The construction of a grand Ayodhya-style Ram temple themed around the idea of a “Bengali Ram” has been proposed in West Bengal’s Nadia district, with BJP leaders asserting that the project is cultural and religious in nature, not linked to electoral politics.
The proposed temple, to be built in Shantipur, is being undertaken by the Shri Krittibas Ram Mandir Trust, a registered religious and charitable organisation that has been working on the concept since 2017. Trust officials said the project aims to celebrate Bengal’s unique Ramayana tradition rather than replicate political narratives from elsewhere in the country.
According to those associated with the project, the temple will serve not only as a place of worship but also as a cultural and heritage centre dedicated to Krittibas Ojha, the 15th-century poet who authored the Shri Ram Panchali, a revered Bengali translation of the Sanskrit Ramayana. The text continues to be read in Bengali households and forms the ideological foundation of the “Bengali Ram” concept.
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The announcement comes against a politically sensitive backdrop, weeks after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid foundation stones for multiple religious-cultural initiatives across the state. It also follows the recent foundation-laying of a Babri mosque replica in Murshidabad by former Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, adding to the charged religious discourse in Bengal.
Responding to speculation, a BJP MLA associated with the development insisted that the Ram temple project should not be viewed as an election-related initiative. He maintained that the effort is rooted in cultural revival and religious faith and not designed to influence voters.
On Sunday, members of the Shri Krittibas Ram Mandir Trust conducted a final land survey to measure the site, formally initiating the construction process. Officials said further details on timelines and design will be announced once statutory approvals are completed.
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