In a strategic move to broaden their outreach to Dalits and Backward communities, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh are using Ram Lalla consecration ceremony scheduled on January 22 to extend its reach into Dalit and backward class settlements.

The Dalit community has played a pivotal role in the journey from the inception of the Ram temple construction. Kameshwar Chaupal, a dedicated volunteer from Bihar, laid the first foundation stone of the temple and currently serves as a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust.

The sacred premises of the Shri Ram Temple will house temples dedicated to Maharishi Valmiki, Mata Shabari and Nishadraj.

In a noteworthy development, the Central government has added a new dimension to this narrative by naming the international airport in Ayodhya after Maharishi Valmiki.

Preparations are in full swing to ensure the Pran Pratishtha ceremony becomes a grand spectacle in all Dalit and Valmiki settlements. To encapsulate the spirit of inclusivity, people from diverse religious backgrounds, including Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, Hindu and Sikh communities, are being actively involved in the temple events.

On the day of Pran Pratistha, there is a strategic plan to conduct puja and aarti in the temples, featuring active participation from individuals belonging to the Dalit community.

An official from RSS emphasised that Dalits and backward classes are being apprised of the profound message conveyed by the Central government through the naming of the airport after Maharishi Valmiki. The settlements are being enlightened about the significant role played by Maharishi Valmiki’s Ramayana in making the lore of Lord Ram accessible to the masses.

Additionally, the backward classes are being reminded of the crucial role played by Nishadraj, the boatman who aided Lord Ram in crossing the river during his exile, and how the Lord, after the victory in Lanka, first visited the boatman’s dwelling.

The efforts towards social harmony are yielding heartening results, as evidenced during the door-to-door distribution of ‘akshat’ in Valmiki settlements in the Awadh province. In instances where the picture of Shri Ram reached homes for the first time, families expressed overwhelming emotions.

During an ‘akshat’ distribution event in a village in Ambedkar Nagar, the Valmiki community welcomed the picture of Shri Ram into their homes, partaking in a ritual bath and displaying deep emotions while accepting the invitation.