UPSC Coach Shubhra Ranjan’s Heartfelt Apology for Ram-Akbar Comparison: Celebrates ‘Ram’s Rajya as an Ideal State’
Civil Service tutor Shubhra Ranjan has ignited a heated debate after her tutorial video comparing Mughal emperor Akbar to Hindu deity Rama went viral. In the video, Ranjan mentioned that Ram “does not show unlimited power,” sparking significant backlash from netizens and raising concerns about the depiction of historical and religious figures in educational content.
On Saturday, Ranjan apologized, stating, “My intention is not to hurt anyone’s feelings. If it has happened, then I apologise.” She clarified that the circulating clip was a small part of a broader classroom discussion aimed at illustrating monarchy’s evolution in India. Ranjan explained, “You can understand from watching the complete video lecture that I intended to convey that Prabhu Sri Ram’s Rajya was an ideal state,” emphasizing it was part of a comparative study, not meant to offend.
In the controversial video, Ranjan noted that Ram’s “power is restricted by customs and traditions.” She then asked her students to identify whose power was less confined by tradition, answering with “Akbar.” Ranjan elaborated that Akbar sought to establish his own religion and morality with his ‘Dīn-i Ilāhī’ in 1582. She drew a comparison, stating, “Ram is not defining morality—Ram is exercising morality.”
Ranjan’s comparison aimed to show how Indian monarchy has historically been under the principles of Dharma, unlike the more autonomous rule of Akbar. Some netizens were displeased, with one filing a complaint for “blasphemy and blatantly hurting Hindu sentiments.” Another criticized her for allegedly corrupting UPSC aspirants.
However, some supported Ranjan. One user remarked, “She explained that Akbar used to define his own morality, whereas Shri Ram actually followed morality. What is the problem in analyzing Shri Ram as a king?”
Ranjan’s lesson intended to highlight the contrasts in governance and morality between different time periods and figures, yet it ended up stirring a wider conversation on religious sensitivity and historical interpretation in educational contexts.
Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/india/ramakbar-comparison-viral-video-upsc-coach-shubhra-ranjan-issues-apology-says-rams-rajya-was-an-ideal-state-11722156732660.html
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