Lord Ram's existence is India's pride

Lord Ram, the Maryada Purushottam of India, once again finds himself in the midst of an unsavoury controversy.
We Indians must learn to give him - and indeed to all other religious figures of this great land of spirituality - due regard and proper respect.
As a member of the Law Commission, my view is that we are, of course, a secular nation by the dictates of the Constitution, but the Indian concept of secularism is fundamentally different from its western counterpart. It certainly does not mean irreligion, and demands from the State without due regard for the established religious beliefs.

Whether a historical figure or not, Ram has existed for millions of years in the hearts of countless Indians. The legend of Ram was not created by any of the epics associated with him; those epics just recorded in their way what existed since antiquity in people's beliefs.

All Indians, irrespective of caste and creed, have always believed in Ram's existence. Dr Iqbal paid him this glowing tribute:

Hai Ram key wujood pey Hindostan ko naaz
Ahl-e-nazar samajhte hain usko Imam-e-Hind
Ejaaz ous chiraagh-e-hidaayet kaa hai yahee
Raushantar azsaher haizamane mein sham-e-Hind

India is rightfully proud of the existence of Ram
The farsighted see him as The Spiritual Leader of India
The miracle of that Guiding Star is to be seen in the fact
Brighter are India's evenings than the mornings elsewhere.

This author has also humbly ventured to offer a eulogy:

Woh hadi-e-azeem woh Bharat ka rahnuma
Hai kaun jis ney naam na ho Ram ka suna
Ruhaaniyat ka taaj tha sar par dhara hua
Insaaniyat ka haar galey mein para hua
Lakhon labon pe aj bhi bas uska nam hai
Jo uska naam hai who sabhika salam hai

That great Spiritual Guide, the Leader of India
Who is there who hasn't heard Ram's name?
The crown of spirituality on his head he wore
Garland of humanism in his neck he adorned
On millions of lips is his name until this day
For people, his name remains a greeting way

Innervoice of Tahir Mahmood