Acharya Kishore Kunal, Ayodhya mediator and crusader for Dalit rights, passes away at 74 years of age
Reported by Shruti Sneha
Patna, 29th December 2024: Acharya Kishore Kunal, who is the ex-IPS officer, Ayodhya mediator, philanthropist, and a crusader for social reform, was found dead due to a heart attack in Patna on Sunday morning. He was 74.
Kunal, an IPS officer from Gujarat who was a 1972 batch graduate, served in Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Bihar before retiring voluntarily in 2001. Throughout his career, he has held important positions, such as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Ayodhya, and is well-known for his outstanding service and courage in taking on dacoit groups. In 1989, under Prime Minister V. P. Singh, Kunal was appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Under succeeding prime ministers Chandra Shekhar and P. V. Narasimha Rao, remained in this role. In the divisive Ayodhya issue, he was instrumental in the negotiations between the Babri Masjid Action Committee and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. As a social reformer, Kunal played a key role in bringing Dalit priests to the temples of Bihar.
He was head of the Hanuman Mandir Trust in Patna, which he used to install the first Dalit priest in any temple in Bihar on June 13, 1993. His efforts were continued even when he held the post of president of the Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts, by which he facilitated the installation of Dalit priests in several temples across the state.
The Hanuman Mandir Trust contributes to the philanthropic donations of Kunal by sponsoring three hospitals in Patna. In these institutions, Mahavir Cancer Hospital, Mahavir Arogya, and Mahavir Vatsalya, the public receive medical services at low tariffs, with the cancer hospital providing this service at subsidized fees.
The book “Ayodhya Revisited,” written by Kunal, a distinguished Sanskrit and Hindi scholar, offers a perceptive examination of the famous Ayodhya dispute. G. B. Patnaik and M. N. Venkatachaliah, former Chief Justices of India, have praised the book for its historical clarity and impartial approach, which could promote intercommunal understanding.
After retirement, he remained the vice chancellor of KS Sanskrit University, Darbhanga. He left a legacy that would be remembered as a crusader for education and reform.
Acharya Kishore Kunal left behind a legacy of justice, compassion, and commitment to social equality. His contribution to Indian society will remain there for years to come.
