Priest’s Suicide Note Accuses Officials in Ahmedabad Temple Demolition Case
Ahmedabad: Early this morning on March 16, 2025, the mahant of the Santoshi Mata Temple in Ahmedabad’s Naroda area was found hanging inside the temple. Authorities had given the temple a one-week notice for demolition to make way for new construction, a move that, according to the family, set off a chain of pressures from the municipal corporation, police, and a builder.
A Four-Year Struggle Laid Bare
The 63-year-old Mahant Mahendra Manikar left behind a suicide note that detailed a bitter, four-year-long battle to save the temple a struggle during which even his closest supporters turned against him. Inside the temple, banners and posters had been displayed to highlight the demolition issue. While police have registered the case as an accidental death, an investigation is now underway to determine all the facts.
Heritage Under Siege
Brijeshbhai, the mahant’s son, described the temple as part of a cherished family legacy. Built before 1972, the temple complex in Santoshinagar Chhapra has expanded over the decades, incorporating additional temples and a memorial for the mahant’s grandfather. According to the family, the continuous pressure over the past four years to vacate the premises had a devastating impact on Mahant Manikar.
Family Vows to Continue the Fight
Brijeshbhai accused a local builder of influencing authorities and intensifying the pressure, which he claims ultimately drove his father to take his own life. “My father was relentlessly harassed, and now I must take up the fight to protect our temple and heritage,” he declared.
In his poignant farewell note, the mahant expressed feelings of betrayal by someone he had once supported, comparing his plight to that of Bhishma Pitamah from the Mahabharata a warrior who accepted defeat without a fight. He praised his wife, Kalpana, for her unwavering support during their difficult times and urged his son to carry on the struggle to save the temple. The note also stressed that the temple land, which belongs to saints and members of the Chara community, should be preserved as a sacred heritage, and it concluded with a heartfelt “Ram Ram.”
Diverging Claims and Ongoing Investigation
When contacted, Vishal Khanama, Deputy Municipal Commissioner of North Zone, denied any specific demolition plans for the temple. He explained that since 2019, demolition orders under the Slum Redevelopment Policy have targeted shanties in Santoshinagar to rebuild housing for locals, but claimed that criminal elements were obstructing redevelopment efforts.
G Division ACP V.N. Yadav noted that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation had been requesting additional security support in recent months. He emphasized that the police are tasked solely with maintaining law and order, adding that the allegations against them would be fully investigated.
Authorities are now delving deeper into the circumstances surrounding Mahant Manikar’s death and the disputed demolition, as the community grapples with the loss of a guardian of its cultural heritage.