Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Punjab today to mark Ravidass Jayanti, a key event for the influential Ravidassia community in the state’s Doaba region, which includes Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, and Kapurthala districts.
Key Details of the Visit
The Prime Minister plans to spend approximately 45 minutes at the dera on the outskirts of Jalandhar. He will meet Sant Niranjan Das, the spiritual leader of the Ravidassia community and head of Dera Ballan, who received the Padma Shri award on Republic Day. Modi will arrive at Adampur airport around 3:30 p.m. and travel by helicopter to the site.
Modi last visited the Adampur air base on May 13, 2025, where he engaged with air force personnel and soldiers shortly after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. Adampur was one of the stations targeted by Pakistan during an attempted attack on the night of May 9-10, following India’s Operation Sindoor.
Airport Renaming and Infrastructure Boost
During the visit, the Prime Minister will rename Adampur’s civil airport in honor of Guru Ravidass Maharaj, reflecting the community’s strong presence in the Doaba region between the Beas and Satluj rivers. This area accounts for 23 of Punjab’s 117 Assembly seats, with Dera Sachkhand Ballan exerting direct influence over at least 19.
Additionally, Modi will virtually inaugurate the new terminal at Halwara airport in Ludhiana. The renaming coincides with the 649th birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidass, the revered saint and social reformer known for promoting equality, compassion, and human dignity, which continue to shape India’s social values.
The new Halwara terminal will enhance aviation access in Punjab, serving Ludhiana’s industrial and agricultural areas. Situated in Ludhiana district near an important Indian Air Force station, the upgraded facility features a longer runway capable of handling A320-type aircraft, addressing limitations of the previous Ludhiana airport designed for smaller planes.
Community and Government Initiatives
Sant Niranjan Das has dedicated his life to promoting Guru Ravidass’s teachings on social harmony, service, and humanity across India and abroad. Last month, former Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Vijay Sampla, along with Sant Niranjan Das, met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi to request the airport renaming.
In preparation for the visit, the Punjab government announced the establishment of the Sri Guru Ravidass Bani Adhayyan Centre near Dera Sachkhand Ballan. Officials registered three land parcels worth Rs 10.50 crore for the center. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema described the initiative as unique in the country, noting that more than nine acres have been secured.
Cheema emphasized, “The Punjab government stands totally committed to ensuring that the teachings and ideology of Sri Guru Ravidass reach every nook and corner of the globe.” This move is viewed as an effort to engage the Ravidassia community ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Dera Ballan, founded in the early 20th century by Sant Pipal Das in Ballan village about eight kilometers from Jalandhar, remains a central hub for the community.
