We are delighted to invite you to the 8th session of the Indian Literature Lecture Series.

This insightful lecture titled “Tulsi Das’s Ramcharitmanas: Vernacularizing the Divine Epic“ delivered by Rajeev Kumar, Lecturer, Department of Comparative Literature, Ibn Haldun University (Turkey).

Date & Time: 25 November 2024, Monday, 13:30 Istanbul Time
Location: Zoom 

Join Zoom Meeting: Click here

Meeting ID: 840 9820 6467

Passcode: 048856

Lecture Abstract:  

This lecture explores Tulsi Das’s Ramcharitmanas as a cornerstone of vernacular literature and devotional expression in 16th-century India. Written in Awadhi during the Bhakti movement, Ramcharitmanas reimagines the Sanskrit Ramayana, making the story of Lord Rama accessible to a wider audience through poetic simplicity and profound spiritual allegory. We will examine how the text reflects the Bhakti ideals of devotion and inclusivity, comparing its Saguna Bhakti approach to Kabir’s Nirguna Bhakti teachings. By delving into its themes, structure, and cultural impact, including its role in traditions like Ramlila, the lecture highlights how Ramcharitmanas democratized spiritual narratives, becoming a living text with enduring significance in Indian literature and culture.

About the Lecturers:

Rajeev Kumar (PhD Candidate)

Lecturer, Department of Comparative Literature, Ibn Haldun University (Turkey)

Rajeev Kumar is a Ph.D. candidate at the Alliance of Civilizations Institute, Ibn Haldun University (IHU), Turkey. He also serves as a lecturer in the Department of Comparative Literature and a teaching fellow for World History Through Art and Literature in the Department of History at IHU, Istanbul, Turkey. Additionally, he is the managing editor of U-Talk Magazine and the founder of the Umran Green Perspective Foundation and Umran Green School.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in German Language and Literature from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, India, and a master’s degree in Civilization Studies from Ibn Haldun University. Before his academic career, he worked as a Project Manager for Integra Software Services in Pondicherry, managing publication projects for Springer, De Gruyter, Westermann, and Geographische Rundschau.

His areas of interest include Indic-Islamic literature, history and religions, civilizations, philosophy, culture, Bhakti-Sufi literature, as well as English and German literature. His research focuses on Bhakti-Sufi literature and history, with a specific emphasis on Kabir and the Kabirpanthis in India.