Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Rangadarshani Auditorium reverberated with the resonant voice of Veena Raman on Friday when she discussed her book “Did I Really Do All This?” The book offers a glimpse into former DGP of MP Vijay Raman's life. She has highlighted how he turned every challenge into an opportunity.
Expressing her gratitude for discussing the book at the Bhopal Literature Festival, Veena shared that Vijay Raman had a deep love for MP. She recalled an incident from the National Police Academy, where someone asked if they could ever earn medals.
Vijay confidently responded that medals are not bought; they are earned. True to his words, he was later honoured with the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry.
Vijay Raman was a real-life hero, though his journey was full of hardships. Veena reminisced about how he transformed from a rule-abiding, empathetic individual into a tough personality.
His first encounter with bandits was when he was appointed SSP of Dabra.
His team once captured a dacoit, Devi Singh, and planned to eliminate him, but Vijay insisted on getting him to surrender. But Devi Singh was later released on bail and murdered the informant who had helped in his capture.
This incident changed Vijay’s perspective, making him realise that eliminating those who harm society is sometimes the only solution. (box) Kalidasa’s works lucid, elegant: Scholars Sanskrit scholar Radhavallabh Tripathi has said Kalidasa was an exceptional poet of India.
He made the statement during a discussion on Kalidasa at Antrang Hall in Bharat Bhawan on Friday.
This was part of the three-day Bhopal Literature Festival (BLF). Apart from Tripathi, Sahitya Akademi Award-winning poet Anamika, and poet Premshankar Shukla took part in the discussion. Tripathi explained that Kalidasa was not only an eminent figure in Sanskrit literature but also in Hindi literature. He modernised Sanskrit literature and changed the scenario of Indian literary traditions.
His first work, Ritusamhara, describes the six seasons through poetic verses. His second work, Meghaduta, integrates 100 verses into the theme of a cloud messenger. His play Malavikagnimitram marked the beginning of Sanskrit drama, and Abhijnana Shakuntalam, published in 1789, stands as a profound example of literature that connects the divine and the earthly realms.
Anamika added that in ancient times, Kalidasa’s name appeared at the pinnacle of poet rankings, owing to his unmatched brilliance.
Shukla praised Kalidasa as not just a great poet and playwright, but also a scholar of the Sanskrit language.
