Former Union minister and ex-Punjab BJP President Vijay Sampla expressed his appreciation to the Central government for honoring Sant Niranjan Das with the Padma Shri. Sampla highlighted Sant Niranjan Das’s lifelong commitment to spreading the teachings of Sant Guru Ravidas Maharaj both in India and globally, emphasizing values of social harmony and humanity. He described the Padma Shri recognition as a moment of pride for not just the Ravidassia community but the entire nation.
Sampla specifically thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the significant decision, stating that it symbolizes the national acknowledgment of the remarkable contributions made by spiritual leaders to society. In a recent meeting with PM Modi, Sampla and Sant Niranjan Das had proposed renaming the Adampur Airport in Jalandhar after Guru Ravidas Maharaj to honor community sentiments.
During the meeting, Sampla noted PM Modi’s respectful reception of the delegation and extended an invitation for the Prime Minister to attend the upcoming 649th Prakash Purab of Guru Ravidas in Varanasi. The delegation also put forth a proposal to celebrate the 650th Prakash Purab in 2027 at a national level for a year, promoting Guru Ravidas’s teachings across the country and requesting land in Varanasi for related activities.
The delegation, including Sant Niranjan Das, presented PM Modi with a portrait of Guru Ravidas Maharaj as a gesture of honor.
