Let this Ravan Remain!!

During today's run in Greater Noida, I noticed a row of tall high-tension transmission towers. Against the morning sky, their structures looked strangely similar to the towering effigies of Ravan that would soon be set ablaze for Dussehra. The comparison stayed with me. Running beneath these HT lines immediately brought several thoughts to mind-electromagnetic fields, possible interference with electronic devices, the consequences of a transmission line falling, and the invisible forces of electricity that surround us every day. And suddenly, a childhood question flashed before me: “Is Science a Boon or a Curse?” Science itself is neither. It is what we do with knowledge that determines whether it becomes a boon or a curse. Perhaps the same is true of Ravan.

The Ravan we burn

Every year, we burn Ravan. And yet, strangely enough, Ravan returns every year. Why? Because Ravan is not merely an effigy. He represents the darker tendencies that continue to exist within human beings-ego, arrogance, greed, anger, desire, entitlement and the misuse of power. The flames of the effigy remind us that arrogance and abuse of power must ultimately bow before righteousness. But there is another thought that has been occupying my mind: Should we burn the entire Ravan? Perhaps not.

The Ravan we should remember

Recently, I had the opportunity to witness Hamare Ram, where the character of Ravan was portrayed by Ashutosh Rana. The performance was powerful enough to make one pause and look beyond the conventional image of Ravan as simply a villain. Our traditions describe Ravan as a man of extraordinary intellectual and artistic abilities- a scholar well versed in the Vedas and Shastras, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, a musician and a master of the Veena. He is also associated in tradition with the Ravan Hatha, an instrument I was fortunate to see being played during a live performance at Jaisalmer Fort. And then there is the deeply revered Shiva Tandava Stotram, attributed to him. This is the paradox of Ravan. A man could possess enormous knowledge, power, devotion and talent-and yet allow his ego to destroy everything. That contradiction may be the most relevant lesson for us today. Knowledge without humility. Ravans tragedy was not a lack of knowledge. It was the inability to allow knowledge to govern his conduct. He knew the scriptures, but failed to live by their deeper principles. He possessed power, but allowed pride to dictate its use. He had devotion, but could not control his desires. He had extraordinary capabilities, but lacked the humility and restraint necessary to channel them.

And therein lies a timeless lesson: Knowledge without character can become dangerous. Talent without discipline can become destructive. Power without humility can become tyranny.

The Ravan we should keep

So perhaps, while burning the effigy of Ravan, we should consciously preserve the other Ravan. Let us keep his thirst for knowledge. Let us keep his intellectual curiosity. Let us keep his musical and artistic brilliance. Let us keep his courage and strategic thinking. Let us keep his devotion and his pursuit of excellence. But let us burn his arrogance. Burn his greed. Burn his entitlement. Burn his abuse of power. Burn the belief that intelligence gives us the right to disregard others. That Ravan deserves to disappear.

A lesson for today’s leaders

We live in an age of intense competition-the corporate rat race, technological disruption, social media, artificial intelligence and the constant pressure to achieve more, faster. We celebrate people for their intelligence, wealth, influence and achievements. But somewhere along the way, achievement can quietly become entitlement. A leader may have knowledge, authority and resources. But the real test of leadership is not how much power one possesses. It is how responsibly one uses it. Perhaps this is where the story of Ravan becomes a mirror rather than merely a myth. We dont need to look for Ravan outside ourselves. He appears whenever: ambition becomes arrogance, confidence becomes contempt, knowledge becomes vanity, authority becomes domination, wealth becomes greed, and success makes us forget humility. Let the evil Ravan burn. Let the good Ravan remain.

So tonight, when the effigy goes up in flames, perhaps we should ask ourselves: What part of Ravan am I willing to burn within myself? Let the other Ravan remain!!

Happy Dussehra!

May we conquer not only the Ravans outside us, but also the ones within us.

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