Hyperreligiosity Has Facilitated the Toadstool Growth of Gurus and Babas

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 3 July 2024 The moment I heard the depressing news that more than 120 people perished in a stampede during a religious gathering (Satsang) at Hathras in UP, two references from the world of literature flashed through my mind, "Any man's death diminishes me" by John Donne and the title of a famous novel, Fools Die, written by the Italian-American author Mario Puzo. Hathras Stampede - फोटो: अमर उजाला ----- I don't want to sound harsh on those who died in this melee. That will be inhuman on my part. But if the truth must be told, those who died were indeed fools. Why on earth did so many people go to visit a fraud baba in extreme heat and humidity? The acolytes of this swindler call him Narayan Saakaar Hari Bhole baba and consider him to be an embodiment of god! He's very famous among the uneducated people of UP's backward districts such as Etah, Mainpuri among others. But Hindi and Urdu newspapers published from UP have reported that even rich and 'educated' people go to this semi-educated baba to seek his ' blessings.' Now he's at large. Just the way Fatwa Culture is a bane for the Muslim Ummah (community), Gurudom or Babadom is a bane for Hinduism. Scores of Babas are active who hoodwink and fleece their credulous followers. Hyperreligiosity has facilitated the toadstool growth of these Babas who're gods and goddesses to their bovine followers. Whether the English-speaking Jaggi, Ravi Shankar, Jiddu in the past or an unmitigated rascal Ram-Rahim, all are made of the same stuff whose only objective is to dupe their slavish followers. All are impostors. While Jaggi and Ravi Shankar bamboozle their devotees with abstruse sermons (Jiddu also did the same; he'd flummox the followers with his suave manners and serious countenance), Ram-Rahim, Nirmal Baba, Bhole Baba, Asaram, Nirmala Devi, to name but a few 'impress' their blind Bhakts by playing to the gallery. These charlatans know that the masses are asses; they're morons who can be brainwashed easily. In a country, where even the President, PM, celebrities and so-called intellectuals touch the feet of gurus and Babas and hobnob with them, sense, sensibility and sanity cannot be expected of the hoi polloi. Mark my words: Despite Hathras tragedy, the Babas and Gurus will continue to take the people for a ride because the masses allow themselves to be shepherded. Public memory is woefully short. People believe in fate and faith. We're condemned to behave in a slavish manner when it comes to religion, gurus and pseudo-spirituality. ------- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/hyperreligiosity-toadstool-growth-gurus-babas/d/132623 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism