AS children in a traditional Pahadi household, we were introduced to Ram Katha early via the local Ramlila mounted annually in little hill towns: Almora, Bhowali, Mukteswar, Nainital. Historically, Ramlila was a re-enactment of the grand and tragic life of Lord Ram, dreamt of first by Tulsidas, whose Awadhi version, the ‘Ram Charit Manas’, was a venerated epic.

As EM Forster said, each Indian hole has at least two exits. So, Ram Katha over the centuries has produced nearly 300 versions in Indian languages and dialects. The original ritualistic play first staged in Kashi has by now mutated, with various local versions of Ram Katha conveniently appended to it. But the basic structure of the story of Ram, or Ram Katha, has survived everywhere.

It denotes a heroic battle waged by a David aga

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