Hyperreligiosity Has Facilitated the Toadstool Growth of Gurus and Babas
By Sumit Paul, New Age
Islam
3 July 2024
The moment
I heard the depressing news that more than 120 people perished in a stampede
during a religious gathering (Satsang) at Hathras in UP, two references from
the world of literature flashed through my mind, "Any man's death
diminishes me" by John Donne and the title of a famous novel, Fools Die, written by the
Italian-American author Mario Puzo.
Hathras Stampede - फोटो: अमर उजाला
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I don't
want to sound harsh on those who died in this melee. That will be inhuman on my
part. But if the truth must be told, those who died were indeed fools. Why on
earth did so many people go to visit a fraud baba in extreme heat and humidity?
The
acolytes of this swindler call him Narayan Saakaar Hari Bhole baba and consider
him to be an embodiment of god! He's very famous among the uneducated people of
UP's backward districts such as Etah, Mainpuri among others.
But Hindi
and Urdu newspapers published from UP have reported that even rich and
'educated' people go to this semi-educated baba to seek his ' blessings.' Now
he's at large.
Just the
way Fatwa Culture is a bane for the Muslim Ummah (community), Gurudom or
Babadom is a bane for Hinduism. Scores of Babas are active who hoodwink and
fleece their credulous followers. Hyperreligiosity has facilitated the
toadstool growth of these Babas who're gods and goddesses to their bovine
followers.
Whether the
English-speaking Jaggi, Ravi Shankar, Jiddu in the past or an unmitigated
rascal Ram-Rahim, all are made of the same stuff whose only objective is to
dupe their slavish followers. All are impostors.
While Jaggi
and Ravi Shankar bamboozle their devotees with abstruse sermons (Jiddu also did
the same; he'd flummox the followers with his suave manners and serious
countenance), Ram-Rahim, Nirmal Baba, Bhole Baba, Asaram, Nirmala Devi, to name
but a few 'impress' their blind Bhakts by playing to the gallery.
These
charlatans know that the masses are asses; they're morons who can be
brainwashed easily. In a country, where even the President, PM, celebrities and
so-called intellectuals touch the feet of gurus and Babas and hobnob with them,
sense, sensibility and sanity cannot be expected of the hoi polloi.
Mark my
words:
Despite
Hathras tragedy, the Babas and Gurus will continue to take the people for a
ride because the masses allow themselves to be shepherded. Public memory is
woefully short. People believe in fate and faith. We're condemned to behave in
a slavish manner when it comes to religion, gurus and pseudo-spirituality.
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A
regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative
religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the
world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism