"Defeat Enemies of Sanatan": Bageshwar Baba's War Cry in Mamata's Backyard

In one of West Bengal's largest religious mobilizations, over 5 lakh devotees gathered at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground today, December 7, 2025, for the "Panch Lakh Kanthe Gita Path" (Gita Recitation by 5 Lakh Voices). The event, led by controversial Bageshwar Dham chief [Dhirendra Shastri], saw prominent BJP leaders sharing the stage with sadhus, while Chief Minister [Mamata Banerjee] was conspicuously absent. The massive turnout comes just 24 hours after a suspended TMC MLA laid the foundation for a mosque modeled on the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad, creating a charged communal atmosphere ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

The Context (How We Got Here)

The event is the culmination of a months-long Hindu consolidation strategy. While officially organized by the Sanatan Sanskriti Sangsad, it has received logistical and political backing from the RSS and BJP. The timing is strategic: it follows yesterday's provocative "Babri Masjid" foundation ceremony by [Humayun Kabir] on the demolition anniversary, which the BJP has framed as proof of "jihadi appeasement." Dhirendra Shastri, known for his Hindu Rashtra rhetoric, used the platform to declare that the Gita is a weapon to "defeat the enemies of Sanatan Dharma," transforming a spiritual gathering into a political rally cry.

The Key Players (Who & So What)

Dhirendra Krishna Shastri (Bageshwar Baba): The mobilizer. By headlining this event, he is lending his massive popularity to the BJP's Bengal campaign, framing the election as a battle for Hindu survival.
Dilip Ghosh (BJP National VP): The politician. His presence on stage signals the party's ownership of the event. He explicitly linked the gathering to the "oppression of Hindus in Bangladesh," internationalizing the local polarization.
Humayun Kabir (Suspended MLA): The trigger. His defiant mosque foundation ceremony yesterday provided the perfect foil for today's Hindu consolidation, arguably doing more to energize the BJP's base than any campaign speech.

The BIGSTORY Reframe

While headlines focus on the "chants," the deeper story is the "Manufacturing of a Binary." This weekend was a masterclass in polarized choreography. On Saturday, a "Babri" mosque rose in Murshidabad; on Sunday, 5 lakh Hindus chanted in Kolkata. These aren't isolated events; they are the opening moves of a 2026 election strategy designed to erase local Bengali identity issues (jobs, corruption) and replace them with a stark "Hindu vs. Muslim" choice. By vacating the space, Mamata Banerjee has allowed the opposition to set the terms of the cultural battle, potentially alienating Hindu voters who see her absence as indifference.

The Implications (Why This Changes Things)

The scale of the gathering—5 lakh people—proves that the RSS's quiet expansion in Bengal has reached critical mass. It challenges the TMC's ability to control the streets and the narrative. If this mobilization translates into votes, the "5% swing" the BJP needs to win 2026 becomes mathematically plausible. Furthermore, the explicit blending of religious leaders and political figures normalizes the use of "Dharma" as a campaign tool, setting the stage for a highly polarized and potentially volatile election season.

The Closing Question (Now, Think About This)

If a spiritual event needs political leaders on stage to succeed, is it still a prayer, or has it become a rally?

FAQs

What is the "Panch Lakh Kanthe Gita Path" in Kolkata? It was a massive religious event held on December 7, 2025, at the Brigade Parade Ground, where approximately 5 lakh people gathered to recite the Bhagavad Gita together. It was led by spiritual leaders like Dhirendra Shastri and Sadhvi Ritambhara.

Who is Bageshwar Baba and why was he in Kolkata? Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, known as Bageshwar Baba, is a popular Hindu spiritual leader and head of Bageshwar Dham. He was the chief guest at the Gita Path event, using the platform to call for Hindu unity and the defense of Sanatan Dharma ahead of the state elections.

Did Mamata Banerjee attend the Gita Path event? No, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not attend. However, several senior BJP leaders, including Dilip Ghosh and Sukanta Majumdar, were present on stage.

What happened in Murshidabad the day before the Gita Path? On December 6, 2025, suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for a mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid in Rejinagar, Murshidabad. The timing (Babri demolition anniversary) and nature of the event sparked controversy and political sparring.

Is the Gita Path event political? While organizers claimed it was apolitical and spiritual, the heavy presence of BJP leadership, the timing before the 2026 elections, and the rhetoric used by speakers about "defeating enemies" have led analysts to view it as a major political mobilization exercise.

Sources

News Coverage

Research & Analysis

West Bengal West Bengal Elections 2026

Brajesh Mishra Associate Editor

Brajesh Mishra is an Associate Editor at BIGSTORY NETWORK, specializing in daily news from India with a keen focus on AI, technology, and the automobile sector. He brings sharp editorial judgment and a passion for delivering accurate, engaging, and timely stories to a diverse audience.