New Delhi: The grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya is all set to open its doors for public after Pran Pratistha ceremony on January 22. The holy city is all decked up for the historic event while the organizers are working overtime to make the event a grand success with global visibility.
Champat Rai is one name that has become synonymous with Ram Temple and every piece of crucial information about it flows through him. He has been at the forefront of all activities, including construction work, Pran Prathistha ceremony preparations & sending invites to who’s who of the country.
Who is Champat Rai?
Champat Rai has become a quintessential name that will always take centrestage whenever any discussion of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir takes place.
His association with the Ram Temple dates back to many years. In past 3 decades of his life, he switched many roles but all remained centered about Lord Ram. He was initially a chemistry teacher. He became a crusader of Ram Temple movement and is now the General Secretary of Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the body overseeing the construction work. He is also the vice-President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
Champat Rai was born in 1946 in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh. His association with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) began at a very early stage. Though, after completing education, he went to become Chemistry teacher.
Why he got imprisoned?
Champat Rai took an active role in Ram Mandir movement and also served jail term for his crusade. A member of the Ram Janambhoomi Trust informed newsmen that Rai stayed in prison for about 18 months during Emergency. He was tortured &shifted to many cells but his will didn’t budge. He toughened up during jail term and became more determined about Ram Temple.
He joined the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in 1980.
How Rai dedicated his life for Ram Temple?
Champat Rai has been a ‘silent’yet fierce fighter of Ram Mandir movement. Having worked under Ashok Singhal, the then in-charge of Ayodhya Ram Janambhoomi movement, Rai contributed immensely in designing the Temple campaign and was a key figure in the crusade.
Rai stood in the background and gave crucial shape to the temple campaign, say a couple of scribes from Ayodhya.
Controversies associated with him?
Champat Rai also got embroiled in some controversies, though he vehemently refuted all the charges against him.
In 2021, Samajwadi Party (SP) & AAP leaders accused him of corruption in plot purchase. They claimed that a plot that was bought for Rs 2 crore was sold to Ram Janambhoomi Trust , minutes later at nine times the price i.e. 18.5 crore.