Synopsis The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are two books that stand out from the rest of Indian literature in a very marked way. The Vedas, the Institutes of Manu, are the great authorities for the learned and only through the learned for the mass of the people. But the Mahabharata and the Ramayana are wrought into the very life of every Indian...man, woman and child.

Despite the influence wielded by these two books; however, their moulding power on life is not so great as once it was.

If we could bring back their influence on character, we should indeed life our Indian upwards. They hold up to us ideals of conduct, virtues acted out on life's stage as practical examples for old and young alike, for husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sister, friends and enemies.

As we study character after character, the lessons each is meant to teach, and their value to us in modern India.