Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said Friday that Indian epics are far greater than Hollywood superheroes and that the youth must learn about Rama, Krishna and Ram Rajya.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan (BVS) at Tirupati’s National Sanskrit University, Naidu said: “Lord Hanuman’s strength surpasses that of Superman, Arjuna was a greater warrior than Iron Man or Batman”.
Naidu, who is known for speaking on information technology and artificial intelligence and has recently focused on quantum technology, called upon parents, teachers and society to instil knowledge of India’s epics and cultural heritage among children and youth, instead of limiting them to Western superhero narratives. He said India’s mythological heroes embody far greater values, strength and ideals than fictional characters like Spider-Man, Batman or Superman.
“Lord Rama remains the ultimate symbol of righteousness, with Ram Rajya representing ideal governance,” he said, urging people to teach children about the greatness of Hindu gods Krishna and Lord Shiva, and the lessons from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, stating that these epics “are more profound than even popular films like Avatar”.
The chief minister highlighted the importance of teaching children the distinction between good and evil through stories of characters such as Bakasura and Kansa, and recalled how former chief minister N T Rama Rao popularised mythological stories through cinema while upholding strong values in both films and politics.
Calling for innovation and creative thinking, he expressed confidence that India is on course to emerge as a global superpower in the future.
Naidu also spoke about national development, crediting former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for laying strong foundations and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking India forward with remarkable progress. On Thursday, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Naidu unveiled the statue of Vajpayee at Venkatapalem in the Amaravati capital region as part of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s centenary birth anniversary celebrations. They later planted saplings at the Vajpayee memorial park.
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The seventh edition of the Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan is being held at the National Sanskrit University in Tirupati from December 26 to 29. The inaugural session was attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Naidu.
The event also saw Naidu laud Bhagwat for strengthening the organisation through his experience and dedication while staying out of politics.
