Morari Bapu (Moraridas Prabhudas Hariyani) is an Indian spiritual leader and preacher from Gujarat who is known for his discourses on Ramcharitmanas across various cities in India and abroad. Early life Morari Bapu was born on 19 February 1947 (Shivaratri according to Hindu calendar) in Talgajarda village near Mahuva, Gujarat, to Prabhudas Bapu Hariyani and Savitri Ben Hariyani, in a family of six brothers and two sisters. His family followed Nimbarka Sampradaya, a Hindu Vaishnava tradition. He considers his grandfather Tribhovandas Hariyani as his guru, spiritual teacher, and learnt Ramcharitmanas from him at a place now known as Chitrakutdham. He memorized the chaupais (couplets) while travelling from Talgajarda to primary and secondary schools in Mahuva. After completing secondary education, he joined Shahpur Teachers Training College in Junagadh. Later he joined a primary school in Pauva as a teacher in 1966. Career At the age of 14, he gave his first discourse on Ramcharitmanas under Ramfaldas Maharaj at a nine-day discourse held at Dhanfulia, a village in Gujarat. Since then, Morari Bapu has performed 800+ Ramkathas, each of nine days based upon a particular verse from Ramcharitmanas. He has also narrated upon 19 verses of the reverend Gopi Geet (each verse discourse of seven days). His Katha, always went through its journey with two vital aspects - "Bhajan"(Prayers) and "Bhojan Prasad"(meals/blessed food/sacrament). He gave his first discourse abroad in Nairobi in 1976. He gives discourses (kathaas) in Gujarati and Hindi in India and abroad. He has given discourses in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Cambodia, Jordan, Muscat as well as on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea, and on an airplane travelling the world, in Vatican City and on the foothills of Mount Kailash in China. Views and Philanthropy Bapu, who believes in ‘Pravahi Parampara’ (flowing tradition), has been speaking for progressive norms in the 21st century and feels there should be no stagnancy in religious beliefs. Bapu has tried to reach the "last-man" whenever and wherever possible along his 60-year journey at various places. He has also visited people in Jail (like Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Buxur, Sabarmati) Katha in Ayodhya In the interview with the Times Now, Morari Bapu said that it is his motive to make Ram Katha (Story of Rama) accessible to the neglected, exploited and marginalised segments of society, just as Ram himself went to the Shabris, Nishads and Sugareevas of that time".