Dera Sacha Sauda

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Dera Sacha Sauda
Type Non-profit spiritual organization
Headquarters Sirsa, Haryana, India
Founder Mastana Balochistani
Successor Shah Satnam Singh
Current leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
Website http://www.derasachasauda.org

Dera Sacha Sauda (colloquially DSS) is a non-profit spiritual organization based in Sirsa, Haryana, India. The Dera Sacha Sauda was established by the ascetic Mastana Balochistani in 1948, as a center for spiritual learning.

The organisation has achieved Guinness World Records for several blood donation drives and a tree-planting initiative.[1][2] The organization has also received extensive media coverage due to several controversies it has been involved in.[3][3][4]

Etymology

The name Sacha Sauda ("true Deeds") refers to an incident in the life of Guru Nanak Dev. Some sources tell how, when Nanak Dev was a young boy, his father gave him some money and instructed him to conduct a business operation in order that he make a profit and learn business skills. Nanak dev used the money to buy food to feed the poor, and explained to his father that in doing so he had done a "true business."[5]

History

Founder: Mastana Balochistani
Successor: Shah Satnam Singh
Current leader: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

Dera Sacha Sauda was established in 1948 by Shah Mastana from Baluchistan, who focused on attracting followers from different backgrounds.[6]

Principles and positions

The sect cites as its principles, laid down by Shah Mastana: secularism, equality, no acceptance of materialistic wealth, and truth and faith over everything else, meditation to the road of truth, quietism, strict individual discipline, strict social discipline, hard work, faith and meditation to escape from re-births (moksha).[7]

Welfare activities

Green S Welfare Force

The entrance of Shah Satnam Ji Dham, Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, Haryana

Singh formed a welfare and disaster relief organisation called "Shah Satnam Ji Green-S Welfare Force", which now has more than 44,000 doctors, engineers, rescuers, paramedics, and tradesmen participating. The organisation has rendered aid during many of India's natural disasters. [8] [9] [10] [11] Volunteers of the force participate in tree planting in New Zealand.[12]

Cleanliness Earth Campaign

Singh started a Cleanliness Earth Campaigns in India with a banner of ‘Cleanse the planet earth, to remove disease and curse’ (‘Ho prithvi saaf, mite rog abhishaap’) on 21 September 2011 with a two days campaign in New Delhi with over two lakh followers.[13] This was followed by a series of campaign's in different cities (Gurgaon, Puri, Jaipur).[14] [15][16]

Accolades

The organization has acclaimed a list of world "records" and excellence "awards" which has helped the society.

  • Largest blood donation.[17]
  • Largest eye health screening.[18]
  • Most trees planted globally.[19]

Charitable programs

Singh has initiated a variety of charitable programs during his tenure.

  • An annual eye care camp on 13–15 December each year, staffed by eye surgeons.[20]
  • A campaign against female foeticide; the organisation has also built the Shahi Betiyan Basera for orphan girls who were to be killed by their parents. This home is called the Home for the Royal Daughters and provides amenities for destitute female children.[21]
  • Support for the transgendered; Singh has directed his organisation members to help intersex children who join itinerant transgender communities. He plans to support their schooling in special institutions.[22] This community is heavily afflicted with HIV due to commercial sex.
  • Anti-prostitution initiatives; in November 2009 Singh called on his followers to counter prostitution, and to help sex-workers escape a "life of perpetual slavery".[23] Over 1450 followers were reported to have responded to the call and offered to marry sex-workers to "help them escape their dreary existence".[24][25][26][27][28] Singh referred to these former prostitutes as shubh devi ("holy angel").[citation needed]
  • Tree planting.[29]
  • Disaster relief; DSS made a large contribution to Gujarat Earthquake relief in the year 2001.[30]
  • Sports programs: in 2004 the Parampita Shah Satnam Ji Educational and Welfare Society, which is affiliated with Dera Sacha Sauda, built the Shah Satnam ji Cricket Stadium in Sirsa, Haryana. Using a workforce of 10,000, the stadium was said to have been built in 45 days and have a capacity of 30,000.[31] It is spread over 100 acres, which would make the second largest in Asia.[32]
  • Organ and whole-body donation; DSS encourages donation of bodies and eyes after death.[33] It has emerged as one of the leading whole body donor agencies as per newspaper reports.[34]

Controversies

In the 2000s, the organisation received attention due to several controversies involving its leader, Ram Rahim Singh:

  • In 2002, an anonymous letter, supposedly from a Sadhvi living in the Dera, was sent to the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as well as the judges of The Punjab and Haryana High Court. In this letter, the sadhvi alleged being raped by Gurmit Singh Ram Rahim. In 2007, the CBI filed charges against Gurmit Singh Ram Rahim under the sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.[35] As per the directions of the Punjab and Haryana high court, the daily hearing of the case started in the CBI special court in Panchkula from 28 September 2011.[36]
  • On October 10, 2002, Ram Chandar Chhatarpati, the editor of Sirsa-based Poora Sach, was shot and grievously wounded by two men who were later arrested. Chhatarpati had done a series of stories on the Dera, and had also published allegations of rape and sexual exploitation against the Baba. Later, Dera Manager Krishan Lal was also arrested in the case. Sirsa police investigations showed that the crime was committed with Lal’s licensed revolver, and that the walkie-talkie used in the crime was licensed in the name of the Dera.[37] Gurmeet Singh is one of the main accused in the case. Also, during court proceedings the CBI dropped Gobi Ram, who is a follower of the Dera, as a witness as he had backtracked on his statement before CBI Special Judge A.S. narangg.[38]
  • In 2007, Singh and the DSS were the target of widespread protests, following an incident in which Ram Rahim Singh appeared in an advertisement dressed in a way which Sikhs said was similar to the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.[39] One person was killed in the violence and over 100 injured.[40] This incident resulted in a series of three apologies from DSS and Singh.[41]

References

  1. ↑ Largest Blood Donation. Guinness Book of World Records
  2. ↑ "Dera again makes it to Guinness Book of World Records Collects 43,732 units of blood in a day". The Tribune. Nov 15, 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.tehelka.com/story_main33.asp?filename=Ts0110807investigation.asp
  4. ↑ http://www.tehelka.com/story_main33.asp?filename=Ts0110807damning.asp
  5. ↑ Valson Thampu (May 2000). Pilgrims to the light: encounters in a shared destiny. Har-Anand Publications. pp. 111–. ISBN 978-81-241-0643-3. Retrieved 26 April 2011. 
  6. ↑ Rajalakshmi, T. K. (December 21, 2002 - January 03, 2003). "Godman under a cloud". The Hindu (Chennai, India). Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
  7. ↑ derasachasauda.org
  8. ↑ "Devastating fire breaks out in Darjeeling market". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2012-04-20. 
  9. ↑ "1,500 Dera Sacha Sauda volunteers earn praise for rescue efforts". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2012-04-17. 
  10. ↑ "Heroes of Jalandhar who saved many lives". IBN Live. Retrieved 2012-04-26. 
  11. ↑ "Disaster Relief Organization". Shah Satnam Ji Green S Welfare Force Society. Retrieved 2011-01-29. 
  12. ↑ "Army of volunteers head to Pit Park". Shah Satnam Ji Green S Welfare Force Society. Retrieved 2012-07-30. 
  13. ↑ "Sacha Sauda organizes sanitation drive in city - Times of India". Times of India. 2011-09-22. 
  14. ↑ "Dera followers hold cleanliness drive , Gurgaon". tribuneindia.com. 2011-12-17. 
  15. ↑ "Sacha Sauda organizes another campaign in Puri, Orrisa - Tpuriwaves.nirmalya.in". puriwaves.nirmalya.in. 2012-05-06. 
  16. ↑ "Sacha Sauda organizes sanitation drive in Jaipur- Times of India". Times of India. 2011-11-02. 
  17. ↑ "Blood Donation Camp". guinnessworldrecords.in. Retrieved 2010-08-10. 
  18. ↑ "Eye-Health Checkup Camp". guinnessworldrecords.in. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
  19. ↑ "World record in environmental preservation". guinnessworldrecords.in. Retrieved 2010-11-15. 
  20. ↑ "Eye Camp Organised". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  21. ↑ "Home for destitute girls". The Tribune. Retrieved 2010-01-16. 
  22. ↑ "Dera followers offer to wed sex workers". The Times of India. 2009-11-14. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  23. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKJRer6UFNA Appeal
  24. ↑ Sethi, Swati (14 November 2009). "Dera followers offer to wed sex workers". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 December 2009. 
  25. ↑ "Indian sect members vow to marry sex workers - Manchester News". Manchesterwired.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-01-29. 
  26. ↑ "Dera Sacha Sauda members to marry sex workers | hotklix". Timesofindia.hotklix.com. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  27. ↑ "Dera members offer to marry sex workers". The Times of India. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  28. ↑ "A welfare organization". Shah Satnam Ji Green S Welfare Force Wing. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  29. ↑ "Dera followers launch tree plantation drive". The Tribune. Retrieved 2010-01-16. 
  30. ↑ "Haryana to adopt quake-hit villages". Tribuneindia.com. 1 February 2001. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  31. ↑ "A medal for this stadium". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2004-09-06. Retrieved 2007-05-17. 
  32. ↑ "Cricket stadium". The Tribune. 2004-09-07. Retrieved 2007-05-17. 
  33. ↑ "Dera follower’s body donated to medical college". The Tribune. Retrieved 2010-01-16. 
  34. ↑ "Dera to donate bodies to medical colleges in S India". Indianexpress.com. 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  35. ↑ Charges against Dera chief framed. The Times of India, 6 September 2008.
  36. ↑ Daily hearing of rape cases against Dera chief from today. The Times of India, 28 September 2011.
  37. ↑ Tehelka - The People's Paper
  38. ↑ Witness turns hostile in Chhatrapati murder case - Indian Express
  39. ↑ Raman, Sunil (2007-05-17). "India tensions over Sikh protests". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-05-17. 
  40. ↑ "Punjab limping back to normalcy, isolated protests". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2007-05-19. Retrieved 2007-05-25. 
  41. ↑ "Fresh apology, this time to Sikhs". tribuneindia.com. June 20, 2007. Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2010. 

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