‘Heart filled with gratitude’: Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra on being appointed Ram Temple Trust’s first CEO

Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra, newly appointed CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, arrived in Ayodhya and expressed gratitude for the opportunity. He will oversee temple administration, finances, security, staff, devotee facilities and inter-departmental coordination

Ayodhya: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust CEO Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra arrived in Ayodhya on Thursday, a day after being selected for the top post from the pool of more than 5,000 prospective candidates.

He said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve Lord Ram and contribute to the administration and organisation of the temple. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Wednesday appointed Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ram Temple Trust.

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Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Ayodhya, Mishra said he would need some time to formally take over the new responsibility before sharing his detailed plans for the temple administration. “I have reached Ayodhya for the first time after being given this responsibility. Give me some time to take over. I will share the complete plan with you… I have already said that I am thankful to the selection committee, the trust and Lord Ram’s blessings,” Mishra said.

Expressing his gratitude over the appointment, the former Air Marshal said he considered himself fortunate to have been entrusted with the responsibility of serving the nation as well as Lord Ram and the devotees of the temple.

“My heart is filled with gratitude. I consider myself the most fortunate person today to have been given this responsibility twice in my life, once to serve the nation and now to serve Lord Ram, the temple and its devotees through its organisation and administration,” he said.

Mishra also spoke about his connection with the region, saying that he frequently visits Deoria, Gorakhpur and Varanasi and has been witnessing the development taking place across the state and the country.

“I belong to this region and frequently visit Deoria, Gorakhpur and Varanasi. Our state and country are progressing rapidly, and Ayodhya is also developing in the same way,” he added.

The appointment was approved during a high-profile meeting of the Trust, which considered the recommendations of the search committee constituted to select the temple’s first CEO. Mishra was selected from a pool of more than 5,000 candidates who were considered during the selection process.

The Trust members, in their presser soon after the appointment, hailed the Air Force veteran’s more than 39 years of distinguished career in the service and reaffirmed belief in his extensive leadership experience, which will now move from military command to institutional responsibility.

Commissioned into the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986, Mishra is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and served as the Commander during Operation Sindoor — India’s befitting response to Pakistan-sponsored Pahalgam terror attack.

The CEO will have his hands full with numerous tasks, as he will be the point person for making the administration and financial management of the temple more organised and robust.

Temple management, security, staff administration, devotee facilities, and coordination among various departments and agencies will be among his primary responsibilities.