Renowned Indian spiritual leader Morari Bapu began a nine-day discourse based on the ‘Ramayana’, or Ram Katha, at the University of Cambridge over the weekend.
It marks a big milestone as a Hindu spiritual event takes place on the premises of one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. The Ram Katha event at Jesus College, Cambridge is conceived around an overall ethos of universal peace and spreading the message of truth, love and compassion. While the focal point is the Hindu scripture, the spiritual leader draws upon examples from other religions and invites people from all faiths to attend the discourses.
The organisers said: “Through his Ram Katha, Bapu will be bringing together the world of knowledge and spirituality, of Gnana (knowledge) and Adhyatma (spirituality), both of which he speaks about often.
“Cambridge is where young men and women come for education and evolution. Morari Bapu's narration too is a powerful transformative tool of storytelling as his discourses inspire individuals to learn and make positive changes in their lives for personal growth. The event would also provide an opportunity to explore the importance of world literature, mythology, and cultural narratives as part of a holistic education.”
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Many years ago, when the spiritual leader first started visiting the UK to do Ram Kathas, his kathas were a way for non-resident Indians (NRIs) to connect with their home country; a way to expose their children to a cultural festival, to their mother tongue and faith. Furthermore, many of the children who started listening to him at a young age are now said to be organising kathas.
This Ram Katha event at Cambridge is also being organised by the youth of Britain with the support of British Indian peer Lord Dolar Popat. The first UK katha by Morari Bapu dates back to 1979, with the last one in 2017 at Wembley Arena in London which attracted around 10,000 attendees.
As a renowned exponent of the ‘Ramayana’, the popular spiritual leader has also been at the forefront in providing aid to disaster-hit regions of India or abroad, recently including war-torn Ukraine.
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The Cambridge University Katha, which runs until August 20, is described as a cultural exchange between the Hindu tradition and the academic environment of the academic institution, bringing mutual enrichment and understanding.
*Info: Ram Katha; Morari Bapu