Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

Hazoor Maharaj Saint
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
Ji Insan
Born 15 August 1967
Shri Gurusar Modia
Parents Father: Bapu Sardar Maghar Singh
Mother: Mata Nasib Kaur

Hazoor Maharaj Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan (Hindi: हजूर महाराज सन्त गुरमीत राम रहिम सिंह जी इन्सां) is the head of the non-profit spiritual organisation Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) since 1990.

Under Singh's leadership, DSS has engaged in numerous social programmes, including blood drives, tree planting, disaster relief, and support for transgender people, tribal communities, orphans, and rehabilitated sex workers.

Contents

Early life

Singh was born to Mata Nasib Kaur and Bapu Sardar Maghar Singh on 15 August 1967, at Gurusar Modia village in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan. The family belongs to the Sidhu clan of Punjabi Jat.[1] Ram Rahim's parents were devotees of Shah Satnam Ji Maharaj, guru of Dera Sacha Sauda.

On 23 September 1990, Shah Satnam Singh Ji Maharaj held a huge satsang where he publicly conferred sainthood and succession of the spiritual leadership upon Huzoor Maharaj Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan.[2]

Social work

Dera Sacha Sauda

Main article: Dera Sacha Sauda

Under Singh's leadership, DSS has participated in a wide variety of social programs. These include an annual free eye-care event, anti-prostitution intiatives including arranging marriages to DSS members for ex sex workers,[3] anti-drug initiatives,[4] support for the transgendered,[3] tribal emancipation,[5] and anti- female foeticide campaigns.[6]

Dera Sacha Sauda has set a Guinness World Record for tree planting,[7] three Guinness records for blood donation,[8] and are recognised as a leading agency in whole-body donation.[9]

Controversies

Conflict with orthodox Sikh groups

The radical Sikh groups (such as Dal Khalsa) and political parties (such as Shiromani Akali Dal) have been opposed to the Deras, seeing in them a threat to gurdwaras.[10] In May 2007, a section of orthodox Sikhs claimed that Gurmeet Gurmeet Singh's attire in an advertisement resembled that of the tenth Sikh guru Gobind Singh.[11] They accused him of blasphemy and of hurting Sikh sentiments.[12] The controversy was followed by multiple attacks on the Dera members.[13][14][15] Gurmeet Singh was himself attacked by a mob on 16 July 2007, but escaped unhurt.[16] The Dera Sacha Sauda tendered multiple apologies, regretting confusion over the dress, and stated that it had high regard for all Sikh Gurus.[17][18][19]

A criminal case filed against Gurmeet Singh, for hurting the Sikh sentiments, was dismissed by the Sirsa court in 2009.[20] Ajai Sahni has stated that the tensions between the Sikh community and the Dera have been exploited by the pro-Khalistan elements.[12] On 2 February 2008, Gurmeet Gurmeet Singh's cavalcade was attacked, injuring 11 persons.[21] A Khalistan Liberation Force militant Bakshish Singh was later arrested for the attack.[22][23]

External links

References

  1. ^ Swami, Praveen; Sethi, Aman (04 Jume 2007). "Unravelling the clerical crusade against heresy, and the politics of the Sacha Sauda controversy.". The Hindu.. http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/04/stories/2007060402631100.htm. Retrieved 21 October 2011. "Gurmeet Singh himself is a Jat Sikh, of the Sidhu sub-caste, but the sect's egalitarian principles have proved attractive to both Hindu and Sikh Dalits alienated by the apartheid that pervades rural Punjab." 
  2. ^ www.derasachasauda.in
  3. ^ a b "Dera followers offer to wed sex workers - Times Of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2009-11-14. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dera-followers-offer-to-wed-sex-workers/articleshow/5229062.cms. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  4. ^ Ahuja, Abhishek. "A Day at Dera Sacha Sauda". http://abhishekahuja.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/05/a-day-at-dera-sacha-sauda-sirsa-haryana.htm. 
  5. ^ "A welfare organization". Shah Satnam Ji Green S Welfare Force Wing. http://www.shahsatnamjigreenswelfareforcewing.org/tribal-reintegration.html. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  6. ^ "Home for destitute girls". The Tribune. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090331/harplus.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-16. 
  7. ^ "Dera followers launch tree plantation drive". The Tribune. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090816/bathinda.htm#6. Retrieved 2010-01-16. 
  8. ^ "Largest blood donation". Guinnessworldrecords.com. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Search/Details/Largestblood-donation/53108.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  9. ^ "Dera to donate bodies to medical colleges in S India". Indianexpress.com. 2010-02-01. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dera-to-donate-bodies-to-medical-colleges-in-s-india/573845/. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  10. ^ "The Hindu Business Line : Akalis, Congress woo Dera Sacha Sauda". Thehindubusinessline.in. 2009-04-19. http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2009/04/19/stories/2009041950260400.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  11. ^ Raman, Sunil (2007-05-17). "India tensions over protests". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6667219.stm. Retrieved 2007-05-17. 
  12. ^ a b "South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR), Weekly Assessments & Briefings". Satp.org. http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/Archives/5_50.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  13. ^ "National : Dera followers attacked". The Hindu. 2009-10-05. http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/05/stories/2009100559541800.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  14. ^ "Punjab limping back to normalcy, isolated protests". The Hindu. 2007-05-19. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200705191801.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-25. 
  15. ^ "Six Dera followers injured in clash - India - DNA". Dnaindia.com. 2009-05-24. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_six-dera-followers-injured-in-clash_1258589. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  16. ^ "Dera chief attacked by mob near Sirsa, escapes unhurt - India News - IBNLive". ibnlive.in.com. Jul 16, 2007. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dera-chief-attacked-by-mob-near-sirsa-escapes-unhurt/45040-3.html?from=prestory. Retrieved 1 August 2010. 
  17. ^ "Dera Sauda regrets hurting Sikhs". CNN-IBN Live. http://www.ibnlive.com/news/dera-sauda-regrets-hurting-sikhs/40927-3.html. Retrieved 2007-05-20. 
  18. ^ "Dera Sauda again apologize". NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070013432. Retrieved 2007-05-27. 
  19. ^ "Fresh apology, this time to Sikhs". tribuneindia.com. June 20, 2007. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070621/main5.htm#2. Retrieved 1 August 2010. 
  20. ^ "Criminal case against Dera Sacha Sauda head dismissed". The Times of India. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-24/india/28052679_1_criminal-case-revision-petition-dera-head. Retrieved 2009-01-24. 
  21. ^ "Dera chief escapes unhurt in blast, 11 injured". rediff.com. February 2, 2008. http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/02dera.htm. Retrieved 1 August 2010. 
  22. ^ "KLF ultra planned strikes in Amritsar". Hindustan Times. 2010-05-30. http://www.hindustantimes.com/KLF-ultra-planned-strikes-in-Amritsar/Article1-550893.aspx. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  23. ^ "Sikh extremist behind attack on Dera chief - India News - IBNLive". Ibnlive.in.com. 2010-02-03. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sikh-extremist-behind-attack-on-dera-chief/58052-3.html. Retrieved 2011-03-21.