To 'Counter Negative Thoughts,' BJP MP Arun Govil To Distribute 11 Lakh Copies Of Ramayana To Mark Ram Mandir Anniversary

Beginning on 22 January, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament (MP) Arun Govil plans to distribute 11 lakh copies of the Ramayana nationwide.

The Lok Sabha MP from Meerut-Hapur took this initiative to commemorate the first anniversary of the Ram Lalla idol's installation ceremony at the Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya.

Govil played the role of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic Ramayan TV serial broadcast for the first time in the 1980s and now wants to 'counter negative thoughts' by distributing Ramayana.

Govil expressed his intention to achieve the goal of distributing 11 lakh copies of the Ramayana to households at no charge within his five-year parliamentary term, Indian Express reported.

The MP announced his decision to proceed with his substantial project to prevent 'criminal activities' through better thoughts, following approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He told reporters that despite his not having enough money, especially after the electoral expenditures, he has decided to bear the cost of distribution of Ramayana copies.

"If anyone wants to join me in the massive project, he or she is a welcome. The copies will also be given to the MPs in Parliament," Govil said while a website has been launched to broaden the scope of the mission.

Anyone interested in obtaining a copy can reach out via the online portal. He mentioned that the Ramayana will be published in 13 languages by Geeta Press in Gorakhpur, to make it accessible to those who do not speak Hindi.

He said that if anyone can 'even imbibe the 10 per cent of the message and morals in the epic in his or her life, it can lead to welfare of society and also the self.'

"The book is an epitome of a high-degree social relations. I have decided to take on the massive exercise of distribution to discharge my duty as a responsible citizen of our great country," Govil said.

The inauguration of the Ramayana copies distribution is set to take place in a village within the Hapur Legislative Assembly constituency on Wednesday (22 January).

The event will be graced by the presence of the MP, his wife Srilekha Govil, and local leaders of the BJP. A cluster of five villages and localities is being made to ease and ensure maximum copies reach the people.