BJP to Launch Nationwide Campaign for Guru Ravidas' 650th Anniversary

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a sweeping nationwide campaign, the ‘Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan,’ to commemorate the 650th birth anniversary of the revered poet-saint Guru Ravidas. The initiative will begin on July 29, 2026, and run until February 20, 2027, aiming to spread his teachings of social harmony, equality, and public awakening.

Massive Outreach Across Temples and Communities

Unveiling the campaign details at a press conference, BJP national general secretaries Tarun Chugh and Dushyant Kumar Gautam revealed that 131 sacred urns from Varanasi, Ravidas’ birthplace, would be sent across the country. The campaign will include events at 21,000 locations, a festival of lights at 51,000 temples, and outreach efforts involving saints, students, religious groups, and hostels. Additionally, processions, including a month-long yatra from Jalandhar to Varanasi, will be organised nationwide.

Preserving Ravidas’ Legacy

The BJP leaders highlighted the Narendra Modi government’s initiatives to honour Guru Ravidas’ legacy, such as developing airports, special trains, pilgrim routes, and restoring sites linked to the saint. “The campaign’s objective is to take the message of social harmony, equality, and public awakening as preached by Ravidas to every corner of the country,” said Tarun Chugh.

Historical Context of Ravidas’ Contributions

Dushyant Kumar Gautam provided historical insights into the era in which Ravidas lived, describing it as a time of widespread religious conversions and temple demolitions under rulers like Sikandar Lodi and Timur. During this period, saints of the Bhakti movement, including Ravidas, played a pivotal role in countering societal distress by spreading values of equality and awareness through regional languages. Gautam emphasised Ravidas’ significant contribution to envisioning an egalitarian society, far ahead of his time.

A Visionary Ahead of His Time

Ravidas’ teachings of a casteless society and his concept of ‘Beghampura,’ a place free from sorrow and suffering, resonate deeply even today. Gautam compared Ravidas’ vision to later movements for equality led by figures like Abraham Lincoln and B.R. Ambedkar, underscoring the saint’s timeless relevance. Kabir, another prominent Bhakti movement figure, had conferred upon Ravidas the title of ‘Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas Ji,’ recognising his profound impact on society.

This ambitious campaign reflects the BJP’s efforts to celebrate Ravidas’ enduring legacy and promote his values of social harmony and equality across India.

Source: The Hindu