Mahant Raju Das Welcomes New CEO of Ram Mandir Trust, Calls for Devotee‑Centred Initiatives

On Thursday, Hanuman Garhi’s senior monk Mahant Raju Das received the newly‑appointed chief executive of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust – retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra – with a warm, if slightly informal, welcome. While shaking hands, the Mahant made it clear that the trust’s new leader should keep the soul of Ayodhya intact, not let bureaucracy choke the devotion of the faithful.

“The trust must look after the gaushalas spread across Ayodhya,” Das said, his voice carrying a hint of urgency. “Many of them are in need of proper care, and the temple‑keepers should adopt them, just as they adopt the crumbling shrines that have been left to ruin.” He went on to stress that a salaried officer could never replicate the pure, heartfelt worship a sadhu offers – the arrangements for worship, he argued, should remain free of commercial trappings.

He also urged Mishra to organise free meals – “langar” – for the throngs of pilgrims who descend on the holy city, and to ensure that saints receive a dignified darshan. “Devotees should never have to wonder where their next bite will come from,” he added, pausing as if recalling a personal memory of a cold night in Ayodhya.

Across the room, another senior saint, Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das Ji Maharaj, echoed the sentiment, praising Mishra’s long‑standing service to the nation. “He has done immense work for India; now he has the rare chance to serve at the feet of Lord Ram Lalla,” he said, his tone reverent yet lightly tinged with a smile.

Vishnu Das Ji also took a moment to jab at political opponents, calling the recent chatter about alleged thefts and scams “unsavoury politics” that distress the Sanatani saint community. He expressed confidence that under Mishra’s steady hand, such incidents would be a thing of the past.

The trust’s board had, earlier that week, formally appointed Mishra as CEO and added three fresh trustees. The decision followed a closed‑door meeting that also touched on the 2025‑26 accounts, a pending SIT probe into financial irregularities, and the looming Supreme Court case.

In his first interview after the appointment, the retired air marshal said the role felt like a blessing after 43 years of service. “I consider it great fortune that they chose me,” he said, adding that he hoped to serve the temple and its devotees with the same dedication he showed in the skies.

While the new CEO settles in, devotees and saints alike are watching keenly, hopeful that the promised actions – caring for gaushalas, restoring ancient shrines, and feeding pilgrims – will soon move from words to reality.