Chitta Ranjan Debbarma
The head of the Shantikali Ashram in Tripura, which runs hostels and a school for hundreds of children from poor families, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.
Chitta Ranjan Debbarma is the head of the Shantikali Peeth and Ashram in Gomati district, Tripura. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2024 in the field of spiritualism, from Tripura [1].
From panchayat secretary to monk
He was born on 22 January 1962 in Barakathal, Sidhai Mohanpur, and grew up in Tripura [2]. After finishing school he worked as a panchayat secretary [2]. Inspired by the teachings of Sri Sri Shantikali Maharaj, he became a monk under his guidance [2].
His guru was killed by militants of the NLFT, an armed group then active in Tripura, and Debbarma was asked to lead the ashram [2].
Hostels and schools
Despite threats, he opened hostels in Amarpur, Barakathal, Chachu, Kowaiphang and Burakha that have given shelter and schooling to more than 700 children from poor families, many of them from indigenous communities [2]. In 2019 he founded the Sri Sri Shantikali English Medium School [2]. The ashram network now numbers 24 ashrams, along with an old-age home and mentoring programmes across Tripura [2].
He also promotes Hindu religious and cultural traditions among both indigenous and non-indigenous communities in the state [2].
Honours
His awards include the Sant Ishwar award (2018) and the Tripura government’s Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Smriti award (2022) [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2024: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 15 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2024: citation for Chitta Ranjan Debbarma — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 15 October 2026.
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