Ranchod Vira, “Letter”: Reading and Discussion Questions.

1. How many times does Ranchod mention “Government” in the letter? What can we conclude about Ranchod’s interpretation of the “Government”? (Which Government is Ranchod writing about?)

2. According to Ranchod, what started (“commenced”) once the “authority of the Government ceased”?

3. If you had to guess, what is the opposite of the Era of Truth (satyug)?

4. According to the letter, what are people supposed to do in the Era of Truth?

5. What are the punishments for violating the principles of the Era of Truth?

6. Is Ranchod’s letter religious or political? (Or, both?) What makes it religious? What makes it political?

7. Is it possible to tell who is Ranchod’s intended audience?

8. Is Ranchod writing for the public or counterpublic?

9. Do you think it matters if Ranchod has the same name as the deity Ranchodji/Ranchodrai? (Ji and Rai are terms added to show respect or honor to the deity Ranchod)

10. Does Ranchod’s use of “Truth” have any similarities to Gandhi’s use of the word?

11. What kind of information is revealed in the “Source”?

12. If you were asked to develop a research project based on this letter, where would you begin? What kinds of questions would you ask? Which literature would you consult?