It’s a mistake to think that Rama is not relatable today as even today he is an example of a perfect man. Rama lays the foundation of individual ethics and public morality on the edifice of Dharma. He shows by example what it means to be an ideal son, ideal brother, ideal friend, ideal husband and an ideal king, in short, the epitome of an ideal Man. Calm and courageous, Rama combines within him unparalleled valour and strength with tender love and care which itself makes his personality so lovable. An obedient son who carries no bitterness against his irresponsible father and a scheming step mother, a brother who would easily renounce his rightful kingdom for his younger brother and give his life to protect them, a friend who embraces all kinds, the poor, the downtrodden, the outcast, those of lowly birth or much inferior to him in wisdom and intelligence. Caring even for the least animal and flower and tree, he is ready to fight their whom he has accepted as friends, embracing all, abandoning none, quick to forgive even his arch rival and enemy if he shows genuine repentance, Rama is indeed the ideal friend who would never break a promise, once given. As a husband, he comes out as a tenderly caring person who would want to fulfil her wishes and accept her counsel, protect her against the Rakshasa menace and when abducted by deceit and cunning, takes upon himself to defend her against the most formidable of opponents, Ravana. He is the one (and perhaps the only) example of unflinching loyalty not only towards friends but towards his wife. Rejecting all advances made towards him to win his affection by the beautiful Asuri princess Sooparnkha, Rama is the standing example of what it means to be faithful to one’s wife. He marches with an army of monkeys to rescue his wife against all odds.
Even though his Rajdharma compels him to abandon Sita to keep intact his people together as well as to set an unprecedented example of public probity where a king is subject to the same laws that a commoner is. For such was the law at that time, a law no doubt harsh and even cruel by our modern standards, yet a law meant to curb the excess of animal and rakshasic elements that still governed the human. Rama had come to humanise this subhuman layer of humanity but first he must himself come under the law to restore confidence in the people before changing it.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
