CM Sukhu pays tribute to Tulsidas on Jayanti
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu marked Tulsidas Jayanti by quoting the Ramcharitmanas couplet on selfless service, honouring the 16th-century poet-saint's enduring moral legacy.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhu posted a tribute to Goswami Tulsidas on his Jayanti on 19 August 2026 .
He opened with the doha: 'There is no dharma greater than service to others; there is no sin worse than causing pain to another.' Goswami Tulsidas was a 16th-century Awadhi poet-saint who composed the Ramcharitmanas in vernacular verse to make the Ramayana accessible to common people.
The Ramcharitmanas centres on the ideals of dharma , maryada , and lokmangal — righteous conduct and universal well-being.
Tulsidas Jayanti is observed during the Shravan month and is a regular feature of the North Indian cultural calendar.
A couplet that has echoed across centuries opened Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's message on Tulsidas Jayanti — a reminder that the 16th-century poet-saint's words still carry moral weight in modern public life.
Posting on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, CM Sukhu quoted the celebrated doha from the Ramcharitmanas: 'Parahit saris dharam nahi bhai, par peeda sam nahi adhamai' — 'There is no dharma greater than service to others; there is no sin worse than causing pain to another.' He offered the tribute on the occasion of Goswami Tulsidas Jayanti, honouring the saint's role in carrying Lord Rama's ideals and the spirit of lokmangal (universal well-being) to ordinary people.
The poet who brought Rama to the people
Goswami Tulsidas, the 16th-century Awadhi poet-saint, composed the Ramcharitmanas — a vernacular retelling of the Ramayana that placed the devotional epic within reach of those who could not read Sanskrit. The text's emphasis on dharma, maryada (righteous conduct), and lokmangal made it the cornerstone of North Indian devotional practice, recited in homes and temples across generations.
CM Sukhu noted that Tulsidas's immortal works 'continue to show the path of devotion, dignity, and humanity even today' — a framing that underscores the text's living relevance rather than treating it as a museum piece.
A ritual of remembrance on the political calendar
Indian elected leaders across parties routinely mark the birth anniversaries of classical poets and saints, using such occasions to invoke shared cultural heritage. Tulsidas Jayanti, observed during the Shravan month, is one of the more prominent such dates in the North Indian calendar. CM Sukhu's post follows this tradition — but the choice to open with the 'parahit' couplet, with its explicit ethic of public service over self-interest, carries a quiet political undertone that any reader can draw their own conclusions from.
The couplet is among the most quoted lines in Indian public discourse — invoked by leaders, educators, and social workers alike as a shorthand for selfless service. Its placement at the top of a sitting Chief Minister's message is deliberate, not decorative.
Point of View
Giving a ceremonial tribute a quietly purposeful edge. For a Congress leader governing a state with a significant devotional Hindu electorate, invoking Tulsidas on his Jayanti is both culturally resonant and politically uncontroversial. The gesture fits a broader pattern of opposition leaders asserting their own relationship with Hindu classical tradition.
NationPress
19 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Goswami Tulsidas?
Goswami Tulsidas was a 16th-century Awadhi poet-saint best known for composing the Ramcharitmanas , a vernacular retelling of the Ramayana that became central to North Indian devotional practice.
What does the doha 'Parahit saris dharam nahi bhai' mean?
The couplet translates as: 'There is no dharma greater than service to others; there is no sin worse than causing pain to another.' It is one of the most cited verses from the Ramcharitmanas .
When is Tulsidas Jayanti celebrated?
Tulsidas Jayanti is observed during the Shravan month of the Hindu calendar, typically falling in July or August each year.
Why did CM Sukhu post about Tulsidas Jayanti?
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu posted a tribute on Tulsidas Jayanti to honour the saint-poet's legacy, quoting the Ramcharitmanas to highlight the values of selfless service and universal well-being.
What is the Ramcharitmanas?
The Ramcharitmanas is a major devotional epic composed by Goswami Tulsidas in Awadhi, retelling the story of Lord Rama with emphasis on dharma , maryada , and lokmangal . It remains a foundational text in North Indian Hindu practice.
