Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Wiki, Age, Caste, Wife, Family, Biography & More

 

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das is the chief of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust and Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas—bodies created to oversee the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He is also the pithadhishwa (head) of Ayodhya’s largest temple, ‘Sri Maniram Das Ki Chavani’. He played a major role in the Ram temple construction movement and is also one of the accused in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case.

Wiki/Biography

Nritya Gopal Das was born on Saturday, 11 June 1938 (age 82 years; as in 2020) in Kerhala/Kahola village, in Mathura, Western Uttar Pradesh. In 1953, he enrolled himself at Lala Ram College in Mathura to study commerce. [1]The Week However, unhappy with the traditional education being provided in college, he left his studies in-between and went to live in Ayodhya. In Ayodhya, he became a disciple of Mahant Ram Manohar Das, who inducted him into the Diksha Sanskar’ (giving of a mantra or an initiation by the guru to his disciple) and also urged him to learn Sanskrit. Therefore, he graduated with a B.A. (Shastri) degree from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi. At a young age of 27, in 1965, he was positioned as a mahant (a religious superior) with a big ceremony in Ayodhya.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 7″

Hair Colour: White

Eye Colour: Black

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das

Family & Caste

He was born into a Brahmin family. [2]The Week

Parents & Siblings

He was born to Ganga Ram (father) and Ram Devi (mother).

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das's parents

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das’s parents

Relationship and Children

Nritya Gopal Das is not married.

Controversies

  • He was one of the accused in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case. [3]Dainik Jagran On 30 September 2020, a Special CBI court in Lucknow acquitted him and 31 others accused in Babri Masjid demolition case, including BJP veterans LK Advani and MM Joshi. While pronouncing the verdict in the case, the judge said, there is no conclusive evidence that shows that they were involved in the conspiracy. Also, the court said that demolition of the Babri Masjid structure was not pre-planned. [4]The Times of India

    Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chief of Ram Mandir Trust, appearing before a CBI court in connection with the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case

    In picture: Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chief of Ram Mandir Trust, appearing before a CBI court in connection with the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case

  • Dibyesh Anand, a British-Indian professor, has narrated about his personal interview session with Mahant Das in 2005, in his book “Hindu Nationalism in India and the Politics of Fear,” where he has explained about a derogatory statement made by Mahant Das. Here is an excerpt from the book:

    During my personal session with the head of the Ram Janmabhumi Temple movement, Nritya Gopal Das (Personal Interview 2005e), an interesting incident occurred. My name and surname do not give away the caste I was born into. Assuming that I was a Non Resident Hindu Indian (a category that is often seen as a constituency for Hindu nationalism), Das started with a rehearsed tale of how Hindus and Muslims are brothers and if only Muslims give away certain mosques, there will be harmony in India. Upon the advice of a friendly sadhu, I emphasised that I came from a Brahmin family and Nritya Gopal Das’s tone changed. He became more friendly and open and lamented how it is not only Muslims but “neechi jaati ke log” (lower caste people) who have created all the problems. A mere mention of “Brahmin” identity opened up many avenues of discussion with more than half a dozen senior sadhus who work directly with the Vishwa Hindu paridhad.” [5]books.google.co.in

Facts/Trivia

  • He took over the presidency of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas after the death of previous head, Mahant Ram Manohar Das in 2003.
  • He also succeeded Shri Mani Ram Das Maharaj as the sixth head of the ‘Shri Mani Ram Das Chavni’, widely recognised as ‘Chhoti Chavani’. Choti Chavani temple is spread over an area of 25 acres, and one of the most popular religious places in Ayodhya, which attracts hundreds of pilgrims every day.

    Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das in a conversation with other sadhus and saints at Maniram Das Chavni temple in Ayodhya

  • He has helped in building several temples in Ayodhya. Some prominent ones are—the Ramayan Bhavan, the Shri Ranganath temple, and the Shri Char Dham temple.
    Ram Mandir Trust President Nritya Gopal Das
  • Mahant Das is guarded by a Z level security cover.
    Religious Superior Nritya Gopal das
  • Religious superior, Nritya Gopal Das, was strongly associated with the movement for the construction of Ram Mandir on Ram Janmabhoomi.

    RSS pracharak and a businessman Siyaram Gupta handing over a Rs 1 crore cheque to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas President, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das (C) as a donation for temple construction

    RSS pracharak and a businessman Siyaram Gupta handing over a Rs 1 crore cheque to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas President, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das (C) as a donation for temple construction

  • In 2016, he warned BJP government that if they do not address the Ram Mandir construction issue, it will be pushed out of governance. He said,

    The BJP government was formed with the blessings of Lord Ram. Whether it is at the centre or in the states, the BJP has achieved everything in the name of Lord Ram and if it decides to forego its commitment to build the Ram temple in Ayodhya, then the party may start counting its days.” [6]Nai Duniya

  • On 5 August 2020, Ram Mandir Temple Trust head, Nritya Gopal Das, was one of the five persons present on the stage for Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan ceremony. He shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, UP governor Anandiben Patel and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

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