CJI Releases Moily's Ramayana Stressing Principles

New Delhi, Jun 30 : Chief Justice of India Sarosh Homi Kapadia tonight stressed implementing the principles and concepts found in religion for India to prosper and Indians to get the benefit of growth.

Releasing Shree Ramayana Mahanveshanam-- the great quest of Ramayana-- authored by Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily, Justice Kapadia called it ''a highly laudable work.'' He and other speakers-- professors Satya Vrat Shastri of Jnanpith and C N Ramachandran of Mangalore University-- noted that the book, rooted in contemporary Indian context, addressed universal concerns.

The speakers described how Dr Moily took care to retain the essence of Valmiki's Ramayana while interpreting events and characters with a modern sensibility.

Tales of how Lord Rama redeemed men and women who had been victimised or dispossessed have been passed down generations and the values interwoven with Indian culture, they said.

The new CJI remarked he had not seen a politician ''so well versed'' and ''thorough.'' ''But let us be very clear, are we implementing all these principles in our daily lives ? And if we are, then why so much of discrimination based on caste, religion, creed today ? ''To my mind, all these concepts are good in books... but...

unless we implement it in our day to day life, I don't think Hinduism will become a way of life.

''It has to become a way of life'' to achieve an egalitarian equality,'' Justice Kapadia said.

''I personally believe, unless these concepts are capable of being implemented in our day to day life we will not be able to proceed for the welfare of this country.'' The CJI also cautioned against aping the West in values.

''Today I have learnt one more thing: let us not ape the West as far as our values are concerned.'' Acknowledging the Western advances in science and technology, Justice Kapadia said he believed that ''today India is a great country because of these values which are there in our ancient epics.'' The author, Dr Moily, in his address, said the book ''explores the Ramatattva or the true principles of the Rama-story, from a secular and modern perspective.'' He pointed out how Ravana, even though the ruler of a huge kingdom, could not rule over his inner world. ''As opposed to him, in the beginning, Rama couldn't become the king of even a small province like Ayodhya, but he was able to rule over his inner self.'' Dr Moily indicated the book reflected a quest for the principles governing Ramarajya.

Dr Moily thanked several scholars and friends, including his wife, Malati, and guru, Dr K Anatharamu, for their help with the work.