This is 26-year-old Bageshwar Dham Baba. [“I’m going viral all over the internet. ”] He says if a spirit possesses you, you should start beating yourself up to fix the issue.
Moreover, he claims that he can cure diseases like cancer just by looking at your face using the power of his ‘third eye. ’ [“I write whatever comes to my mind out of instinct…”] [“With my strong faith and devotion to God, whatever I write comes true. ”] That’s why Baba has become immensely popular in India.
Let’s look at the case of 37-year-old Naresh Yadav from Odisha. He kept rolling on the road for days to reach Bageshwar Dham Baba because he wanted to show his devotion to Baba. Out of devotion, he determined not to walk.
Many have deemed this baba as a ‘fraud. ’ [“Has he been spreading superstition in the name of faith? ”] Yet his popularity only seems to grow.
So, why are so many Indians following this baba? He’s not the first baba in India to gain popularity. You can find a wide variety of babas in India —from those who cure cancer [“My mother has cancer.
”] [“Mix turmeric in 50gm of cow urine and feed it to the patient…”] [“This will cure cancer…”] [“You’ve my blessings”] to those who create music videos. Asaram Bapu's followers are still defending him on Twitter even though he was sentenced to life in prison for rap**** a minor girl in 2013. [“Asaram was arrested from Indore last night”] But such wrongdoings do little to weaken such babas’ popularity.
They continue to attract followers even from Bollywood and politics. So, why do millions of Indians follow these babas? This is what I want to discuss in this video.
Let’s start with the case of Bageshwar Dham Baba. Baba was born as Dhirendra Krishna Shastri in a small village in Madhya Pradesh. He has been strongly influenced by religion ever since childhood.
He started to hold Ramkatha and Divya Darbars, where he claimed that he could read people’s minds. How? –Using “Divya Shakti” or “Divine Power.
” [“I write whatever comes to my mind out of instinct…”] [“With my strong faith and devotion to God, whatever I write comes true. ”] His popularity soared when these Divya Darbars began to be telecasted. [“He wanted to touch my legs and take my blessing”] [“I said, why not!
”] During the broadcast, Baba would demonstrate miracles and cure people’s misery. One day, a mother brought her ill child to Baba. Baba told the mother to recite specific mantras daily.
The mantras would help her son and improve her financial situation. [“Recite this mantra 108 times…105 times…”] [“. .
. wrap five cloves in a black cloth…and tie it to the patient. .
”] Baba suggested some strange solutions to others. This baba is peculiar in extending his program from television to YouTube. He launched a YouTube channel in 2019.
Today, the channel has close to 50 lakh subscribers. In the videos, Baba keeps demonstrating his miraculous abilities of healing and problem-solving. [Uttering ‘miraculous’ mantras.
] [“. . .
you’ve my blessing”] Some point out politics as the critical factor behind his popularity. Baba regularly comments on the “Hindu Rashtra” and other trending political matters. These comments are made to go viral on YouTube Shorts.
[“Extremism can be dangerous”] [“If it’s dangerous to show someone their true place…”] [“…then it’s valid. ”] Many rationalists suggest that Baba doesn’t possess ‘divine power’ and that he’s merely using mentalism. Mentalism involves predicting human action using the knowledge of human behavior and psychology.
Some accuse him of spreading superstition. In January, Baba decided to hold a Ram Katha in Nagpur. Shyam Manav, a member of an anti-superstition organization, threw a challenge at Baba.
He said he would bring 10 random people to the events and the Baba… [“. . .
has to guess their names, their father’s names, their age and contact numbers. ”] Shyam Manav even said that if Baba could pull this off… [“I’ll bow my head in humiliation, apologize to you…”] [“. .
. and shut down the organization. ”] What do you think happened?
Baba canceled the event. When he was inquired about this he claimed that he hadn’t run away but asked Shyam Manav. .
. [“I’m holding another event in Raipur on the 20th and 21st…”] [“. .
. I’ll pay for your boarding and lodging…you just come and see me there. ”] [“I accept your challenge.
”] But this incident didn’t affect his popularity one bit. There aren't just allegations of spreading superstition against him. In his videos, Baba is seen practicing untouchability, which is outrightly abolished by Indian law.
[“Stop right there! ”] [“Don’t you dare touch me…you untouchable! ”] This was the example of one of many babas.
Some babas have been convicted by the courts. Yet their followers refuse to accept that their baba is guilty. This begs the question: what attracts people to such babas?
It’s mainly due to three reasons. First, these babas are no less than entrepreneurs. They run a business of hope.
["Guruji, I'm unemployed. Tell me when my problem would be solved. "] ["There's something wrong with the alignment of stars.
. . "] Politicians and traditional religions fail to provide solutions to people’s problems.
[“I had to mortgage my earrings due to my financial condition. ”] [“Guruji, please show me a way…”] And the babas claim that they could solve the problem. Take the example of Punjab and Haryana.
In these states, there exist organizations called "deras" where gurus offer advice to their followers. You might wonder why deras exist in Punjab in the first place, even when there are many Gurudwaras in the state. When Sikhism emerged, lower-caste Hindus afflicted by discrimination were enticed by the idea of equality the new religion offered.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib talks about the idea of equality. It proposes the abolition of grounds for discrimination among the four caste groups. But some Gurudwaras fail to observe the tenet of equality.
Political scientist Professor Santokh Singh said that even though the Sikh gurus taught about equality, Sikhism didn’t accept the Sikhs of lower castes. The Dalit Sikhs face discrimination in the Gurudwaras. Even separate cremation grounds have been designated for the Dalit Sikhs.
In contrast, these deras are open to all: people from any caste or community. Apart from being egalitarian, the deras impart a feeling of acceptance to their followers. For instance, in Dera Sacha Sauda, a dera run by Ram Raheem Singh, every follower is given a common surname of ‘insaan’ or ‘human.
’ In a society where surnames give away one’s caste status, sharing a similar surname makes everybody feel 'accepted’ in the deras and not be concerned about being discriminated against. This is why these deras derive support from the marginalized section of society —lower castes and classes. Moreover, you are not asked to renounce your religion to join the deras.
You need not convert to a new religion. This is Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan — a compound of Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh names. Author Vinita Nangia writes about these babas’ power of oration and how they revere the weak.
For instance, the ashrams of Asaram Bapu are known to house child welfare centers. Similarly, Ram Rahim Singh is known to hold free medical camps. Basically, these babas are open to listen to the masses’ problems.
These are the same masses who’re often neglected by politicians and traditional religions. The second reason is the babas’ cure for mental health issues. For instance, a farmer met Ram Rahim Singh and expressed how he drank daily and fought with his wife.
But after he became a follower of Ram Rahim, things took a turn for him. You’ll come across many such instances. Today, around 90% of Indians suffer from stress.
Around 80% of them don’t feel comfortable talking to a doctor about their mental health issues. Manohar Bhatia says in such a scenario, the babas begin to assume the role of psychologists, family consultants, and spiritual guides. They offer a variety of solutions to their followers and assure them of their efficiencies.
The question is despite lacking a medical degree, how do these babas solve mental health problems? This documentary can answer that question. In the documentary, Vikram Gandhi plays the protagonist who’s a filmmaker in the USA.
When he visited India, he was amazed to see the fascination with spiritual gurus in India. So, he decided to conduct a social experiment. He went back to the US and donned the identity of a guru with miraculous powers to solve every worldly problem.
He began to meditate and deliver vague sermons to sound wise. Surprisingly, he began attracting followers. People began to seek him for treatment and advice.
In fact, some people claimed that Baba brought a positive change in their lives. What’s the reason behind this? –The Placebo effect.
A placebo is anything that seems to be a ‘real’ medical treatment, but it’s actually not. Suppose you’re feeling weak, and I hand you a glass. You drink its content thinking I mixed medicine with it.
Actually, I didn’t mix anything at all. But you’ll begin to feel better as you think you consumed meds. This is called the placebo effect.
Research shows that placebos can positively impact health conditions like depression, sleep disorders, and cancer. That’s why people keep stressing about positive thinking. Because it has the power to solve many issues.
Thus, the advice babas give their followers isn’t miraculous. What’s ‘miraculous,’ however, is the followers’ strong belief in the advice. The third reason behind the popularity of these babas is politics.
Let me give you an example. In 2013, the Archaeological Survey of India… [“. .
. the Daundia Kehda village of the Unnao district in UP has become a site of excavation for 1000 tonnes of gold…”] Why? Because a local baba had told a Union Minister that the mound had 1000 tonnes of gold buried under it.
[“Baba had a vision. ”] [“The minister had the means. ”] [“But the king had none, so his fort became a site of excavation.
”] The baba also told the minister that India's financial troubles would ease if he excavated the gold. That’s why the Union Minister ordered the ASI to excavate the fort. This was an example of a minister following a baba’s advice.
But faith’s not the only reason why politicians are drawn towards such babas. They flock to them for ‘votes. ' These babas boast a massive following.
As politicians are concerned with votes, they usually strike a deal with these babas —protection from the state in favor of votes. That’s why ministers from BJP and Congress have flocked to Bageshwar Dham Baba. In 2018, a new variant of baba rose to fame—the Computer Baba.
He began an agitation against the Madhya Pradesh state government for destroying the Narmada [“If you want to protect Narmada and cows…if you’re sick with how the cows are treated…”] [“. . .
we need to uproot Shivraj’s government from Madhya Pradesh. ”] After an emergency meeting with the chief minister, Computer Baba promptly called off all agitation. Why?
Because he was granted the post of government minister. This begs the question: why do people follow the babas’ advice? It’s because of the prominence of religion in India.
It’s difficult to converse with God. It’s usually a one-way communication. You can talk to God through prayers and rituals but God doesn’t reply.
This is where the babas come in. They claim that using their divine powers, they can create a medium for the exchange of messages between humans and God. Sanjay Srivastava, professor of sociology at JNU, says that the babas form a one-to-one relationship with their followers.
Moreover, these babas offer instant solutions to problems. [“If you’re under debt…”] [“. .
. burn a lamp at Lord Shiva’s temple. ”] [“Keep doing this regularly and you’ll be free from debt.
”] Now, who doesn’t want their problems to go away instantly? If you’re diagnosed with cancer, your doctor might offer a 5-year treatment plan. If you’ve a sleeping disorder, you might be asked to undertake a long meditative course.
If you’re facing financial troubles, you should fix your spending habits, etc. But these babas don’t charge a hefty fee or offer an extensive solution. They promise to solve the solution in a snap of the fingers.
[“My family and I have been going through a crisis. ”] [“When was the last time you fed chapati to a cow? ”] [“Did you ever apply ghee on the chapati before feeding the cow?
”] [“No…”] [“Try doing that once. ”] [“Don’t worry, your problems will be solved. ”] If the placebo effect is helping out some people, it’s a good thing.
The problem lies not in the placebo effect but in the fact that these babas are promoting superstition. This can have dire consequences. For instance, two sisters were mur****d in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.
Who were behind these mur***? Their parents! Because they believed this would help their daughters be resurrected into a better world.
Upon investigation, it was found that the couple was an ardent believer in babas. That’s why superstition can be dangerous. Moreover, there have been numerous cases of the babas taking advantage of their innocent followers.
Let’s take an example. A 14-year-old girl called Shristi from Delhi was sent to a baba every summer vacation by her parents. This baba was Virender Dev Dixit.
One night at around 11 pm, baba sent one of his assistants to Shristi. Shristi was told that baba wanted to meet her and give his blessings. You can guess what happened afterward.
When Shristi tried to complain, she was told by the people at the ashram that the baba had blessed her, and she should feel honored as she had been touched by the Lord. There are tons of such examples. When a 13-year-old girl tried to raise her voice against one such baba, she was told that she would be resurrected into a world of suffering if she disobeyed the baba.
Unfortunately, it’s challenging to punish these babas. Their followers are so devout that they refuse to accept their baba could commit a crime. [“So, you believe Baba Virender Dev Dixit is innocent?
”] [“Yes, I do. Through him, I’ve experienced Lord Shiva. ”] Author Bhavdeep Kang says the followers believe their guru is ‘pure.
’ They don’t want to accept the fact that their guru or baba could be a fraud. For example, when a Noida-based doctor challenged Karauli Baba to showcase his magical powers, he was beaten up. [“Baba failed to show his magical powers.
That’s why the doctor was nabbed by his followers. ”] Another problem is the babas’ strong follower bases. This makes it difficult for politicians to take action against them.
Let’s talk about Ramdev Baba. He launched Coronil with a celebratory spirit claiming that it could cure COVID. [“Baba Ramdev’s launched a new medicine, claiming that it [the Coronil tablet] will cure COVID-19.
”] The Indian Medical Association deemed Coronil as ‘a-scientific. ’ Even after a stern warning from the Delhi HC, Ramdev Baba faced no action. So, what should be done to counter these problems?
First, we must try to eradicate superstition from society. States like Karnataka and Maharashtra have passed Anti-Superstition Acts. But no such provision exists at a national level.
Secondly, the government must promote science and rationality. Several NGOs have been trying to do the same. For example, Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, an NGO that promotes science.
In UP, Rajkamal Srivastava organizes workshops and seminars to provide scientific explanations for the miracles performed by the babas. He has been doing this for the past 25 years and has brought awareness to many. He says, “I walk on burning charcoal and keep burning things in my mouth to explain… that these are not actually miracles…anybody could do them with a little training.
” Through his efforts, he has exposed around 125 babas. Third, we might succeed in putting these babas into jail. But new babas will crop up until we wipe out the roots.
Some would don saffron clothes and take to YouTube, while others would take to Instagram with their swanky English motivational videos. No matter the means, the root cause is the same. This issue can only be solved if we start addressing mental health illnesses.
Anjali Nagpal, a Delhi-based psychiatrist, believes that policies must be enacted to make mental health treatment a national priority. We need to spread awareness and destigmatize mental health illnesses so that people wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to a professional. To address this problem, the government can enlist help from NGOs.
For example, an international organization called MINDS holds workshops designed to expand mental illness awareness in rural villages. They also offer free transportation and medical consultation to those with mental health issues. The government could support these NGOs to address the issue of mental health illnesses.
And the third factor is religion and politics. People seek help from these babas when all other doors are closed –when society fails to accept them, and when politicians don’t listen to their problems. Until we solve these problems, these babas will keep cropping up on YouTube or Instagram.
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