31 years ago, Jhameli Baba made a vow to only consume fruits until the construction of the temple and the presence of Lord Ram. Since then, he has been living a simple life, running a small paan shop in anonymity. He has dedicated his life to society, even choosing not to get married.
Jhameli Baba, also known as Veerendra Kumar, hails from Khaira village in the Darbhanga district. He has been a selfless servant since childhood. He joined around 250 kar sevaks from Darbhanga and traveled to Ayodhya on the call of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. During the demolition of the Babri Masjid, he witnessed the collapse of the disputed structure and left with fellow Ram devotees, carrying bricks as a symbol.
Amidst the chaos, Jhameli Baba and other Shiv Sena activists gathered outside the premises. They used a metal pipe to bring down the disputed structure. After the demolition, they left with bricks and other materials as a sign of devotion. Jhameli Baba took a dip in the Sarayu River and made a vow to sacrifice food until the grand construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
During this time, he had his picture taken at a nearby studio and was told to write his name and address so that the picture could be sent by mail. He received the picture a few days later, which he still keeps. On December 8th, he returned to Darbhanga with some of his companions from Ayodhya. However, they were being searched by the police. They managed to reach the Balbhadrapur RSS office after reaching the Laheriasarai station, ensuring their safety.
31 सालों से फल खाकर जिंदा है झमेली बाबा। बाबा ने बाबरी मस्जिद के गुंबद को तोड़ने के बाद वचन लिया था कि जब तक मंदिर निर्माण नहीं होता, वह सिर्फ फलहार करेंगे। वह अब तक गुमनामी में छोटी सी पान दुकान चलाकर जीवन यापन कर रहे हैं। उन्होंने शादी नहीं की और अपना जीवन समाज के लिए समर्पित कर दिया। उन्होंने अयोध्या यात्रा के दौरान तस्वीर खिंचाई और डाक से भेजी थी, जिसे आज भी संभाल कर रखा है। वह अपने साथियों के साथ दरभंगा पहुंचे और उन्हें जान बचाई।
