EP-329 | Lessons of War from the Ramayana and Mahabharata | Ami Ganatra

Ami Ganatra is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). Her books 'Mahabharata Unravelled' and 'Ramayana Unravelled' present the epics as they were originally written, without modern retellings or fictional twists. She explains their lessons and meanings in a clear, accessible manner, allowing readers of all backgrounds to understand and appreciate these ancient texts. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ami Ganatra discusses the war lessons India can draw from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and how they resonate with modern military operations like Operation Sindoor. She explains how wars were fought in the epics, the importance of alliances, and also busts several myths surrounding the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Shri Ram. 00:00 – Coming Up 01:36 – Introduction 03:03 – Do Today’s Generation Know About the Ramayana? 05:40 – Ramayana on TV vs Valmiki’s Ramayana 09:44 – Is Ranbir Kapoor Fit to Play Lord Ram? 14:10 – Why Do Actors Playing Lord Ram Face Backlash? 15:49 – War Lessons from the Ramayana and Mahabharata 26:55 – Ramcharitmanas Quote at Operation Sindoor Briefing 32:52 – Why Alliances Mattered in Hindu Epics 40:07 – Lessons from the Epics About Family Conflicts 45:30 – Can There Be Peace After a War? 47:13 – Aftermath of the Ramayana and Mahabharata 01:03:54 – 'Agni Pariksha' for the Indian Armed Forces 01:16:03 – Radhika Yadav Murder Case 01:20:03 – When Maa Sita Gave Lord Ram His Own Agni Pariksha 01:29:04 – How Can Future Wars Be Prevented? 01:38:05 – The End of Fighting Doesn’t Mean the End of War 01:40:10 – History vs Mythology