Citing specific evidence from the Ramayana (not from the textbook), explain some of the characteristics of the ideal ruler in ancient South Asian society.Before proceeding, you might wish to read the

Ritu%Verma%The%Ramayana%%The%epic%“Ramayana”%is%so%naturally%ingrained%in%every%Indian%that%it%is%difficult%to%recollect%the%earliest%memories%of%being%introduced%formally%to%the%story%of%Rama,%the%ideal%ruler,%revered%as%an%incarnation%of%God%on%earth%by%the%Hindus.%India%has%been%known%as%a%land%of%sages%and%saints%since%times%immemorial.%Spirituality%has%been%flowing%like%the%Ganges%throughout%the%country%over%the%centuries.%The%worship%of%deities%like%Rama%and%Hanuman%is%a%difficult%concept%for%people%from%other%faiths.%Hindus%have%been%called%“kafirs”%or%nonCbelievers%sometimes%for%this%reason.%%%My%earliest%memories%of%the%“Ramayana”%include%watching%“Ramlila”,%a%play%that%is%dramatized%everyday%on%large%play%grounds%or%theatres%for%the%public%between%Dusshehra%and%Diwali,%the%main%festivals%of%the%Hindus.%Tall%effigies%of%Ravana,%with%many%faces,%are%placed%at%strategic%points%on%roads%and%streets.%These%effigies%are%burnt%on%the%last%day%of%Dusshehra%in%remembrance%of%Ravana%being%killed%by%Rama%after%a%long%battle.%Dusshehra%signifies%the%victory%of%good%over%evil%and%culminates%into%Diwali,%a%celebration%at%the%end%of%a%long%period%of%Rama’s%exile%and%return%to%Ayodhya.%People%wear%new%clothes,%prepare%and%exchange%sweets%with%friends%and%neighbors,%buy%new%silver%coins%and%utensils%and%families%offer%special%prayers%in%the%evening%at%home.%The%houses%are%decorated%with%lamps%that%are%lit%with%butter%or%oil.%Later,%adults%and%children%come%out%of%their%houses%and%burn%firecrackers%until%midCnight.%There%is%an%array%of%lights%in%the%sky%and%the%noise%of%crackers%fills%up%the%air.%No%one%can%miss%the%story%of%Rama%in%the%midst%of%this%fanfare.% %I%also%remember%watching%a%film%named%“Ramayana"%with%my%friends%in%childhood.%It%showed%Rama’s%sons%Luv%and%Kush%growing%up%with%their%mother,%Sita%in%exile.%In%the%original%story,%Sita%was%found%underground%as%a%newborn%baby%by%Janak.%In%this%movie,%Sita%was%taken%underground%by%mother%earth%at%the%end.%It%was%the%first%time%I%saw%a%different%version%of%the%“Ramayana”.%As%a%teenager,%I%studied%verses%written%by%Tulsidas,%a%blind%poet%who%is%known%to%have%written%the%epic.%The%verses%were%written%in%a%dialect%and%style%that%is%difficult%to%understand%for%an%average%Hindi%speaker.%I%found%these%verses%boring%compared%to%those%of%“Surdas”,%who%described%the%antics%of%Krishna,%another%deity%worshipped%by%the%Hindus.%Later,%I%watched%the%story%of%Ramayana%on%television%in%episodes%on%weekends.%The%people%in%villages%and%smaller%towns%watched%it%religiously.%The%residents%in%urban%areas%watched%it%out%of%curiosity,%hoping%to%gain%a%better%understanding%of%their%holy%scripture%written%in%Sanskrit,%an%ancient%language%and%the%realm%of%Indian%priests.%%%My%flirtation%with%the%Ramayana%ended%here%as%I%became%interested%in%other%religions%and%their%teachings.%The%esoteric%practices%of%all%the%faiths%did%not%agree%with%me%and%I%streamlined%into%spirituality.%My%journey%on%the%spiritual%path%changed%my%perspective%in%many%ways.%%I%started%reading%the%translated%and%abridged%version%of%the%“Ramayana”%by%R.K.%Narayan%out%of%curiosity%since%he%is%a%famous%writer.%My%curiosity%turned%into%admiration%at%his%precision%of%words%and%the%elaborate%narratives%of%certain%scenes.%I%had%never%read,%watched%or%heard%these%narratives%as%depicted%in%this%version.%The%vivid%description%of%Valmiki%visiting%Ayodhya%and% asking%for%Rama’s%help%to%destroy%the%demons,%Rama%and%Sita%falling%in%love%at%first%sight,%the%people%of%Ayodhya%going%on%a%journey%for%Rama’s%wedding,%the%scenes%and%dialogues%between%Kaikayi%and%Dashratha%are%a%few%examples%that%make%it%difficult%to%comprehend%and%analyze%if%the%verses%of%“Ramayana”%were%written%by%one%of%the%greatest%poets%of%the%century%or%spurred%by%real%events%in%that%period%of%history.%%%Rama%is%a%deepCrooted%concept%of%an%ideal%being%and%will%remain%prevalent%for%many%centuries%in%Hindu%tradition.%However,%modernization%and%materialism%have%impacted%Hindu%culture%and%a%major%shift%is%seen%in%recent%times.%The%festivals%of%Dusshehra%and%Diwali,%the%idols%and%pictures%of%Rama%have%become%ritualistic%symbols%instead%of%models%of%ethical%conduct.%Women%are%mostly%loyal%to%their%husbands,%like%Sita,%but%men%are%not%Rama%anymore.%There%is%dishonesty%and%widespread%corruption%at%every%level.%While%the%people%in%Ayodhya%flourished%in%wealth%and%happiness,%modern%Indians%have%faced%poverty%and%hardships%due%to%overCpopulation.%This%has%given%rise%to%materialism%and%greed.%%In%spite%of%these%changes,%people%are%loyal%and%caring.%Families%are%closeCknit%and%there%is%a%spirit%of%sacrifice%among%parents%and%children%even%when%they%grow%up.%Brothers%generally%help%each%other%in%times%of%need.%Marriage%is%still%considered%to%be%a%sacred%bond%and%women%are%expected%to%live%in%the%shadow%of%men.%Traces%of%the%“Ramayana”%still%trickle%down%the%spine%of%Indian%culture.%