Why people trust in Godman in India??

WHY PEOPLE TRUST GODMAN

I remember an incident during my early teenage; the day when my less educated aunt took ‘Diksha’ from her guru. I would ask her the purpose behind it. She would enthrallingly relate the story of going to ‘Satsang’ and listening to ‘Prabachans’ that her guru recited and the most hideous was the ‘Phoonk that she received in her ears’ made her an integral part of the Ashram. I found those teachings were not much different than what my father used to teach me. Anyway, I never got a chance to visit any of such ashrams but still poses healthy moral values.

However, the recent conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim in rape and murder forced me to rewind those days when my aunt who was so filled with compassion towards her guru that she became a weekly commuter to the Ashram. She was illiterate, superstitious and undoubtedly gullible. It was in vogue of having a guru those days as it seems to be today and her group increased day by day. It was more sought of a weekly Sabbath for the ladies who would travel miles to attend gatherings. In most cases, men would not company due to social stigma and patriarchal sentiments.

If we are to go by the pages of history, we will find that the problem has not developed over a decade or a century but it has emanated over generations. The ancient society of India, the class and caste system holds testimony to this claim. Our society is built on fear – fear of god has been the predominant factor which has plagued the minds of the illiterate and the underprivileged. Their minds were inculcated and contrived to accept unusual happenings as omen, that the Brahmins can only help escape from the wrath of Almighty. This fear though overpowered over-time but hadn’t been completely eradicated. Epitomising godmen has been a habit developed over ages and might not go off effortlessly.

Another factor buttressing my notion over people trusting in godmen is the political endorsement and symbiotic relationship between them. It is not astounding that neither the ruling party nor the opposition cries foul, whenever a convict is grilled. Frequent visits by political stalwarts at Ashrams convince the commoners that even the wealthy and powerful need blessings of godmen. These visits acts as a catalyst for luring more followers. Symbiotically, the political leaders amass huge support from the organisational setup of godmen-which has massive blind followers base. 

The Ashrams operated by godmen forms a safe haven for illegal political and economic activities. Donations by political parties not only develops a good will for the party but also bring in funds on which religious activities including ‘bhandaras – dissemination of food to the followers, poor and all in attendance’ consummates. In a country like India, where weird sentiments dominates majority of the population, amassing such crowd over three-time free meals is no charm. The underprivileged and the downtrodden does not desires more than this. This state of affair has not only survived the idea of godmen but also has provided ancillary backing for its protracted existence.

Now, there is premonition that why women are more inclined towards godmen? Hapless women especially those persecuted by laws for not able to bear a male child or a child altogether, see ray of hope in godmen who utilises the moral teachings and the path of Karma to attack the modesty of women. Women are easily trapped as they lose support of her family that she must have cherished before marriage. There are endless list of causes for women to be victimised and so the existence of self-styled godman.

The idea of Ashrams is not new, it has been existing till time immemorial. Ashrams built to provide support to the needy and the penury cannot be overemphasised of its need. However, the management has been centralised which has become the root cause of all heinous crimes happening today at Ashrams. How can such types of organisations be run by a single man? Who promotes them and baptises them? Why there is no control on the rise of godmen? Why godman is not answerable to law and the government machinery? Why their dens aren’t snap-checked by nodal investing agencies and income tax officials? Why there is no political harness over such godman? The solution to these questions is the answers that one’s conscience devises. The questions must be asked to the inner-soul whether such godmen are required in a technological advance and modern world. The political class must be answerable at the time when they reach such places for seeking vote and their will to dissuade such anti-social men. Financial statements, hike in property ownership, vigilance, frequent rounds to Ashrams / Deras must be established by law to avoid further mishandling by such rogue elements which mars the sanctity of such organisations.