Amritsar – A demand has been made to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to honor Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Ji Maharaj – a leading pillar of the world-famous Shri Ram city of Ayodhya and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Movement, President of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Head of Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan, Mathura, and Peethadhiswar of Shri Swami Mani Ramdas Ji Maharaj Chhawni Seva Trust – with the nation’s highest civilian award, the “Bharat Ratna.”In the letter sent to the Prime Minister, the demand was jointly made by Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (Punjab), Dr. Jaginder Singh Salaria, founder of PCT Humanity, and Mahant Ashish Das, a disciple of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Ji from the Ramanandi Vaishnav sect, Jabalpur.
Prof. Sarchand Singh stated that Prime Minister Modi himself is well aware of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Ji Maharaj’s service, sacrifice, and struggles, and his pivotal role in achieving the historic success of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Movement. From participating in karseva as a volunteer of the Sangh to overseeing the pran pratishta of Shri Ram Lalla as Prime Minister, he has been intimately involved. After centuries of penance and under Mahant Ji’s guidance, the reconstruction of Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya was made possible.
He further noted that Mahant Ji played a crucial role at every stage of the movement – from 1984 to the historic Supreme Court verdict in 2019, and ultimately to the pran pratishta of Shri Ram Lalla on 22 January 2024 – dedicating every moment of his life. The Ram Temple is not merely a religious site but a symbol of India’s spiritual culture, devotion, and national unity, and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Ji has been the inspirer and guide of this historic era of transformation.
The letter highlighted Mahant Ji’s life, noting that even after surviving a bomb attack, he never wavered in his beliefs. He has overseen the construction of numerous religious sites, including Valmiki Bhavan and Shri Char Dham Mandir, united the saint community in Ayodhya, and worked tirelessly in cow protection, Brahmin service, medical and educational initiatives. Through organizations such as Sarvabhaum Sanskrit Vidyalaya and Hostel Ayodhya, Deenbandhu Netralaya Seva Trust Ayodhya, Baba Mani Ramdas Seva Trust Hospital Ayodhya, Baba Mani Ramdas Chhawni Seva Trust Yoga School Ayodhya, and Shri Gopal Gaushala, he has promoted social harmony as a key objective of his life.
Mahant Ji was born on 11 June 1938 in Kerala village, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh. At the age of just 12, he left home to come to Ayodhya and became a disciple of Mahant Ram Manohar Das Ji. In 1965, at the age of 27, he was appointed Mahant of the renowned Shri Mani Ramdas Ji Chhawni (Chhoti Chhawni) in Ayodhya. Through his vision and spiritual discipline, the construction of the grand Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya has now been completed.
“The Shri Ram Temple is not merely a religious achievement; it is a symbol of India’s soul, culture, pride, and the revival of Sanatan consciousness and traditions, and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Ji Maharaj is the architect of this era of transformation.”
He requested the Prime Minister to recognize that Mahant Ji’s life is a symbol of penance, sacrifice, and patriotism. For four decades, he struggled for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi cause, faced innumerable challenges, and ultimately restored India’s cultural identity on the global stage. The Indian community believes that for Mahant Ji’s invaluable contribution and life-long struggle in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Movement, he is the first and unquestionable true candidate for the nation’s highest honor, the “Bharat Ratna.”
Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala, Dr. Jaginder Singh Salaria, and Mahant Ashish Das strongly appealed to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to personally consider the matter seriously and recommend Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Ji Maharaj to the Honorable President for the Bharat Ratna award.