Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan
Born (1967-08-15) 15 August 1967
Shri Gurusar Modia (Rajasthan, India)
Nationality Indian
Ethnicity Jat
Occupation Preacher, social reformer, Actor, philanthropist, singer, director,
Years active 1990–present
Organization Dera Sacha Sauda
Parent(s)
  • Maghar Singh
  • Nasib Kaur
Website Official website

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan is an Indian preacher, spiritual leader, and actor. He has been the head of the India-based socio-spiritual organisation Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) since 23 September 1990.[1] DSS oversees several social programmes, such as a cleanliness campaigns, blood donation drives, tree planting, disaster relief, and support for transgender people, tribal communities, orphans, and rehabilitation of sex workers.[2]

Early life

Ram Rahim was born to Naseeb Kaur and Maghar Singh on 15 August 1967, at Gurusar Modia village in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan.[3] He was born in a Jat Sikh family.[4]

On 23 September 1990, Shah Satnam held a satsang where he publicly conferred sainthood and succession of the spiritual leadership upon Gurmeet Ram Rahim. He is married and has three children. His son is married to the daughter of Harminder Singh Jassi, a former Indian National Congress MLA from Bathinda.[5]

Education

Ram Rahim was educated in a school in his village of Sri Gurusar Modia. In early 2016, Ram Rahim received an honorary doctorate from World Records University in London for over 50 records of different kinds. [6]

Political influence

Because of his following, he has been described as being politically influential in the Malwa region of Punjab.[7][8][9][10] In 2014 Haryana polls, His organisation supported Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) .[11] In February 2015, his organisation openly supported BJP in Delhi elections, saying that he has over 20 Lakh followers in Delhi.[12][13][14] He supported BJP in the Bihar assembly election in 2015, and nearly 3000 Dera followers campaigned for BJP in the state.[15]

Social work

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

Ram Rahim has organised drives for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol screening that have been recognized by Guinness.[16][17][18] In association with the American Society of Echocardiography, he also organized the world record for "Most Cardiac Echo Tests".[19] On 21 September 2011 in New Delhi, Ram Rahim initiated a series of sanitation drives. He also pledged his support to the Central Government's campaign.[20] On 28 Oct 2014 he inaugurated the cleanliness drive "Ho Prithvi Saaf, Mitey Rog Abhishaap" along about five lacs volunteers who responded. As of 2011, about 28 Mega Cleanliness Campaigns have been conducted in several states of India.[21] On 22 May 2012 Ram Rahim 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.[22][23][24][25][26]

Music

Ram Rahim's music has been published by Universal Music. He has written, composed and performed in his music videos which forms a genre described as "Religious Rock". He has released 6 music albums including Network Tere Love Ka.[27] and Highway Love Charger. He has performed at over a hundred rock shows.[28]

Films

Ram Rahim has acted in the films MSG: The Messenger which was released worldwide on 13 February 2015. According to the producers, the movie deals with youth-related issues like drug abuse. The film has seven songs and it was released in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and English.[29] The film received negative reviews from critics.[30][31]

A sequel, MSG-2 The Messenger, was released 18 September 2015, Tamil and Telugu versions respectively were released on 1 October 2015.

Conflict with Sikh groups and controversies

In May 2007 Singh was accused of hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikhs by wearing, in an advertisement, an attire, resembling the tenth and final living Sikh Guru Gobind Singh[32] His followers also organised a demonstration against their alleged persecution at the hands of some religious organisations.[33][34] Ram Rahim was attacked by a mob on 16 July 2007, but escaped unhurt.[35] 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.[36] A multi religion delegation approached the apex Sikh organisation to accept the apology .[37] Though the Akal Takht didn't use the word "rejected" — they maintained that the apology was inadequate on several counts.[38]

A criminal case filed against him, for hurting the Sikh sentiments, was dismissed by the Sirsa court in 2009.[39] Counter-terrorism expert 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.[40] In a case where the Dera's followers were accused of being suicide attackers, the Dera has stated publicly that it was being targeted by vested political groups that were conspiring to defame it.[41][42] The organisation has demanded a judicial probe into the allegations.[43][39][40]


On 2 February 2008, Ram Rahim's cavalcade was attacked with explosives, injuring 11 persons.[44] A Khalistan Liberation Force member 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.[45][46] After that, Ram Rahim was protected with Z+ security cover by Government of India.[47]

On 20 June 2008, a group of Sikhs shouted anti-Dera slogans during Gurmeet Ram Rahim'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.[48] This led to further protests from Sikhs in Mumbai and Punjab.[49]

On 27 September 2015 the Akal Takht accepted his apology and pardoned him, but on observing widespread resentment and protest among Sikhs regarding his pardon, the organisation revoked the pardon on 16 October.[50]

On 13 January 2016 actor Kiku Sharda (who played the character Palak in Comedy Nights with Kapil ), was arrested in Mumbai by the Haryana Police for mimicking Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on his show. Sharda spent 14 days in judicial custody in Kaithal, Haryana. The case was registered on the complaint of a Uday Singh, a follower of Dera Sacha Sauda.[51]

References

  1. ↑ "Dera strong with 50 million followers". TNP Zest. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
  2. ↑ "Dera followers marry sex workers". The Tribune. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
  3. ↑ "Huzoor Pita Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan". Dera Sacha Sauda.
  4. ↑ "Man with many faces, a long shadow". Hindustan Times.
  5. ↑ "Amid depleting clout, dera chief's kin loses". The Indian Express. 7 March 2012.
  6. ↑ . 26 January 2016 http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/gurmeet-ram-rahim-now-has-a-doctorate-for-having-53-world-records-249868.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ "Poll-bound Punjab awaits Dera Sacha Sauda diktat on voting". The Times Of India. 29 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Dera Sacha Sauda: The key to power in Punjab - Rediff.com News". Rediff.com. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  9. ↑ "Punjab Poll 2012: Amarinder meets Dera Sacha Sauda chief | Day & Night News". Dayandnightnews.com. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  10. ↑ "Punjab polls: Parties line up for Dera Sacha Sauda support : Punjab News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  11. ↑ "Haryana polls: Dera Sacha Sauda's political wing to support BJP".
  12. ↑ Anand Kumar Patel (5 February 2015). "BJP's New Friend: Dera Sacha Sauda, the Sect Led by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh". NDTV.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Delhi Assembly polls 2015: Dera Sacha Sauda extends support to BJP". Zee News. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  14. ↑ "Former Punjab top cop alleges Dera Sacha Sauda controversy was conspired by SAD govt". Times of India. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  15. ↑ http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-11-03/news/67987192_1_godman-bihar-elections-saffron-party
  16. ↑ "Most blood pressure readings taken in 24 hours". Guinnessworldrecords.com. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  17. ↑ "Most diabetes readings taken in 24 hours". Guinnessworldrecords.com. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  18. ↑ "Most cholesterol readings taken in 24 hours". Guinnessworldrecords.com. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  19. ↑ "Dera Sacha Sauda establishes 4 new world record | Day & Night News". Dayandnightnews.com. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  20. ↑ "Modi tweets praise to gurmeet ram rahim".
  21. ↑ "Mass cleanliness drive by Dera sect in Jaipur". The Times Of India. 2 November 2011.
  22. ↑ http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Jalandhar/1-500-Dera-Sacha-Sauda-volunteers-earn-praise-for-rescue-efforts/SP-Article1-842107.aspx
  23. ↑ http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Jalandhar/Jalandhar-collapse-death-toll-rises-to-13-64-rescued-so-far/SP-Article1-842466.aspx
  24. ↑ http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/WestBengal/Devastating-fire-breaks-out-in-Darjeeling-market/Article1-843339.aspx
  25. ↑ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  26. ↑ "First on scene,Dera volunteers work as one". The Indian Express. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  27. ↑ "ram rahim on song".
  28. ↑ Amanda Monteiro. "Indian spiritual leader rocks the stage: Check out his new song 'Love Charger' here! - Latest News & Gossip on Popular Trends at India.com". India.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  29. ↑ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Haryana". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  30. ↑ "MSG Messenger of God: Indian critics pan guru film". BBC News.
  31. ↑ "Boxoffice". boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  32. ↑ "Radical Sikh Groups Oppose Akal Takht Pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh". NDTV.com. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  33. ↑ "Haryana tense as Dera followers mount offensive - India - DNA". Dnaindia.com. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  34. ↑ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Haryana". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  35. ↑ "Dera chief attacked by mob near Sirsa, escapes unhurt - India News - IBNLive". ibnlive.in.com. 16 Jul 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  36. ↑ "Dera Sauda regrets hurting Sikhs". CNN-IBN Live. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  37. ↑ "Peace mission moves to Amritsar". The Times of India. 29 May 2007. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  38. ↑ "Dera boycott to continue: Akal Takht". The Times of India. 30 May 2007. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  39. 1 2 "Criminal case against Dera Sacha Sauda head dismissed". The Times of India. 24 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  40. 1 2 "South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR), Weekly Assessments & Briefings". Satp.org. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  41. ↑ "Dera sees conspiracy to tarnish its image". The Hindu (Chennai, India).
  42. ↑ "Dera demands judicial probe into women human bomb allegation". The Times of India. 26 August 2007. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  43. ↑ "Dera demands judicial probe into women human bomb allegation - India - DNA". Dnaindia.com. 26 August 2007. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  44. ↑ "Dera chief escapes unhurt in blast, 11 injured". rediff.com. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  45. ↑ "KLF ultra planned strikes in Amritsar". Hindustan Times. 30 May 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  46. ↑ "Sikh extremist behind attack on Dera chief - India News - IBNLive". Ibnlive.in.com. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  47. ↑ "http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-z-plus-security-cover-for-dera-chief-1101764". External link in |title= (help)
  48. ↑ "Mumbai: Dera chief's bodyguard kills 1". rediff.com. 21 June 2008. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  49. ↑ "Sikh mobs run riot in Mumbai". The Times of India. 22 June 2008. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  50. ↑ "Akal Takht Revokes Pardon Granted to Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim". NDTV. Press Trust of India. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  51. ↑ "Indian comic Kiku Sharda arrested for TV spoof of guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh". The Guardian. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.

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