Dec. 4: Scholars of global repute will deliberate in an international seminar on The Ramayan and its Impact on Life and Culture at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra on December 6 and 7.

The Ramayan is not just a religious epic. It is a commentary on Indian life and culture and has an impact on the neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.

The conference has been organised by Asom Kalatirtha in collaboration with the department of culture, government of Assam and Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra.

Noted scholars from France, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Hungary and Holland will share their views on the topic. The chief guest on the occasion will be Indira Goswami, Jnanpith awardee and an expert on the Ramayan. S.R. Dinges, a scholar from France, has translated the Ramayan into French.

An exhibition of paintings on the Ramayan by Rozalina will be held at the Kalakshetrapremises.

The other participating scholars include S. Poolchupya and C. Propanpviya from Thailand, Ram Bhajan Sitaram from South Africa, C.S. Poong from Singapore, . Rajantheran and V. Sabapathy from France, J. Bisher from Holland and D. Yasa from Indonesia.

“A Ramayan movement is gaining momentum all over the world. These scholars from different parts of the world will present papers on the various aspects of the epic,” said an organiser.

The various folk arts deriving their stories from the Ramayan in the Northeast like Cheo Chapari from Sipajhar, Biya Naam from Mangaldoi, Ojapali from Sipajhar, Mukha Bhaona from Sivasagar and Bhari Gaan from Boko will also be displayed.

The programme will be inaugurated by Sobha Brahma, vice-chairman of Kalakshetra. Borgeet by the artistes from Asom Kalatirtha will be presented. The souvenir will be dedicated to late Nilakanta Deka, bureaucrat and former president of Paschim Guwahati Sahitya Sabha and Kamrup Zila Sahitya Sabha.

On the second day, Ram Leela will be performed by Susmita Banerjee from Calcutta.

The valedictory session will be chaired by Keshabananda Deb Goswami, former professor, Dibrugarh University. The chief guest on the occasion will be Chandra Prasad Saikia, former president, Asam Sahitya Sabha. A report on the academic session will be presented by Lalan Prasad Vyas, secretary general of the International Ramayana Conference.

In the evening, the cultural programme will feature a children’s chorus by Surabhi Moina Parijat, Darrang, Raimon Ojapali from Kamrup, Kholia Bhaoria from Darrang, Ankiya Naat from Majuli, Jorhat, Kusan Gaan from Dhubri and Bihu dance by the Brahmaputra Bihu Dal of Guwahati.