Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is social reformer, preacher, spiritual leader and the head of the India-based socio-spiritual organisation Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) since 23 September 1990.^[1][2]

DSS oversees several social programmes, such as a cleanliness campaign, blood drives, tree planting, disaster relief, and support for transgender people, tribal communities, orphans, and rehabilitation of sex workers.^[3][4] Independent media analysts report 4–5 crores (40–50 million) followers.^[5][6]

Early life

Singh was born to Naseeb Kaur and Magghar Singh on 15 August 1967, at Sri Gurusar Modia village in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan.^[7] He was born in a Jat Sikh Sidhu family.^[8]

On 23 September 1990, Shah Satnam Singh held a huge satsang where he publicly conferred sainthood and succession of the spiritual leadership upon Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He is married and has three children, although he renounced family ties in 1990 to enter spiritual life.^[9]

Career

Because of his following, he has been described as being politically influential.^{[10][11][12][13]} A former DGP intelligence Shashikant, that the provincial politicians were behind a serious conspiracy targeting Singh.^[14] The official representative of Dera Sacha Sauda has said that the persecution at the hands of radicals was one of the reasons behind the formation of the Political Affairs Wing.^[15] But the organisation insists that their core focus is social work and humanitarianism. The organisation also claims to have thousands of people who are prospective good Samaritan or living kidney donors.^[16] Singh is currently shooting for a Bollywood film MSG:The Messenger . The 47-year-old is the lead of the film, has composed and sung all the nine songs in it, as well as performed each of his stunts "himself". The poster of the film, due to be released in January 2015, has on a Harley Davidson-look alike motorcycle, in his trademark costume, driving through an indeterminate desert. The ‘MSG’ stands for ‘Messenger of God. In between, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who started holding rock shows in October 2011, has been busy with them too. The Dera claims more than a lakh people attend each of these shows, including the "102nd" one held in Delhi in April. Gurmeet Ram Rahim took one more step towards celebrityhood: he opened a Twitter account^[17]

Social work

Ram Rahim Singh consoles victims of a fire in Darjeeling on 20 April 2012

Singh has organised drives for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol screening that have been recognized by Guinness.^[18][19][20] In association with the American Society of Echocardiography, he also organized the world record for "Most Cardiac Echo Tests".^[21][22] On 21 September 2011 in New Delhi, Singh initiated a series of sanitation drives. He also pledged his support to the Central Government's campaign.^[23] On 28 Oct 2014 he inaugurated the cleanliness cleanliness drive "Ho Prithvi Saaf, Mitey Rog Abhishaap" along about five lacs volunteers who responded to his call with a humongous sea of brooms. As of 2011, about 28 Mega Cleanliness Campaigns have been conducted in several states of India.^[24] On 22 May 2012 Singh laid the foundation of the Shah Satnam ji Super Speciality Hospital at Sirsa. He established a specialised disaster relief and welfare agency called Shah Satnam Ji Green S Welfare Force Wing in 2001. Especially in the aftermath of the Odisha cyclone and Gujarat earthquake.^{[25][26][27][28][29]}

Music

Singh's music has been published by Universal Music^[30][31] He has written, composed and performed in his music videos which forms a genre described as "Religious Rock". Over the last 2 years he has released 6 music albums as Thank For u That, Network Tere Love Ka,Insan, Lov Rab Se.^[32] His latest album released in April 2014, Highway Love Charger, sold almost three million copies in three days and has seen around 1.37 million views on YouTube. He has performed at over a hundred rock shows, the latest being at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi.^[33]

Film

Singh is acting in a movie. The film MSG: The Messenger of God is slated for a worldwide release on 13 February 2015. According to the producers, the movie deals with youth-related issues like drug abuse,alcoholism, etc.The film has seven songs and it will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and English.^{[34][35][36][37][38][39][40]}

In the news

In 2007, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was accused of hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikhs, and of involvement in murder. He was cleared of both the charges by the courts, and maintains that he holds all religions including Sikhism in the highest esteem.^[41] His followers organised a demonstration against their alleged persecution at the hands of some religious organisations.^[42][43] He has attracted criticism for his high security cavalcade, while his organisation has held that high security threat perception as the reason for the measures. In another case where its followers were accused as being suicide attackers, the Dera has stated publicly that it was being targeted by vested political groups that were conspiring to defame it.^[44][45] His organisation has demanded a judicial probe into the allegations.^[46]

Conflict with Sikh groups

Sikh groups (such as Dal Khalsa) and political parties (such as Shiromani Akali Dal) had opposed the Deras.^[47] In May 2007, a section of orthodox Sikhs stated that Singh's attire in an advertisement resembled that of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.^[48] They accused him of blasphemy and of hurting Sikh sentiments.^[49] The controversy was followed by multiple attacks on the Dera members.^[50] Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was himself attacked by a mob on 16 July 2007, but escaped unhurt.^[51] The Dera Sacha Sauda tendered multiple apologies, regretting confusion over the dress, and stated that it had high regard for all Sikh Gurus, Sikh religion and the entire humankind.^[52] A multi religion delegation approached the apex Sikh organisation to accept the apology .^[53] Though the high priests didn't use the word "rejected" — they maintained that the apology was inadequate on several counts.^[54]

A criminal case filed against him, for hurting the Sikh sentiments, was dismissed by the Sirsa court in 2009.^[55] Ajai Sahni has stated that the tensions between the Sikh community and the Dera have been exploited by the pro-Khalistan elements. He has further quoted Indian military intelligence that Iknoor Khalsa Fauj, Khalistan Zindabad Force and Khalistan Commando Force have attempted to eliminate him,^[49] On 2 February 2008, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's cavalcade was attacked, injuring 11 persons.^[56] A Khalistan Liberation Force militant Bakshish Singh was later arrested for the attack who confessed to arranging explosives for the attack on the Dera chief and also executing the plan along with his associates.^[57][58]

On 20 June 2008, a group of Sikhs shouted anti-Dera slogans during Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's visit to the Nirmal Lifestyles mall in Mumbai. The situation developed into an altercation between the protestors and the Dera followers, and one of the Sikh protestors was killed.^[59] This led to further protests from Sikhs in Mumbai and Punjab.^[60] His followers who were charged with the killing were let off by the fast track court after it failed to find conclusive evidence.

Criminal accusations

In 2002 Singh and his Dera came under investigation in connection with the charges of sexual exploitation of women followers of the sect, and the murder of a journalist Ram Chander Chatrapati. The allegations started in May 2002 after an anonymous letter alleging sexual exploitation was addressed to the Prime Minister and its copies had been marked to several other bodies. Chatrapati, who had been writing about the Dera's activities since then, was shot on 24 October and died on 21 November. In August 2007 the news magazine Tehelka published a story about alleged murders, sexual exploitation and possession of illegal arms by Dera Sacha Sauda followers on behalf of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.^[61] Subsequently, court cases were filed against him.

Litigations Removed

Pertaining to the above accusations, court cases were filed against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. In the High court, his counsel questioned the bona fides of the investigating agency and alleged that the witnesses were "purchased" to falsely implicate him.^[62] This version was refuted by the opposing counsel. But the High Court granted him bail in these cases after extensive arguments.^[63] This was subsequently extended by the trial court.^[64] Finally, the bail was upheld by the Supreme Court of India.^[65][66] Also, on 31 August 2014 Vishwas Gupta apologised to have made false allegations against Dera Chief regarding sexually harassing his wife and keeping her captive and confirmed that the anti-dera elements from Punjab forced him to do so.^[67]

In 2010, a special CBI court cleared Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of any involvement in the murder of the former Dera chief's driver Faqir Chand.^[68][69]

On 8 August 2014, Court of District also dismissed the case against chief of Dera Sacha Sauda which was lodged in May 2007 for hurting Sikh sentiments by adorning an attire and resembling like the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.^[70]

Castration Allegations

In early 2015, Indian police began probing Singh for allegedly encouraging 400 followers to get castrated so they could get closer to God. The investigation began after one of his devotees claimed to have been manipulated into undergoing the "painful" operation. According to the victim's lawyer, "They were told that only those who get castrated will be able to meet god".^[71]

See also

• Ashutosh (spiritual leader)
• Skoptsy
• Castration in religion

References

External links

• Official website
• Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa official site