Stocky and ruggedly handsome, Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim can be disconcerting. Childlike one moment, making a banal statement the next, the godman who likes to dress (or overdress) in garish colours, evokes complete loyalty from followers. Is he for real? Pavithra S. Rangan got all of 10 minutes to chat him up at Sirsa.
You sing, act, farm, design cars, coach sportspersons and preach. Are you a spiritual leader?
I do all this so that agnostics start believing in God. It is God who is making me do all this because it is humanly impossible to undertake so many activities. I have studied till Std X but I can hold my own before international scientists and doctors and explain how meditation makes a difference.
While spirituality and religion place a premium on renunciation and austerity, modern gurus seem to love the good life.
Saints have to change with the times and find effective ways of attracting youngsters. I perform several stunts in my films to attract youth and show them they can be performed under the intoxication of Raam Naam and not alcohol.
How is Dera Sacha Sauda different from other Deras?
We are engaged in 104 social welfare activities. We don’t just preach, we actually do work. I’ve ensured 13 different kinds of plants and crops grow here, I’ve devised water-recycling methods. We don’t take donations from anyone.
Your campaigns against drugs, alcoholism, non-vegeterianism--have they cut any ice?
We have 5 crore followers across the world and at least 85 per cent of them have given up alcohol and drugs. The Dera is changing lives of people.
Reports suggest you are expanding base in Kerala and West Bengal.
In Kerala, alcoholism is widespread. We have preached the guru mantra to several thousands and they have given up alcohol. They requested us to set up an ashram there and volunteered to look after the activities. It is similar in Karnataka, where we have a small ashram but our volunteers want to make it big.
The Dera is also a generous advertiser in media (including Outlook), which is unusual for spiritual groups.
We advertise so as to spread the message about our various activities so people can take part in them. All proceeds from our activities go for good causes. Proceeds from the movie I am acting in will go to HIV-AIDS patients and children suffering from thalassemia.
