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Ramchandra Paramhans: Champion of temple movement
Ramchandra Das Paramhans was at the forefront of the movement to build a temple at Ayodhya. He had been involved in the Ram temple movement for the past 70 years and headed the trust formed to build the temple.
Ramchandra Das Paramhans was at the forefront of the movement to build a temple at Ayodhya. He had been involved in the Ram temple movement for the past 70 years and headed the trust formed to build the temple.
He became the leading architect of the volatile temple movement. His life centred around it, fighting legal battles, fasting, doing everything in his power to realise that dream.
His passion for the temple was so much that once he said, "Forget the courts, even if Lord Ram comes and tells me he was not born at the disputed site, I will not believe it."
The death of the 90-year-old mahant has brought the curtains down on one of the important chapters in the Ram Janambhoomi movement. Revered by the Sangh Parivar for his command over Hindu religious scriptures, the mahant was hated by his opponents, who accused him of a criminal background. And last year, he was the target of a bomb attack.
Born as Chandreshwar Tiwari in 1913 in Bihar`s Singhanipur village, the mahant was based in Ayodhya since 1934. He has been associated with the temple movement ever since the mysterious appearance of the Ram Lalla idol at the disputed site in 1949.
Though he always felt the BJP leaders had backtracked on their commitment to resolve the issue by March 12 2002, the mahant had in March this year said, "I don`t agree with some people in VHP who criticised prime minister and BJP for backing out of their commitment. Vajpayee became prime minister only after BJP put behind its agenda and adopted the NDA agenda. It is an irony that the prime minister, who is a neutral person, is attacked both by the opponents and proponents of the temple."
The mahant, who opposed the ongoing excavation, believed the references in religious texts and relics found so far should be the yardsticks for a decision.
"Where else is Ayodhya is there any other Ram Janambhoomi? It [the disputed land] rightfully belongs to me," he used to say. "Let the Muslims be honest and return Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura to us and establish goodwill in the country."
Bureau Report
He became the leading architect of the volatile temple movement. His life centred around it, fighting legal battles, fasting, doing everything in his power to realise that dream.
His passion for the temple was so much that once he said, "Forget the courts, even if Lord Ram comes and tells me he was not born at the disputed site, I will not believe it."
The death of the 90-year-old mahant has brought the curtains down on one of the important chapters in the Ram Janambhoomi movement. Revered by the Sangh Parivar for his command over Hindu religious scriptures, the mahant was hated by his opponents, who accused him of a criminal background. And last year, he was the target of a bomb attack.
Born as Chandreshwar Tiwari in 1913 in Bihar`s Singhanipur village, the mahant was based in Ayodhya since 1934. He has been associated with the temple movement ever since the mysterious appearance of the Ram Lalla idol at the disputed site in 1949.
Though he always felt the BJP leaders had backtracked on their commitment to resolve the issue by March 12 2002, the mahant had in March this year said, "I don`t agree with some people in VHP who criticised prime minister and BJP for backing out of their commitment. Vajpayee became prime minister only after BJP put behind its agenda and adopted the NDA agenda. It is an irony that the prime minister, who is a neutral person, is attacked both by the opponents and proponents of the temple."
The mahant, who opposed the ongoing excavation, believed the references in religious texts and relics found so far should be the yardsticks for a decision.
"Where else is Ayodhya is there any other Ram Janambhoomi? It [the disputed land] rightfully belongs to me," he used to say. "Let the Muslims be honest and return Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura to us and establish goodwill in the country."
Bureau Report