The Ramayana And The New Challenges

It is a matter of great satisfaction that the Ramayana Ganga through 16 International Ramayana Conferences in 12 countries has already united hearts and minds of billions of people of the lands of America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Literature, Culture and Spiritualism all combined in Ramayana have played a unique role in influencing the world human minds and hearts thus making common efforts in the field of world peace, friendship and brotherhood. Ramayana now belongs to whole mankind because of its universal appeal. Efforts are being made to publish best possible Literature on various Ramayanas in English and Hindi to bring the nectar of the World Ramayana Conferences to the doorsteps of those who are keenly interested in the studies of Ramayana with a broader perspective. With this view in mind. The Ramayana and The New Challenges has been brought out which contains papers presented by eminent world scholars from many countries, in different International Ramayana Conferences.

Lallan Prasad Vyas, Editor of Vishwa Darshan is author of 14 books in Hindi. He founded "VISHWA SAHITYA SANSKRITI SANSTHAN" in 1983 and as Secretary General, organised first International Ramayana Conference under its banner in 1984 at various holy Ramayana places in India followed by 15 other such Conferences in various countries of the world. The countries included-Thailand, Canada, Nepal, Mauritius, Surinam, Belgium, Indonesia, Holland, China and U.S.A.-that means sixteen global Ramayana conferences were held in a short span of 16 years. It is still a continuing process. He also organised first World Hindi Convention at Nagpur (1975) and second in Mauritius (1976) as Assistant Secretary and Coordinator. He organised first conference on "Ramayana in Asia" in January 1971 in New Delhi as Secretary General. He has travelled round the world several times. He is author of "Sanskritik Doot", "Vishwa Hindi Ki Yatra", "Ek Musafir Ek Dunia", "Bharat Ke Mahan Krantikari", Ram Ke Path Par", and "Wah Rahasyamaya Mahayogi" etc., and "Glimpses of S.E. Asia" in English. Besides writing four books for children, he has written hundreds of articles on literature, culture and International politics published in India and abroad. He has been interviewed on Radio and T.V. networks of Indian and other world countries. He has also edited dozens of Souvenir-volumes in Hindi and English published on the occasions of various global literary and cultural conferences in India and other countries.

It is a matter of great satisfaction that the Ramayana Ganga through 16 International Ramayana Conferences in 12 countries, has already united hearts and minds of billions of people of the lands of America, Europe Asia, Africa and Australia. In this way, literature, culture and spiritualism all combined in Ramayana have played an unique role in influencing the world human minds and hearts thus making common efforts in the fields of world peace, friendship and brotherhood. Today, Ramayana has to play a greater role-perhaps one of the greatest in the history of mankind, in reshaping the human destiny and to save it from the fear of extinction posed by the deadliest atomic weapons and widespread violence erupting in every part of the world. With this view in mind, we have been making efforts to publish best possible literature on various Ramayanas in English and Hindi presented by eminent world scholars from many countries in the form of papers presented by them in different International Ramayana Conferences held since 1984. This book is third selection in the series published by BRPC (India) Ltd. for which they deserve our heartfelt thanks.

**Contents and Sample Pages**