Ram Bahadur Bomjon (Sanskrit: राम बहादुर बम्जन; born 1989 or 1990,[1] sometimes spelled Bomjan, Banjan, or Bamjan), previously known as Palden Dorje (his monastic name) is an ascetic from Ratanapuri, Bara district, Nepal who gained widespread attention and media popularity because of perceived semblances to Gautama Buddha, leading to claims that he is a reincarnation of Gautama Buddha.
[4][5] In May 2005, the 15-year-old Bomjon left his home near the Indian border after a dream in which a god appeared to him and told him to do so, and sat amongst the roots of a pipal tree to meditate.
"[8] Mahiswor Raj Bajracharya, the president of the Nepal Buddhist Council, has stated likewise: "We do not believe he is Buddha.
[9] Buddhist scholars have been sceptical of Bomjon's claims to be able to meditate for months on end without food or drink.
[14][15] Bomjon refused to attend any potential trial, stating, "Do you think a meditating sage will go to the court to hear a case?
[12][15] In 2012, Nepal Police announced that they had rescued a Slovak woman from Bomjon's followers, but other reports claimed that she had been voluntarily released after media coverage of the kidnapping.
Newsweek reported she had been taken from a hotel by two of Bomjon's men riding on a motorcycle and kept tied to a tree for three months and accused of practicing witchcraft in order to disturb the Boy's meditation.
[23][21] During a press conference organized by women's rights groups, the nun also accused his wife of trying to keep the abuse hidden so as not to "attract attacks" on their religion.
[1] On 9 January 2024, based on that 2020 warrant, a team from the Central Investigation Bureau of the Nepal police arrested Bomjon at his hideout in Budhanilkantha.