Tamil poet says Lord Ram “lost his mind” after separation, sparking political row
Tamil poet says Lord Ram “lost his mind” after separation, sparking political row
At a recent literary event, celebrated Tamil poet Vairamuthu stirred controversy by saying that after being separated from Sita, Lord Ram “lost his mind.” He added that under IPC Section 84, which exempts acts done in unsound mental state, Ram would technically be not guilty. The poet framed this to humanize the deity, suggesting that even divine figures can be subject to very human emotions.
Vairamuthu clarified that while Kamban may not have known modern law, he understood human emotions deeply. By saying “Ram is fully acquitted, forgiven – making Ram a human being, and Kamban divine,” the poet was celebrating the depth of empathy in the Kamba Ramayana.
However, his words sparked immediate political fallout. BJP leader C.R. Kesavan criticized him heavily on social media, calling him a “disgusting repeat offender” who “grossly abuses Hindu Dharma.” He demanded an apology, saying Vairamuthu had insulted the faith of millions of devotees. The BJP described this remark as an depth hurting religious sentiments.
In many ways, the dispute shows how sensitive the interpretation of mythological characters remains in today's public discourse. The purpose of Vairamuthu was to highlight Rama's emotional human side through legal example, but it collided with those who consider such comments disintegrated. Literature often invites for rebellion, but real -world reactions remind us how deeply faith, culture and politics are.
When the controversy calms down, it is clear that subtle literary comments can also give rise to big debates. No one considers Vairamuthu’s comment as a thoughtful or objectionable, the discussion shows how deep these myths still resonate and how poetic freedom can lead to acute reactions.