Krishna Mohan’s journey from IFS officer to Ram Temple Trust gen secy

Ayodhya: The newly appointed general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Krishna Mohan, has attained nationwide recognition after getting the new assignment.He served the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for several decades before being entrusted with the key role that was earlier held by VHP vice-president Champat Rai.A native of Hardoi, Mohan studied at Lucknow University and completed his MSc in geology in 1970.He received his appointment to the Trust last year after Champat Rai announced his induction as a trustee on Sep 9 and formally handed over the appointment letter on Sep 15.Mohan’s name was proposed by senior office-bearers of the organisation as a replacement for Kameshwar Chaupal, a Dalit functionary and a member of the Trust, who passed away in Feb last year.

Mohan, deeply rooted in the RSS, belongs to the same community.After retiring from the Indian Forest Service in 2012, Mohan returned to his residence in Hardoi and devoted himself full-time to organisational work.He initially served as the zila sangh chalak of Hardoi before being elevated as the Awadh prant sangh chalak.The RSS has six prants in Uttar Pradesh — Braj, Meerut (including parts of Uttarakhand), Kanpur, Kashi, Gorakh, and Awadh, which comprises Lucknow and adjoining regions.

“In RSS, the one who works the most is considered an office bearer. Krishna Mohan has been a perfect example of this belief system,” said an RSS volunteer who has worked closely with Mohan.Recently, Mohan was elevated to the post of Purvi Uttar Pradesh Kshetra Sangh Sanchalak, making him responsible for Awadh, Kanpur, Gorakh and Kashi prants.His elevation was significant as the RSS has only 11 kshetra sangh sanchalak positions across the country.Earlier in his career, Mohan also served in the Department of Atomic Energy. He retired as additional principal chief conservator of forests before taking up bigger responsibilities within the RSS.His stature within the organisation became particularly evident during the consecration of Ram Lalla in Jan 2024, when he and his wife were among the select ones invited to serve as ‘yajmans’ (hosts) during the religious ceremonies. Mohan has a son and a daughter.