A Pillar of the Ram Mandir Movement: Kameshwar Chaupal Passes Away, Leaving a Legacy

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a sad turn of events Bihar received heartbreaking news on Friday morning as Kameshwar Chaupal the man who laid the first brick for the Shri Ram temple foundation in Ayodhya passed away in Delhi. His body is being brought back to Patna and his residence is in Beur. Chaupal who was 68 years old died in a Delhi hospital on Thursday midnight after being ill for several days. His death has sent shockwaves through the entire ideological family, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) with the RSS having given him the title of Pratham Kar Sevak. Kameshwar Chaupal a lifelong member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust made history on November 9, 1989, when he laid the first brick for the foundation of the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya, marking a pivotal moment in the Ram Mandir movement. Chaupal was a Dalit from Supaul district in Bihar and had strong roots in the Mithila region, where he grew up considering Lord Ram as a relative, a tradition tied to Mithila’s association with Sita's home.Chaupal's journey into politics began with his connection to the RSS. He was introduced to the organization through a teacher in Madhubani district, which led him to dedicate himself fully to the Sangh after his college graduation. He later became the district pracharak for Madhubani. Over the years, Chaupal became known for his dedication to the cause of Ram Mandir and his service to the community.

In his political career Chaupal contested against the late LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan in 1991 but was unsuccessful. In 2002 he became a member of the Bihar Legislative Council and in 2014 he contested against Ranjita Ranjan wife of Pappu Yadav but was again defeated. Kameshwar Chaupal's death has left a deep void, not just for his family, but for the ideological families he closely aligned with throughout his life. His story, from a humble beginning to becoming a key figure in the Ram Mandir movement is one of unwavering dedication to faith, community and service.