There are godmen, and there are godmen. While notoriety gains the
media's and people's immediate attention, the quiet ones continue with
their work with zeal, and in good faith, with no expectation of
'coverage'.
Swadheen Bharat Vidhik Satyagrah in UP's Mathura district, whose followers fatally clashed with the police last week, is just one of the many such controversial cults in the country with massive assets and a purblind supporters, with their heads facing allegations ranging from land grab to fraud, and from rape to murder.
The unbridled violence and lawlessness brought back images of violence in Haryana's Hisar district in 2014 when the police arrested a former state government employee calling himself a man of faith, Rampal, after a two-week tense stand-off. Six people were killed in the violence then, with the godman's "commando force" waging the final battle to "protect" their chief from cops.
Rampal, who had defied court summons in a murder case, was later with slapped with sedition charges. Authorities evacuated more than 10,000 people from the ashram, many of whom said they were held against their wishes -- they were hostage to a bizarre, cinematic or surreal villain in some C grade Bollywood fixture.
Asaram is another godman who wielded huge influence and power until the law caught up with him -- he's in jail since 2013 on rape charges. Several people who deposed against him have been attacked, and some killed. His empire includes 400 ashrams in the country and abroad, where he organised "spiritual discourses" and became famous for his colourful headgear and sprightly dancing.
Then, Nirmaljeet Singh Narula alias Nirmal Baba, who repeatedly failed as a businessman in Jharkhand, drew dubious publicity with his durbars and gatherings that were astonishingly telecast by three dozen Indian and foreign channels. At these events, Nirmal Baba gave solutions like eating chutney to solve financial problems. He faces allegations of fraudulent activities.
Last Friday in Odisha, that has a strong temple heritage and many cults, officials razed an illegal complex on 20 acres of forest land near Konark sun temple by one Bana baba. He is absconding. People also set fire to one Sura Baba's ashram for land grab. He too was arrested. The ashram of one Anand Atma was also ransacked after a half-burnt body of a local youth was found.
At the same time, there are spiritual organisations raised around pure devotion. Brahma Kumaris is a Rajasthan-based worldwide spiritual movement led by women. Established in 1937, the organisation has centres in more than 100 countries with its international headquarters in Mount Abu. In Rajasthan it has 200 centers with more than one lakh followers. Worldwide, it has 10 lakh followers in 135 countries. "Our focus is spiritual development and not religious teaching," said sister Sushma Devi, who manages a centre in Jaipur.
Swadheen Bharat Vidhik Satyagrah in UP's Mathura district, whose followers fatally clashed with the police last week, is just one of the many such controversial cults in the country with massive assets and a purblind supporters, with their heads facing allegations ranging from land grab to fraud, and from rape to murder.
The unbridled violence and lawlessness brought back images of violence in Haryana's Hisar district in 2014 when the police arrested a former state government employee calling himself a man of faith, Rampal, after a two-week tense stand-off. Six people were killed in the violence then, with the godman's "commando force" waging the final battle to "protect" their chief from cops.
Rampal, who had defied court summons in a murder case, was later with slapped with sedition charges. Authorities evacuated more than 10,000 people from the ashram, many of whom said they were held against their wishes -- they were hostage to a bizarre, cinematic or surreal villain in some C grade Bollywood fixture.
Asaram is another godman who wielded huge influence and power until the law caught up with him -- he's in jail since 2013 on rape charges. Several people who deposed against him have been attacked, and some killed. His empire includes 400 ashrams in the country and abroad, where he organised "spiritual discourses" and became famous for his colourful headgear and sprightly dancing.
Then, Nirmaljeet Singh Narula alias Nirmal Baba, who repeatedly failed as a businessman in Jharkhand, drew dubious publicity with his durbars and gatherings that were astonishingly telecast by three dozen Indian and foreign channels. At these events, Nirmal Baba gave solutions like eating chutney to solve financial problems. He faces allegations of fraudulent activities.
Last Friday in Odisha, that has a strong temple heritage and many cults, officials razed an illegal complex on 20 acres of forest land near Konark sun temple by one Bana baba. He is absconding. People also set fire to one Sura Baba's ashram for land grab. He too was arrested. The ashram of one Anand Atma was also ransacked after a half-burnt body of a local youth was found.
At the same time, there are spiritual organisations raised around pure devotion. Brahma Kumaris is a Rajasthan-based worldwide spiritual movement led by women. Established in 1937, the organisation has centres in more than 100 countries with its international headquarters in Mount Abu. In Rajasthan it has 200 centers with more than one lakh followers. Worldwide, it has 10 lakh followers in 135 countries. "Our focus is spiritual development and not religious teaching," said sister Sushma Devi, who manages a centre in Jaipur.
Similarly, Gayatri Pariwar, founded by Acharya Shri Ram, has thousands of units in India and abroad, working to bring about positive changes through spirituality with the motto 'Hum badalenge, yug badalega'. Significantly, it discourages blind faith and outworn rituals and traditions. It says it has six crore followers.
Lokenath Brahmachari, also known as Lokenath Baba, died in 1890, but he still has a cult following in Bengal and Jharkhand as well as Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Millions of followers assemble at an annual festival held in his remembrance in ashrams in early June. Thanks to times of india june 2016
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