Prominent Ram Janmabhoomi movement leader and former Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament, Ram Vilas Vedanti, passed away on Monday morning following a heart attack. He was 67 years old. The sad event occurred in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, where he was undergoing treatment.
Health Complications and Failed Air Ambulance Mission
Vedanti had been unwell for some time and was admitted to the Superspecialty Hospital at Shyam Shah Medical College in Rewa on the morning of December 14. Hospital superintendent Akshay Srivastava revealed that upon admission, Vedanti was suffering from a severe septicemia infection, which had caused his blood pressure to drop and his kidneys to stop functioning.
The situation worsened on Sunday night when he suffered a heart attack and had to be put on a ventilator. A critical attempt was made to move him to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal via an air ambulance. However, this lifesaving plan was thwarted by dense fog, preventing the flight from taking off. He succumbed to his ailments on Monday morning.
A Life Dedicated to Ram Janmabhoomi and Public Service
Born on October 7, 1958, in Gudhwa, Rewa district, Ram Vilas Vedanti was a significant figure in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He served as the executive president of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust. His political career saw him represent the BJP as an MP from Uttar Pradesh's Machhlishahar constituency from 1996 to 1998 and later from Pratapgarh from 1998 to 1999.
Vedanti was in Rewa to narrate a 'Katha Bhathwa' in Lalgaon, a program that began on December 10, when his health started deteriorating. A disciple of Mahant Abhiram Das of Hanumangarhi—the key figure behind the placement of the Ram Lalla idols in 1949—Vedanti lived at Hindu Dham Naya Ghat in Ayodhya and managed an ashram called Vashishth Bhavan.
His successor, Mahant Raghavesh Das, stated that Vedanti's last rites would be performed in Ayodhya, and his body was being transported there on Monday.
Condolences Pour In: "An Irreparable Loss to Sanatan Dharma"
The news of his demise prompted an outpouring of grief from top political and spiritual leaders. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences on social media platform X, calling Vedanti's passing an "irreparable loss to the spiritual world and Sanatan Dharma."
"His departure marks the end of an era. His life, dedicated to the service of religion, society, and the nation, is an inspiration to us all," Adityanath wrote, offering prayers for the departed soul.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also mourned the loss, describing Vedanti as a revered saint and a leading figure of the Vishva Hindu Parishad who played a pivotal role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Maurya emphasized that Vedanti's life of selfless service would remain a source of inspiration.
The death of Ram Vilas Vedanti marks the closing of a significant chapter in the history of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, leaving behind a legacy of religious dedication and political activism.
