Latest news with #Rama
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
U.P. CM to be chief guest at Ram Darbar Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya on June 5
For chief minister Yogi Adityanath, his 53rd birthday will be special. This year on his birthday on June 5, he will preside over the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Darbar on the first floor of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Three-day celebrations will begin on June 3 and final ceremony will be held on June 5 in which chief minister Yogi Adityanath will be the chief guest. The date, June 5, is also known for being the day when the Dwapar Yuga began, according to Hindu mythology. It is also the day of Ganga Dussehra which celebrates the descent of the Ganga on the Earth. In the Treta Yuga, Lord Rama is believed to have established the Shiva Linga at Rameswaram on June 5. Along with Ram Darbar, idols of several deities will also be installed amid Vedic rituals in other temples that have been constructed on the Ram Janmabhoomi campus. In the Ram Darbar, an idol of Lord Ram along with that of Mata Sita will be placed on a two-feet high white marble throne. Idols of Lord Hanuman and Lakshman will be placed in a sitting position in front of the Ram Darbar while standing idols of Bharat and Shatrughan will be installed behind the throne. 'All idols and the throne have been sculpted from white marble in Jaipur, Rajasthan,' said Anil Mishra, member of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust. 'These idols, carved out of white marble and crafted using the Hemmark photographic technique, will be installed on the first floor,' Mishra added. Eleven priests have reached Ayodhya for the ceremony. The remaining priests will be from Ayodhya. The administration has made elaborate arrangements for the ceremony, ensuring the safety and security of all attendees. The temple complex will also feature four grand entrance gates, with the southern gate being the most prominent. The gate will be 17-metre high, 30-metre long and 11-metre wide. It will be adorned with intricate carvings of elephants, horses, lions and flowers. To maintain the site's sanctity, only a limited number of devotees will be allowed access to the temple's first floor. The second floor of the temple will feature a display of the Ramayana in multiple languages, including its oldest known version. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the Ram Mandir on January 22, 2024. The ground floor of the Ram temple has an idol of Ram Lalla (infant Ram), the presiding deity of the shrine.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Rama, the great warrior
Vedanta Desika has praised Lord Rama's qualities in his work Raghuveera Gadyam. It is said that this work was offered at the temple of Lord Devanatha in Thiruvaheendrapuram during the Brahmotsava. Gadyam means prose, but usually such works have the rhyme of poetry. Ramanujacharya wrote three such gadyams — Saranagati Gadyam, Sriranga Gadyam and Sri Vaikuntha Gadyam. These three works together are usually referred to as gadya traya (the three prose works). It would be right to conclude that Vedanta Desika was inspired by the works of Ramanujacharya when he wrote Raghuveera Gadyam, said T.N. Aravamuda Thathachariar in a discourse. Desika's Raghuveera Gadyam has three slokas and 94 choornikas. The choornikas praise Rama's qualities. They follow Valmiki Ramayana cantos closely, highlighting the qualities which are evident in each kanda of Valmiki Ramayana. The first choornika begins with the words 'Jaya jaya Mahaveera.' In the Bala Kanda, Valmiki asks Narada to name a person living in bhuloka at that time, who is both virtuous and valorous. Narada replies that Rama is upright and is the greatest warrior on earth. Narada uses the word 'mahaveera,' which, therefore, Desika too uses right at the beginning. Janaka too upon first seeing Rama and Lakshmana, is impressed by their strength as warriors. Even Ravana is impressed by the way in which the brothers conduct themselves on the battlefield. So, throughout the Ramayana, we find that Rama's bravery is constantly spoken of by Valmiki. Keeping this in mind, Vedanta Desika begins his praise of Rama with the word 'mahaveera.' In fact, Raghuveera Gadyam is referred to as Mahaveera Vaibhavam by Sri Vaishnava Acharyas. Desika next celebrates Rama as Mahadheera. He has courage, the firm resolve and the fortitude needed by a good warrior.
New European
5 days ago
- Politics
- New European
Alastair Campbell's diary: The corrupt state desperate for EU membership
The celebrations were barely over when Rama took the chair to host the recent European Political Community Summit in Tirana, truly a sign Albania had arrived on the international stage. Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer, Recep TayyipErdoğan, Volodymyr Zelensky, Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen … all the European big guns turned out in a country most had shunned for decades. Indeed, Starmer was the first serving UK PM ever to visit. I have been visiting Albania regularly for 14 years. This enduring relationship began when then-opposition leader Edi Rama, fresh from losing an election he said had been rigged, asked me to help devise his strategy for the next one when it came. He won it, with a landslide, to become prime minister in 2013. Fast-forward to May 2025, and he has just won his fourth term in power, a stunning achievement for any leader in the modern democratic world. At six feet seven inches tall Rama towered, both physically and politically, over the event. His and his country's confidence were on show. The 47 European leaders arrived into the fastest-growing airport in Europe. They were greeted with an AI film in which they (as children), one by one, said 'welcome to Albania'. Even Erdoğan laughed. The purpose-built venue was decorated with wallpaper made from the feltpen doodles that Rama, an artist before he entered politics, does while working. One of them, I am happy to say, is of me, riding a horse into battle, a sword in one hand, a phone in the other. The entire event sent a clear message: Albania is no longer merely asking for a seat at the table; it is ready to help build it. The prospect of EU membership by 2030 is real and it matters, not just for Albania, but for Europe, because enlargement brings with it greater security and deeper cooperation against instability in the Western Balkans and the malign force of Russian aggression. But EU membership isn't granted on ambition alone. It is earned through democratic values, reforms, and above all, through the rule of law. And herein lies a tension. In recent years, Albania has made real progress on justice reform, essential to repair the damage done to its reputation by corruption. The establishment of SPAK – the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organised Crime – was a landmark step. It was set up with support from the EU and the US and, operating independently from government, it has delivered dramatic results: senior officials, ministers and MPs have been among those prosecuted. Corruption, it has made clear, is no longer consequence-free. But with power comes responsibility; and with judicial power comes an even greater burden – to act fairly, proportionately, and with transparency. That's why what's happening to Tirana's mayor, Erion Veliaj, should worry us all. I have known Veliaj as long as I have known Rama. A Socialist Party colleague and former staffer for Rama, he is widely seen as a possible successor. According to SPAK, he has been running a complex bribery and money-laundering scheme through a network of NGOs and companies controlled by his wife and brother. If true, that is scandalous, and he deserves to be punished. There is a big IF, however. For he has now been held in detention for over 100 days with no charges, nor knowing what the charges are likely to be, while remaining as mayor and expected to run the capital. All this from SPAK – the very institution meant to defend the rule of law, not compromise it. Judicial reform cannot become judicial overreach. Anti-corruption efforts cannot become a cover for arbitrary action. The EU should not be turning a blind eye. Because if the process of accession is to mean anything, it must uphold the very values the Union is built on: due process, judicial integrity, human rights. No official, no matter how high-ranking, should be immune from investigation into wrongdoing. But no citizen, however high-profile, should be detained without charge or due process. Not in a democracy. Not in a country on the path to Europe. What we saw at the EPC Summit was a country setting out its European credentials with real verve. But Albania's place in the EU will be secured not by optics or rousing speeches, but by the substance of its democratic credentials; right now, those are being tested. It's time for clarity. From Brussels. From member states. From all who care about Europe's future. Arbitrary detention has no place in a European democracy. And if Albania is to be part of the EU club – a goal it has every right to pursue – both it, and the bodies responsible for its process of modernisation and accession, must play by the rules of that club, not just its politics. Because in the end, rule of law isn't just a box to tick. It's the foundation for everything else. 'Never go to bed without knowing something you didn't know when you got up in the morning.' One of my little life rules, to keep me curious and keen to keep learning. And the thing I learned last Tuesday, speaking at an event in Leeds Civic Chambers, is that 900,000 children in England live in what is called 'bed poverty'. Also speaking was Bex Wilson, deputy head at a primary school in a deprived area of Leeds, who told the story of a conversation with an 11-year-old boy she was teaching. He was not his usual self, so she asked him if he was tired. 'Miss, I am always tired,' he replied. 'I don't have a bed.' I love stories of people who get good out of bad. That boy now has a bed, thanks to his teacher badgering a bed manufacturer. And Bex, a real force of nature, has founded a charity, Zarach, with the goal of ensuring all children have a bed to sleep in. It's terrible that we even need it, in Britain 2025. But with more than four million British children growing up in poverty, sadly, we do. Check out I was in Leeds to host a panel the following morning at a huge event called UKREiiF, the UK's Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum, attended by 16,000 people. I kicked off by asking for a show of hands on whether Labour's pledge to build 1.5m homes in this parliamentary term would be met. Of the several hundred people packed into our discussion on housing, not a single person (bar a civil servant at the front who probably felt he had to) raised their hand. The general view was that they would be lucky to get halfway there. Worrying. In for a penny, in for a pound, I ended up doing five events at the Hay Literary Festival, including interviews with Donald Trump's former spokesman Anthony Scaramucci, and Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, murder victim of Vladimir Putin's regime. The first was great fun, the second deeply moving, with standing ovations for her courage at both start and finish. I also really enjoyed the session with students from Welsh state schools who were lively, boisterous, passionate and, in the case of those who volunteered to come up on stage and make speeches they were not expecting to make in front of 1,500 teenagers, absolutely brilliant. Labour are committed to lowering the voting age to 16. I would go even lower.
India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Ram Setu Vs Aurangzebs Tomb: National Heritage Debate Reaches Supreme Court
A national debate has reignited over the recognition of India's ancient and culturally significant sites, with a critical question now reaching the doors of the Supreme Court: Why is Aurangzeb's tomb a protected national monument, but not the Ram Setu, a symbol of Hindu faith and ancient heritage? In today's DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, reported that, The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Government of India are now under public and judicial scrutiny, as former Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Subramanian Swamy has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking that Ram Setu (Adam's Bridge) be officially declared a national monument. #RamSetu | राम धरोहर, रामसेतु राष्ट्रीय धरोहर... इतने प्रमाण, इतने निशान, फिर भी घमासान! रामसेतु को राष्ट्रीय स्मारक कब बनाएंगे?#DNAWithRahulSinha #DNA @RahulSinhaTV — Zee News (@ZeeNews) May 27, 2025 Ram Setu: A Symbol Of Faith and History Located between India and Sri Lanka, Ram Setu holds deep religious significance in Hindu mythology. Referenced in the Ramcharitmanas, it is believed to have been constructed by Lord Rama's army to reach Lanka and rescue Sita. Many historical references — including ancient Persian and Arab texts — mention the existence of a bridge-like structure in the region. Despite this, Ram Setu has not received national monument status under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The Act stipulates that any site over 100 years old with historical, cultural, or architectural importance can be declared a monument of national significance. Dr. Swamy's petition argues that Ram Setu meets all legal criteria and thus should be protected by the state. Aurangzeb's Tomb: A Protected Monument Since 1951 The controversy intensifies when compared to the status of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb's tomb in Maharashtra, which was declared a protected monument on December 11, 1951, under the same 1958 Act. This decision was made during the tenure of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Critics now ask why a tyrant's tomb has legal protection while Ram Setu does not, despite its deep spiritual and cultural roots. Government's Stance And Legal History The demand for Ram Setu's protection is not new. In fact, it has been central to political and legal debates since the 1950s. In 2007, during the UPA regime, the government submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court arguing that Ram Setu had no historical or scientific evidence supporting its existence as a man-made structure. Senior advocate Fali S. Nariman even stated that Lord Rama himself destroyed the bridge upon his return from Lanka. However, in 2021, the Central Government authorized a study by the ASI to determine whether Ram Setu is a natural formation or human-made. The report has yet to be made public. In 2022, Union Minister Jitendra Singh acknowledged in Parliament that while conclusive proof remains elusive, there is historical and mythological evidence in favor of Ram Setu's existence. Historical Mentions • In 850 CE, Persian geographer Ibn Khordadbeh referred to Ram Setu in his book Book of Roads and Kingdoms. • In 1030 CE, Al-Biruni mentioned the bridge in Kitab-ul-Hind, calling it 'Setu Bandh'. • A Dutch cartographer in 1747 marked the area as 'Raman Kweel' in his maps. The Political And Cultural Undercurrent The issue strikes at the heart of India's ongoing cultural identity debate. Supporters argue that Ram Setu deserves preservation not just as a religious symbol but as a testament to India's ancient heritage, one that is even visible via satellite imagery. Critics of the current state policy question why a structure linked to destruction (Aurangzeb's tomb) receives protection, while one associated with construction and faith remains neglected. As the Supreme Court hears the PIL, public discourse continues to intensify. Social and political commentators assert that the decision will be a litmus test of how India balances its historical truths with modern secular governance. The Larger Question Why is a symbol of tyranny protected, but a sacred bridge of faith and legend still awaiting recognition? The nation, and the highest court, must now decide.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Albanian ex-President Ilir Meta charged with corruption and money laundering
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Former Albanian President Ilir Meta was formally charged on Tuesday with corruption, money laundering, tax evasion and hiding property from authorities, his lawyer said. The charges were communicated to Meta in a 192-page report from anti-corruption prosecutors, lawyer Kujtim Cakrani told journalists. The prosecutors belong to the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime, or SPAK, which handles cases involving senior political and state officials. Meta, the 56-year-old founder of the leftist Freedom Party, was arrested in October. Meta wrote on his Facebook page that "I can hardly wait for the start of the trial which will be public and will show to the world" that SPAK is a puppet of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Meta also said that he considers the agency to be Rama's 'anti-opposition task force.' Rama's governing Socialist Party achieved a landslide win in the May 11 parliamentary election, getting 83 seats in the 140-seat parliament. Meta, who was president from 2017-2022, has been an outspoken critic of Rama and has denounced his case as a politically motivated attack on an opposition leader. Meta faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. Meta's former spouse, Monika Kryemadhi, a lawmaker and former leader of the Freedom Party, also is accused of the same crimes. Two other people connected to the case have been accused of money laundering and corruption. Meta has held virtually all senior posts in post-communist Albania, starting as a lawmaker. He eventually became foreign minister, minister of economy, trade and energy, deputy prime minister, prime minister, parliamentary speaker and president. Prosecutors have said that when he was minister of economy, trade and energy, Meta had abused his authority to influence various businesses in which he and Kryemadhi had earned considerable amounts of money. Meta also has failed to account for around $460,000 (404,000 euros) he had used for lobbying in the United States. Both Meta and Kryemadhi also are accused of buying property with illegally obtained money, or not declaring their personal health expenses. Albania, which has started full membership negotiations with the European Union, has been plagued in its post-communist era with corruption that has marred its democratic, economic and social development. Judicial institutions created with the support of the EU and the United States have launched several investigations into former senior government officials allegedly involved in corruption. Sali Berisha, a former prime minister and president and now a lawmaker and leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, is also accused of corruption and is waiting for his trial to begin.
