On January 23, Annapolis’s Maryland State Assembly Building became a nexus of cultural exchange with a dedicated exhibition on the Ramayana’s dissemination from Asia and afar. Drawing lawmakers, envoys, and influencers, the one-day showcase illuminated the epic’s worldwide resonance in an American legislative setting.
Delegate Wu Chao spotlighted its unifying essence. ‘Culture like this links disparate peoples, boosting comprehension and tempering divides in politics and beyond,’ she observed, valuing its diversity-enhancing impact.
Delegate Harry Bhandari extolled the Ramayana’s role as a moral lodestar, teaching character, altruism, family sanctity, meekness, and hubris rejection—essentials for navigating contemporary crises.
Delegate Mike Rogers, an Asia-traveled veteran, reaffirmed commonalities. ‘Similarities trump differences; honoring traditions engenders respect and global progress,’ he asserted.
Nepalese diplomat Aruna Ghising recalled youthful Ramayana telecasts, fascinated by Guyana links. She deemed it an exquisite event, offering collaborative prospects ahead.
Strategic venue choice within the capitol targeted policymakers’ education on the epic’s civilizational breadth, explained HinduAction associate Festival Chakravarti. Maryland’s Hindus mingle with Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Filipino communities; yet lawmakers often overlook Hindu narratives in places like Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.
Dr. Vidya Sathyamurti’s efforts brought it post-DC and Ohio stints. She portrayed it as a timeless epic, with 11-country displays proving its 16+ nation footprint, preaching unity, obligation, forbearance, family—potent for youth.
Such events herald a new era where heritage fuels intercultural harmony.