Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said Indian epics are far greater than Western superhero stories and urged the youth to learn about figures such as Lord Rama, Krishna, and the concept of Ram Rajya.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan at the National Sanskrit University in Tirupati.
Naidu said Lord Hanuman’s strength surpasses that of Superman and described Arjuna as a greater warrior than Iron Man or Batman.
He called on parents, teachers, and society to instil knowledge of India’s epics and cultural heritage in children instead of limiting them to Western superhero narratives. He added that Indian mythological heroes represent stronger values, ideals, and moral strength.
Referring to the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Naidu said these epics are more profound than even popular films such as Avatar. He described Lord Rama as the ultimate symbol of righteousness and said Ram Rajya represents ideal governance. He also urged people to teach children about Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, and the lessons of good and evil through stories of characters such as Bakasura and Kansa.
Naidu recalled how former chief minister N T Rama Rao popularised mythological stories through cinema while upholding strong values in both films and public life. Stressing innovation and creative thinking, he said India is on course to emerge as a global superpower.
He also spoke about national development, crediting former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for laying strong foundations and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the country forward with remarkable progress. On Thursday, Naidu and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled a statue of Vajpayee at Venkatapalem in the Amaravati capital region as part of the former prime minister’s centenary celebrations.
The seventh edition of the Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan is being held from December 26 to 29.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also attended the inaugural session, where Naidu praised him for strengthening the organisation while remaining outside active politics.