One of the greatest poets in Hindi, Indian, and world literature. Goswami Tulsidas was a Ramanandi Vaishnava saint and poet, renowned for his devotion to the deity Rama.
He wrote several popular works in Sanskrit and Awadhi, but is best known as the author of the epic Ramcharitmanas, a retelling of the Sanskrit Ramayana based on Rama’s life in the vernacular Awadhi.
The impact of his works on the art, culture and society in India is widespread and is seen to date in vernacular language, Ramlila plays a folk-theater adaption of the Ramayana and Hindustani classical music.
We have Shri Anshumali Tandon, who has authored , co-authored, directed (books, plays and short films). Anshu Ji who heads Saakar which organizes plays, musical performances, literary evenings, exhibition of films, film appreciation sessions & seminars.
Anshu Ji has spent many years in researching Goswami Tulsidas. While all of us know Tulsi for Ram Charit Manas, Ansu’s directed/produced play “Jo Chaho Ujiyaar” articulately and eloquently captures the less explored facets of Tulsi’s personality.
Anshu’s talk will cover his research into Tulsi’s married life, his bringing Ram and Hanuman close to commoners, which he did by pioneering Ramlila and Vedic Sama Gaana like folk singing of Hanuman Chalisa for non-Brahmins.
Most importantly the talk will capture Tulsi’s struggles against an overwhelmingly Islamic and unjust political, economic and spiritual environment and a decaying Hindu establishment.
It will also be about Tulsi’s influence on King Akbar who issued a coin (used as currency, not just a commemorative coin) depicting Ram and Sita – the first and only by any ruler, esp. an Islamic ruler and his influence on the great Muslim Rama-bhakta Rahim Khanekhana, who was the son of Akbar’s cruel general Behram Khan.
We are organising an Webinar on 29th August Sat 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm with 1 hour of the talk / presentation by Shri Anshumali Tandon with a a 30 minute Q&A session online. We will give a full introduction and works of Shri Anshumali Tandon before the start of the event.
Please mark your calendar 4PM on 29th August and we look forward to seeing you all then.
