By Justice Markandey Katju-
(Justice Markandey Katju is a former Judge, Supreme Court of India, and former Chairman of, Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own)
These days a celebrated self-acclaimed yoga guru, Baba Ramdev, the founder of Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar, who has built up a financial empire with an annual turnover of Rs 45,000 crore[$6 Billion] selling fake medicines (claiming to cure cancer, corona, barrenness among women, etc without clinical trials as required by law ) is in the Indian news, after the Supreme Court’s strong critical remarks.
Baba Ramdev asserted that allopathy is useless against most ailments, though the whole world recognizes it as a true science, and he and his close associate Balkrishna themselves took allopathic treatment.
An FIR was filed against Ramdev by the Indian Medical Association, for insulting allopathy and spreading false facts, and now he is in deep trouble.
However, I submit that the exposure by the Supreme Court of the chicanery and swindle of Baba Ramdev is only the tip of the iceberg. There are numerous other ‘godmen’ in India, knaves, who have mass followings, ardently devoted to them. Hence, I call the vast majority of Indian society as a ‘baba bound society‘.
Most Indian folk love to attend the ‘pravachans’ ( religious discourses ) of these babas, many of whom are charlatans who have made huge amounts of money and live lives of luxury and splendor ( Baba Ramdev reportedly traveled in chartered planes, and had built up his huge business of selling his Patanjali Ayurved products ). The Indian masses have great faith in these ‘godmen”, holding them in reverence ( though most of them are rascals ). One may give a few examples.
Asaram Bapu was convicted of raping a minor girl.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted for the rape and murder of a journalist who exposed him.
There were allegations of committing murder and sexual harassment against Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi
Rampal was found guilty of murdering 5 women and an 18-year-old infant.
Nithyanand was charged with rape and abduction and has fled abroad.
Bageshwar baba has a mass following, and claims he can cure diseases and chase away ‘bhoots‘ (ghosts ).
Even the leading film star of India Amitabh Bachchan and his family went for his ‘darshan’.
There were allegations of kidnapping and rape against Kripaluji Maharaj, though these were later dropped.
When I was serving on the Supreme Court, imposed a death sentence on a ‘godman’ Swami Shraddhanand for murdering the ex-wife of an Indian ambassador, but my brother judge on the bench Justice Sinha differed from me and awarded only life sentence, and the 3 member bench to which the matter was referred imposed life sentence without remission.
The list goes on and on.
There are pilot baba, baalti baba, mirchi baba, computer baba, and so on.
How does one explain the fascination of babas among Indians, and their mass following and popularity, despite many being charged with gross misdeeds?
The answer is that India is still a semi-feudal country, with religion having a powerful hold on the minds of men and women. Consequently, they fall prey to the designs of these ‘godmen’ who are unscrupulous intelligent organizers and manipulators. Many people having personal problems go to these babas, who they think will give some relief from their woes. Once addicted to them, they often become their blind and loyal adherents, apostles, and apologists, brushing aside any complaints against them as false and mischievous propaganda.
Coupled with the above is the fact that the pro-Hindu BJP government which has been in power since 2014 often supports these babas, and often turns a Nelson’s eye to their misdeeds. Many Union government ministers had close contact with Ramdev, and never questioned his false claims. Most of the babas have close proximity and nexus with the BJP, big businessmen, leading film stars, etc.
I submit that despite the strong observations of the Supreme Court the situation will not change until there is a radical transformation in the politics and society of India, and a complete metamorphosis of our people’s mindsets, but that is a long way off. Till then we will remain a baba-bound society.