Kishan Reddy Pays Tribute to Maharshi Valmiki on Jayanti
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On the occasion of Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy offered his tribute to the ancient sage revered across India as the Adi Kavi — the first poet — whose Sanskrit epic, the Ramayana, has shaped moral and cultural thought on the subcontinent for millennia.
Honouring the Adi Kavi and the Ramayana's enduring legacy
In his post on Monday, 26 October 2026, Reddy invoked the ideals at the heart of Valmiki's great work — 'truth, righteousness, compassion and social harmony' — and expressed hope that those teachings continue to guide India toward a 'progressive and righteous society.' The Ramayana, composed in Sanskrit, is among the oldest and most widely read epics in the world, its characters and moral framework woven into everyday life, art, and governance discourse across South and Southeast Asia.
A political ritual with deep cultural roots
Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of the sage on the full moon of the Hindu month of Ashwin. Indian political leaders across party lines regularly mark the occasion with public messages, reflecting the Ramayana's broad resonance beyond any single community or denomination. For BJP leaders in particular, the values of the Ramayana — dharma (righteousness), satya (truth) — sit at the centre of a cultural vocabulary the party has long emphasised in its public communication.
Reddy, who also serves as BJP Telangana state president, represents a constituency where Valmiki Jayanti holds significance both as a literary and a community observance, particularly among the Valmiki community, which regards the sage as a revered ancestor figure.