From India to Bharat- Ram Ramapati Bank in Varanasi

On the first day of my trip to Varanasi on the occasion of Kartik Purnima-Dev Deepavali in November 2011, I visited the Ram Ramapati Bank, located at D-5/35 Tripura Bhairavi, Dasaswamedh, Varanasi 221001. This was located inside the famously labyrinthian alleys of Varanasi, within walking distance of the main Dasaswamedh Ghat and very close to the Vishwanath Temple. I learnt about this unique spiritual institution when doing my research on Varanasi. Run for over eighty years as a family initiative, the Bank does not deal with money. All that an account holder has to do is scribble Lord Ram's name in red ink 125,000 times on paper and keep it as a “deposit” with the Bank. At a rate of 500 per day, the task is scheduled to be completed exactly in 8 months and 10 days. The clientele of over 100,000 is spread over different states of India and also U.S., Canada and West Indies. After the sacred scribble is deposited by a particular account holder, the Bank carries out a series of rituals that are aimed to bring prosperity and good luck to his life. The Bank even gives a loan till the time an account holder writes Lord Ram's name the required number of times and returns the paper. Then the loan is considered repaid. The account holder has to deposit all the sacred scribble within eight months and 10 days from the date of sanctioning of the loan. There are other conditions, such as taking a bath before the scribbling. Account holders are also required to shun non-vegetarian food, onion and garlic during the entire period. The Bank does not charge a penny for its service, rather it even provides the paper and pen. It does not have a sign board outside, and is clearly publicity-averse. However, everyone seemed to know the place when I asksed for directions.

When I sheepishly walked in to the traditional Benarasi style house, I was cordially welcomed by the Manager. He was seated in a thin mattress on the ground, which covered half of the large room. I left my shoes outside the room and tentatively sat on the edge of the mattress. I was advised to climb in and seat inside the mattress with my legs folded. This was the traditional seating arrangement in most homes at one time. The walls had several large photos depicting scenes from Lord Ram’s life, and there was a Ram temple in one corner of the room.
He asked for my whereabouts, explained the functioning of the Bank and then very kindly invited me to the inner courtyard of the house to see the Bank’s “vault” where thousands of prayers by the faithful account holders are safely kept, neatly wrapped in red cloth bundles. He then arranged for the temple to be opened and allowed me a darshan of Ramlalla (Lord Ram’s childhood incarnation). He even allowed me to take photographs of the place. At the end of the conversation, he gave me a rulebook written in Hindi, a simple account opening form and gifted me a packet of “pavitra roli” (fine red vermillion powder, used to mark foreheads as a sign of religiosity). He said with firm conviction that if I say Raam naam ten times every morning and apply the roli on my forehead, it will protect me from all dangers.

I went to Varanasi to explore the soul of India. Hailing from a society where religiosity is primarily in the private domain, bold acts of religious faith are scarce and philanthropy is usually on a timid many-to-one mutual-fund style model (subscription for community puja, private domantions to one or two large humanitarian institutions and contribution to Chief Minister's relief fund), this uniquely bold model of one family coming forward to strengthen the roots of faith for thousands of people on a selfless basis for nearly a century impressed and enriched me. I witnessed more examples of this model in the next day of Kartik Purnima (first full moon day after Diwali; on the 7th month of the Hindu calender) when many of the commercial restaurants ran Bhandaras (free meals) for the millions of pilgrims who convered in the city for a dip in the river on this auspicious day. This was my perfect introduction to the spirituality of this oldest living city of the world.