of noted journalist and chief of Urdu newspaper 'Daily Pratap', K Narendra.
Advani said as he had studied in a Christian missionary school he only knew how to speak Sindhi (his mother tongue) and English. He said he read Mahabharata, Ramayana and Bhagwat Gita in Sindhi and English, and only after independence he read them in Hindi. He said overtime he feels more comfortable conversing and reading in Hindi.
Just last week, External Affairs Minister Swaraj had praised Bhagavad Gita saying it should be declared 'Rashtriya Granth', drawing flak from some parties. The awards were given away to felicitate journalists, social workers and public relations officers.
Among those who received the 'Media Ratna award' for excellence in the field of journalism include PTI Editor Ajay Kaul, Delhi Doordarshan's Girish Nishana, Gyanendra Pandey (Lok Sabha TV), Arvind Singh (Rajya Sabha TV), Sumit Awasthi (IBN-7), Dilbar Gothi (Navbharat Times), Prashant Mishra (Dainik Jagran), Shekhar Ghosh (Dainik Bhaskar).
Radio Jockeys Naved (Radio Mirchi) and Raunak (Red FM) were also feliciated for their popular radio programmes. Those who recieved the 'Jansampark Ratna' award in the field of public relations, include Hemendra Singh (CISF), B C Khanduri (CRPF), Anuj Dayal (DMRC), Vivek Pandey (ITBP), Neeraj Sharma (Northern Railways), Mahesh Maurya (Delhi Govt), Nemodhar (DDA), Rajan Bhagat (Delhi Police), among others.
The 'Samaj Seva Ratna' award for outstanding contribution in social work, was given away to Mahant Surendranath Avdhut (Vishwa Hindu Mahasangh), Mangeram Garg (Dharmyatra Mahasangh), Deepak Aggarwal, Ramkrishna Lohiya, among others.
During the function, differently-abled children from Renu Vidya Mandir, Sonipat and Sunrise Kids centre also gave dance performances. Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri and Daily Pratap Editor Anil Narendra were also present during the award ceremony.
PTI