Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said on Wednesday that Lord Ram during his 14-year exile helped tribals earn their rights and rejected criticism that he had equated the legendary figure with Naxalites in his epic Shree Ramayana Mahanveshanam.
"Lord Ram did not rest during his exile... he worked for capacity building of tribals who lived like slaves... Ram gave freedom but did not annexe kingdoms," Moily said at the release of the English version of his book at the hands of Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia.
Asked about criticism that he has equated Ram with Naxals, Moily said they were "baseless".
"I will send free copies of the book to people who say this... it is baseless," he said.
A section of media had recently said that Moily's Ramayana had equated Ram with Naxals as he fought for their rights in the jungles.
During the book release, Moily did say that Lord Ram created an "army" of people and said atrocities against women made him hang his head in shame.
Moily said that the book rightly explores the 'Ramatattva' or the true principles of Rama-story, from a secular and modern perspective.
He said despite being the ruler of a huge kingdom, Ravana couldn't rule over his inner world. As opposed to him, in the beginning, Ram couldn't become the king of even a small province like Ayodhya; but he was able to rule over his inner self.
Speaking on the occasion, Kapadia said an egalitarian society could be built if people incorporate the teachings of the epic.
He said if a judge works on his vision and virtues, he can do a lot not only for the institution but also for the country as well.
The CJI said the stories from the Ramayana have been passed on across generations; the values attached to it are very intricately connected to our culture.
Terming the book as a laudable work, which he said though rooted in the contemporary Indian context addresses universal concerns and presents a unique vision of the past, present and future.
