India, Nov. 9 -- The Statue of Equality in Hyderabad of the philosopher and reformer Sri Ramanujacharya (1017-1137) is not merely about national pride. It is a civilizational reaffirmation. It is about India rediscovering an ancient yet modern ideal that spiritual realization must translate into social equality. Ramanujacharya's philosophy, rooted in Vishishtadvaita Vedanta, was not a call for escape from the world but for transformation within it. He stood as the bridge between metaphysics and social justice, bringing together the intellectual depth of the Vedas with the compassion of the Bhakti tradition.

In an era when rigid social stratifications constrained access to knowledge and worship, Ramanujacharya envisioned a spiritual democ...