Before becoming a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) vice president, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, and a crusader of the Ram Mandir movement, Rai was a chemistry teacher. But since a favourable judicial verdict for the movement from the highest court of the land, he has been carrying out the crucial task of overseeing the development of the hugely anticipated temple.
‘A dream come true’
“It’s like seeing one’s dream come true. It’s a rare event as almost 500 years later Ram Lalla is going to be ‘virajman’ in Ayodhya. January 22, 2024, would be Diwali in a real sense as on that very day, the consecration ceremony of the idol of Lord Ram at the temple is slated to be held,” said Champat Rai.
Born in 1946 in the family of Rameshwar Prasad Bansal, a resident of Mohalla Saraimer of Nagina tehsil in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, Rai became associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was very young. After completing his higher education, he became a professor of chemistry at Dhampur’s Ashram Degree College.
’18 months of imprisonment during Emergency changed him’
During Emergency in 1977, Rai was put behind bars in the case of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. “For 18 long months he remained in jail, was tortured, and was shifted to various districts,” a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust said. “I think those 18 months that Rai spent in jail changed him completely. He came out as a different person, with even stronger determination. Instead of breaking him down, those 18 months toughened him up. Soon after he was released, he bounced back and re-embarked upon his journey the aim of which was to ensure the establishment of Ram temple in Ayodhya.”
Soon after getting released from jail, Rai chose to join the Vishva Hindu Parishad in 1980 and continued to work for society.
Those who know Rai closely say he has always been “dedicated”, “diligent”, and “a silent worker”. These qualities have been reflected in his contributions towards the Ram Mandir movement, they say. Rai, who devoted his life to the temple campaign, has continued to work towards its realisation for 35 years while staying away from the limelight.
“Back then, Ashok Singhal was the face of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement. But staying in the background, Rai played a crucial role in giving shape to the temple campaign,” said Ram Naresh Tiwari, a senior journalist from Ayodhya.
Tiwari said that after the death of Ashok Singhal, who was the international working president of the VHP for over 20 years, Rai took over the responsibilities of the temple campaign like an “obedient disciple”. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the construction of the grand temple in Ayodhya on August 5, 2020, it was Champat Rai who drew the outline of the programme and commenced its implementation.
Controversies
In 2021, leaders from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) among others levelled charges of corruption against Rai, alleging that two real estate dealers bought a plot of land for Rs 2 crore, which within 10 minutes of the purchase was sold to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi trust for Rs 18.5 crore.
Rai refuted the allegations, stating that the land the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust bought was purchased at a price cheaper than the market rate. Besides, he also said that all checks and balances related to transparency were well maintained.
In 2023, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust found itself in a fresh controversy when Naga sadhus of the Hanuman Garhi temple accused it of attempting to fraudulently grab land at Angad Tila near the Ram temple site. They alleged that after the Trust’s attempt to occupy the land by pressuring the Garhi failed, it used its influence on the local administration to get this plot declared “nazul land” (non-agricultural government land). The sadhus said that the land in question has been in the ownership of the Garhi since the 13th century, for which documentary proof is also available. In its response, the Trust said that the action of the administration was beyond its control and hence it cannot be held responsible for the decision.
Ram temple construction continued on war footing
Even amid a few controversies, the construction of the Ram temple continued on a war footing. “Things are all set for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, scheduled on January 22, 2024, which is going to be a grand affair. Delegates from around 50 countries have been invited for the consecration ceremony apart from families of karsevaks who died for the temple and the ones who devoted their lives to the movement,” Rai said.
The consecration ceremony is set to be an eye-popping affair as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has sent invitations to over 7,000 people, including around 3,000 VVIPs, as well as 4,000 saints and seers.
The trust’s list of VVIPs includes big names such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, and Kangana Ranaut, cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, yoga guru Ramdev, and industrialists Mukesh Ambai, Ratan Tata, and Gautam Adani, among others. Actor Arun Govil who played the role of Lord Ram in the 1987-88 TV show Ramayan as well as Dipika Chikhlia who played Sita have also been invited.
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