Abhiram Das

Abhiram Das (born Abhinandan Mishra in 1904 in Rarhi village, Darbhanga district, Bihar; died December 3, 1981, in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh) was a Hindu priest (Mahant) and wrestler known for his role in the 1949 installation of the Ram Lalla idol within the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. This event became a key moment in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Early life and background
Abhiram Das left his family home in Bihar due to a disagreement and arrived in Ayodhya in 1934. He became a disciple of Mahant Yamuna Das of the Nirvani Akhara, a prominent Hindu monastic order. His physical strength and wrestling skills contributed to his growing influence within the Akhara.
Role in the 1949 Babri Masjid Incident
Abhiram Das is credited with leading a group of individuals into the Babri Masjid on the night of December 22-23, 1949, and placing the idol of Ram Lalla inside.
This act significantly altered the status quo of the disputed structure and became a focal point of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Eyewitness accounts suggest he played a central role in the installation, although details surrounding the event remain contested, with some accounts mentioning resistance from a caretaker within the mosque. Official records, however, do not reflect this.
Controversies and discrepancies
The circumstances of the idol's installation are surrounded by controversy and discrepancies. Eyewitness testimonies and official records differ, particularly regarding the involvement of local officials, notably District Magistrate KK Nayar. Some accounts suggest Nayar's presence at the site shortly after the installation, implying prior knowledge and complicity, which is at odds with official reports. The origin of the idol has also been debated among different Hindu sects.
Legacy and death
Abhiram Das's action in 1949 became a significant turning point in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, though he remained a relatively obscure figure. His role in the installation of the Ram Lalla idol served as a catalyst for the decades-long legal and political battle that followed. He was known by some as "Uddharak Baba" (Liberator).
Abhiram Das died on December 3, 1981, in Ayodhya. His death, while mourned by his followers, went largely unnoticed by the wider public in Ayodhya, a fact considered ironic given his significant impact on the city's history.

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