New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to undertake a significant outreach initiative this Sunday, focusing on the revered saint Ravidas and the Ravidassia community. The Prime Minister will officially rename the Adampur airport as "Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Airport," a long-standing demand that aligns with the saint's 649th birth anniversary celebrations.
Strategic Timing and Cultural Significance
Modi's decision to time the renaming ceremony with the birth anniversary of Saint Ravidas underscores a deliberate emphasis on cultivating a community that holds substantial importance for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move is not merely political but also aligns with the party's broader cultural agenda, aiming to foster Hindu cohesion.
The Prime Minister will also visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan, the headquarters of the Ravidassia community located in Jalandhar. This region, part of the Doaba area, has a higher concentration of Scheduled Castes compared to the rest of Punjab. Dalits constitute nearly 32% of Punjab's population, with the figure rising to around 42% in Doaba.
Historical Context and Previous Engagements
Over the past years, Modi has launched various projects dedicated to Saint Ravidas, including development initiatives at his birthplace in Varanasi, which is also the Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency. Additionally, efforts have been made to build a memorial in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, and Modi has visited several Ravidas temples to pay tributes.
During his upcoming visit, Modi will attend a public program and interact with Niranjan Dass, the spiritual head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, who was honored with a Padma Shri award on the eve of this Republic Day.
Political Implications and Community Dynamics
The Ravidassia community, which makes up approximately 10-12% of Punjab's population, is one of the larger subgroups among Dalits in the state. Saint Ravidas is a highly respected figure among Scheduled Castes, and reaching out to disadvantaged castes has been a consistent part of the BJP's strategy to expand its influence.
This outreach gains added significance with the Punjab assembly polls scheduled for the first quarter of next year. The political landscape in Punjab has become increasingly competitive, with four major parties, including the Congress, vying for dominance following the meteoric rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the dissolution of the BJP-Akali alliance.
By associating himself with the renaming event and the visit to the dera, Modi aims to strengthen ties with a community that has a significant presence not only in Punjab but also in several other states across India.
