Devotees deposit papers scribbled with ‘Ram’ naam at this bank

Varanasi: In the nine decades of its existence, over 1 lakh people have opened their accounts here. But what makes this bank different is that the transactions here are not in cash and the holdings comprise ‘Ram’ scribbled with red ink on paper lent by this spiritual bank.
The Ram Ramapati Bank is akin to the regular banks with safe deposits, well-maintained account of its holdings, an accountant, yet is a contrast as it loans not money but name of Lord Rama to an account holder of the bank till the time the person writes ‘Ram’ naam for 1.25 lakh times and returns the paper.
The bank that celebrates its 90th annual day on the occasion of Ram Navami on Wednesday was started by Das Channulalji in 1927 as a family and friend’s business. It has a deposition of 19,22,62,75 ‘Ram’ naam carved on papers deposited in accounts of the respective holders that also has an international presence, many of its account holders are NRIs.
Talking to TOI on Tuesday, great grandson of the bank’s founder, Sumit Mehrotra said, “At our institution, people open their accounts to get their prayers answered. We provide free-of-cost paper bundles, pen and red ink to the account holders for writing Lord Ram’s name for 1,25,000 times after which loan is considered repaid. The inscribed papers are kept as deposits with the bank in the hope that the person’s prayers will be answered.”
Mehrotra, who is the fifth generation of the family working for the bank, said that there are certain terms and conditions that needs to be followed. Consent is given by people before signing up as an account holder. The foremost condition being deposition of the sacred writings within eight months and 10 days from the date of sanctioning of the loan. Other conditions comprise taking shower before writing, shunning of non-vegetarian food, onion and garlic during the entire period of writing Lord Rama’s name. Their clientele is spread over India, UK, US, Canada, West Indies and also in Dubai.
On Wednesday, the bank will organise a ceremony to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Rama and a jhanki (tableaux) and parikrama of the ‘Ram’ naam papers written in different scripts will be performed. The process would go on till April 14. According to mythology, with one parikrama of 'Ram' naam, Lord Ganesha became the revered lord of devotees, so one can imagine the impact of the parikrama of billions of 'Ram' naam papers deposited here, said Mehrotra, adding that over 100 people (new) sign up as account holders every year on Ram Navami.