A student's right to read A.K. Ramanujan's essay on the Ramayana — removed from the history syllabus of Delhi University — should indeed be inviolable (Nov. 23). But what is the need to include it in the academic curriculum?
Students may get confused and even shocked on seeing Ram, whom they revere as maryada purush , depicted in different roles in different versions. Make the celebrated essay freely available for general reading in all libraries.
Col. C.V. Venugopalan (retd.),
Palakkad
True, there is no definitive version of any religious book. The Ram Katha, which extends over a huge historical period, was first written by Valmiki. It was spread by traders, sailors and others orally. They caused the inclusion and exclusion of events. Religious books reflect the cultures, rituals and traditions of people living in a particular place and age.
But there are and were no examples of any tradition that allowed a brother and sister to rule as consorts.
Raushan Kumar,
Ranchi