Asaram, Ram Rahim, Nityananda, Rampal… why do Babas flourish so much in India?

Why is the self-proclaimed Baba so popular?

Some of these self-styled babas have criminal records. Baba Rampal of Haryana and Gurmeet Ram Rahim Insan of Dera Sacha Sauda have been convicted of murder. Asaram has been convicted of rape and wrongful confinement. Despite this, why do millions of Indians blindly trust them? Most of these so-called babas are themselves from humble backgrounds. Bhole Baba is a Dalit – and his reach is mostly to the socially and economically deprived. However, he also has wealthy followers who are very generous in giving donations. Avadhesh Maheshwari, who calls himself a sevak of Saakar, told the Times of India that though his followers come from across the country, they are mainly from the lower middle class.

How are people attracted?

Bhole Baba influenced a large Dalit community by promoting the idea of ​​a society rising above caste bondage and stigma. Another 'guru' who comes from a simple background, Rampal, a farmer's son from Sonipat, was an engineer in the irrigation department. He took inspiration from Kabir (widely revered in the Dalit community) and became a 'saint'. Similarly, the deras spread across Punjab and Haryana have followers from every caste, but most of them are Dalits and OBCs. For the landless and the poor, the deras promise social equality and respect.

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Gurmeet Ram Rahim in headlines

Even the jail sentence of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, ​​could not reduce his popularity among Dalit Sikhs. Practices such as naming the head of the Dera's meditation centre as Bhangidas (someone from a low caste) and all followers giving up their original surnames and adopting the title of Insan created a sense of equality among his followers. It also freed his followers from rigid religious practices and adopted a more flexible approach to being religious, which attracted followers.

The promise of empowerment

In a deeply casteist society like ours, cults provide a sense of community and belonging, says Ajay Gudavarthy, associate professor at JNU's Centre for Political Studies. There is no social mobility in the society, he says, where upper castes and lower castes can sit together as part of the Hindu pantheon. Cults, on the other hand, give people a sense of empowerment. Unlike Hinduism, which claims about the next life, these self-proclaimed godmen offer instant gratification to their followers, explains sociologist K Kalyani, who teaches at Azim Premji University. Most babas run philanthropic establishments such as schools and 'health' camps and provide financial aid to the underprivileged.

Sociologist K. Kalyani says that we see many members of the Bahujan community becoming followers of these sects. The rigidity of the caste structure fails to control the lower castes, so their turning to alternative forms of spirituality like babas and sadhus becomes an inevitable outcome.

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Raising social issues

This Baba also plays the role of a social worker. He runs campaigns against problems like drug addiction, caste discrimination, domestic violence. Vegetarianism was promoted during satsang at Rampal's ashram in Haryana. Sexual freedom and drinking alcohol were prohibited. There is a quote in his book that a drunkard is born as a dog 70 times.

Most of these so-called babas also promise 'medical miracles'. Poor people come to them in desperation, either because of the lack of good healthcare or because they cannot afford it. As stories of their healing spread, the number of followers of these babas also grows. Tamil Nadu-born preacher Nithyananda, who advocated abstinence and celibacy, ran a kitchen and conducted skills courses for young people.

Ajay Gudvarthy, associate professor at JNU's Centre for Political Studies, says it should not be dismissed as mere superstition. The rise of babas is a complex social phenomenon. Over time, these preachers, many of them TV-made such as Nirmaljit Singh Narula, a former businessman from Jharkhand who became self-styled godman Nirmal Baba, acquire an aura of infallibility. “Disciples are so trained that you cannot criticise or question the guru. They feel they have divine powers,” says Bhavdeep Kang, journalist and author of 'Guru: Stories of India's Leading Babas'. Whatever the allegations, followers see it as a conspiracy against the babas.

This unquestionable devotion was evident in 2017 when Gurmeet Ram Rahim was brought to court. His followers gathered in the court premises to intimidate the judiciary and the administration. His conviction at that time led to unrest in Haryana and riots and lathicharges that left 38 people dead. Kang says followers were even willing to sacrifice their personal well-being for their guru. The trust built over years is hard to break. Kang says one must consider the milieu they come from and how strong support they get from the villagers. “Gurus are revered. They are your guide, psychologist, mentor. You become part of the community and protecting them becomes like protecting your identity.”

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The dominance of social media

This explains how these 'gurus' continue to attract followers through social media despite being physically absent or in jail. Gurmeet Ram Rahim, fondly called Papaji or MSG Papa by his followers, may no longer wear gold chains and glitter or be the 'Highway Love Charger' guru riding fancy bikes in his music videos, but he still has 12 lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel @SaintMSGInsan. Rampal and Nirmal Baba continue to preach regularly on Facebook. Nithyananda has over four lakh followers on Instagram and YouTube even though the government declared him a fugitive to escape charges of rape, kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children.

'Finally Kailasa is now open. On July 4, the Independence Day of the United States of America, the drums echoed in Times Square, announcing the upcoming revelation of the sovereign place of Kailasa on Guru Purnima on July 21. Such an official announcement was made at Times Square.' An Insta reel playing to the tunes of rap music was uploaded this week by @srinithyananada for his followers, who would be eagerly waiting for the next digital update. Nithyananda had taken the internet by storm last year too, when a member of his team represented the 'United States of Kailasa' at the United Nations in Geneva.

Very few people who are disillusioned by miracles or face disasters like the Hathras stampede back down. Shyam Meena, a rationalist who has been leading an anti-superstition movement in Maharashtra for the past 41 years, says most people grow up with the idea that spiritually minded people are like gods themselves. “A myth has been created that such a person can perform miracles, predict one's future and heal health ailments. This superstition has nothing to do with education, money or personal privilege. This lack of rationality troubles the rich as much as the poor,” he says.

Meena says that continuous public awareness and a scientific approach are needed to reduce this blind devotion. He says, 'Earlier there were 200 gurus in the Vidarbha region who promised miraculous cures. After our campaign, now none of them are left.' Sociologist Kalyani also agrees with this. She said that students should be taught the philosophy of logic and rationality and this should be part of the curriculum of every school.