Ramayana helps promote tourism: Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, a known critic of Ramayana, on Tuesday found at least one use for the epic and its hero Lord Rama – promoting tourism across India.

After inaugurating the 36th India Tourist and Industrial Fair at the Island Grounds here, Karunanidhi said the epics and other literary works in India were written keeping one aspect in mind: promoting tourism. “For instance, in Ramayana, Rama travels from Ayodhya till Dhandakaranyam and it was stated that he had a view of Sri Lanka from Kodiakkarai. A stone inscription in Kodiakkarai says this. Whether it actually happened it or not, such things help promote tourism even today,’’ Karunanidhi said.

“Those who visit Kodiakkarai would tell people in Chennai about the Raman Paadham (Rama’s feet) and the people here would visit Kodiakkarai to witness it. Tourism has been growing by word of mouth in this manner,’’ Karunanidhi added.

He referred to Silappadikaram, one of the Tamil epics, and said the whole story could have been ended at Poompuhar. But by making Kovalan and Kannagi, the hero and heroine of Madurai, pass through many towns, the author extends the story till Vanchi Muthur. All this helps promote tourism, he said.

Referring to the changes in the city’s landscape over the years, Karunanidhi said after the hoardings were removed, it looked better than ever.

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