Lal Krishna Advani and PM Modi during Ram Janmabhoomi movement
New Delhi: The consecration ceremony of Ramlala is on 22 January 2024. On this day, there will be a gathering of many big personalities from PM Modi to Ayodhya. This achievement may be being achieved today, but its foundation was laid by BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani and along with him many big names like PM Modi etc. You will remember that Advani had organized a Rath Yatra across the country and gathered the countrymen regarding the Ram Temple. Today in this news of India TV, know the story of the construction of that chariot. On 12 September 1990, Lal Krishna Advani announced the Rath Yatra. This Rath Yatra was to start from 25th September. After this announcement, Pramod Mahajan along with his fellow famous art director Shanti Dev reached the workshop of Nalawade family in Chembur area of ​​Mumbai. Here he meets Prakash Nalawade.
The famous art director had prepared the design
Prakash told in the conversation that, Pramod Mahajan told him that you have to build the chariot which will be used for Advani ji’s Rath Yatra. Prakash said that I was shocked to hear this from Pramod Mahajan, for a moment I could not believe that this big task of Ramkaj had come to him. Somehow I controlled myself and agreed but I told him that I had never built a chariot before. On this Pramod Mahajan said that you should not worry. Shanti Dev will make the design of the chariot and you have to build the chariot accordingly. Prakash further said that Pramod Mahajan had already prepared the blueprint of how the chariot would be, what things would be required in the chariot, what would be the structure of the chariot.
Mini truck converted into chariot
Prakash further said that, just 2 hours after our conversation, Toyota company’s mini truck came to our workshop. We were given a deadline of 10 days for the construction of the chariot. In any case, we had to prepare this Rath for 10 days i.e. by 22nd September and send it to Gujarat because the Rath Yatra was going to start from 25th September. But the real test was yet to come.
Ram Janmabhoomi Movement Chariot
These challenges came in chariot construction
According to Prakash, the work of building the chariot was not easy. The chariot had to travel several thousand kilometers. During this journey, the chariot had to pass through many rough roads, villages and hilly areas, hence it was decided that wood would not be used in the chariot, only iron leaves would be used so that the chariot would be strong. Prakash further said that time was less so we worked for 16 to 17 hours daily for making the chariot. Whatever was required for the construction of the chariot, BJP leaders would provide it within an hour. Prakash Nalawade, his younger brother and a team of 6 people were busy making the chariot day and night.
Why is there a lion mark on the chariot instead of a horse?
Prakash tells that, there was a lot of craze for the Mahabharata serial at that time. Just imagining a chariot brought thoughts of horses to people’s minds. Because, all the chariots shown in Mahabharata serial had horses in front. One day during the construction of the chariot, Art Director Shanti Dev said that the figure of a lion would be placed on both sides of the chariot. I was shocked and asked Shanti Dev, if there are horses in the chariot then why this lion? On this he said that we are Hindu lions and the lion is going to his Lord Ram, going to the land of Ramlala. Shanti Dev was a great art director, he drew a lion on iron leaf and gave it to me (Prakash) to cut the design. The work of cutting the picture made on the iron leaf had to be done very minutely because if even the slightest mistake was made, the entire design would get spoiled and then the painting of the lion would have to be done on the leaf afresh. After working continuously for many hours, a beautiful lion figure was created. Lions on both sides of the chariot and lotus flowers in front of the chariot. According to Prakash, the chariot was ready for around Rs 1 lakh.
Chariot during Ram Janmabhoomi movement
Workshop became center of faith
During the construction of the chariot, the Chembur workshop was not a place of worship. People used to come from far and wide to see this chariot. Sangh volunteers used to stay there for hours and watch the chariot construction work and used to encourage the Nalawade family. Not only common people but even big leaders of BJP used to come to this workshop every day and take stock of the progress of chariot construction work. Many big BJP leaders including Pramod Mahajan, Murli Manohar Joshi used to come to the workshop at night to inspect the work. With hard work, the Nalawade family was successful in converting a Toyota mini truck into a beautiful chariot within 10 days. When this chariot came out of this workshop, a crowd of people gathered to see this chariot. People were kissing this chariot, touching its feet, Jai Shri Ram was being shouted everywhere.
When Modi’s simplicity won hearts
This chariot got damaged during the Rath Yatra in Gujarat. Prakash said that one day there was torrential rain during Rathratra in Gujarat, creating a storm-like situation. Due to this storm the chariot got damaged and water started leaking in the chariot. Water leakage was happening exactly at the place where a resting place was made for Lal Krishna Advani. Water was dripping from the chariot but Lal Krishna Advani continued his journey without any complaint. When the Yatra was about to reach Maharashtra, Prakash was called to repair the chariot. According to Prakash, after crossing the border of Gujarat, the chariot entered the border of Maharashtra at around 2:30 in the night. Lal Krishna Advani stayed in a guest house that night. Prakash reaches that place with his younger brother at around 6:30 in the morning. Pramod Mahajan informed Prakash about the damage done in the chariot.
PM Modi was given the responsibility of Rath Yatra
Prakash further said that when he reached near the chariot, a bearded man along with two people were taking out the goods in the chariot. I asked a person standing near the chariot about this bearded man, then that person told that the name of the person unloading the goods from the chariot is Narendra Bhai Modi, who was given the responsibility of Rath Yatra in Gujarat. According to Prakash, despite being in-charge of the Rath Yatra, Narendra Modi himself, like any ordinary worker, was taking out all the stuff from the chariot and keeping it aside. We were impressed by his simplicity. Today, after 30 years, when we see the fame of the Prime Minister, then we realize that it is the result of the Prime Minister’s faith in the cause and his simplicity that he has become the biggest leader of the world today.
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