Nagpur: Ramkrishna Amolchand Poddar, Trustee of Shri Poddareshwar Ram Mandir, who initiated Shri Ram Janmotsav Shobhayatra, passed away on Tuesday in Nagpur. He was 85.
A resident of Rama Niwas, Masoba Lane, Bajeria; Ramkrishna Poddar leaves behind a host of relatives to mourn the loss. People used to fondly call him Babuji. Last rites were performed at Mokshadham.
Born on August 5, 1939, Poddar completed his MA and law degree. His family atmosphere was spiritual so gradually Ramkrishna started handling the temple operations. In the year 1966, Ramkrishna Poddar initiated Shri Ram Janmotsav Shobhayatra. In the same year, he had organised public-oriented programmes. After his marriage, Ramkrishna Poddar continued to serve the temple. He got equal support from his wife who accompanied Ramkrishna to the temple and remained dedicated to the temple related work.
He gradually started a library to be run without taking a single penny from the users. He used to organise health check up camps, free distribution of material and free distribution of asthma medicine. He offered lodgings at Shri Jamnaghar Dharmashala at nominal fees.
Ramkrishna Poddar was disappointed when the COVID-19 pandemic brought restrictions on the shobhayatra. He was hurt but found himself helpless. Of course he had said then that sometimes for the welfare of the society, one had to ignore the emotions. The consecration of Ramlala at Ayodhya had made Ramkrishna Poddar very happy.