I have kept
myself away from commenting on the crazy affair that has been going on in our TV
channels and newspapers in relation to a Fake Baba (Godman) called 'Sarathi
Baba.' However, the obsession that is now visible in this connection for the
last few days forces me to write a few lines. Sorry, it may be a longer post
than usual.
How it all
began? A self styled God Man was caught in CCTV of a Hyderabad hotel in an
unusual attire. He was wearing a jeans, a shirt and a sun glass unlike his
'Baba avataar attire' that people (his followers) are accustomed to see him in.
One particular TV channel got the images and it became a 'sensational news'
running almost 24x7. The channel claimed it investigated and found out that the
Baba had checked in the hotel with a girl whom he claimed his wife. The hotel
bills were also obtained which showed that the Baba supposedly drank foreign
brand liquors, chicken and all that he is not known for in his public life.
The news
spread like communal riot from one channel to almost all just in a day. People
started protesting on streets, in front of the Baba's ashsams, in social media
and in all possible places. Activists were seen spitting on car of an office
bearer of Baba's organisation who was in Bhubaneswar to do a press meet,
facebook and whatsapp got loaded with N number of photohopped images of Baba in
different positions: sometimes holding a girl on his lap, sometimes with the
girl who was seen with Baba in that Hyderabad hotel and all kinds of derogatory
slogans/messages written over them. The protests have taken political colours
and the police action against advocates, workers of political parties and
protesting common people have been inhuman and illegal.
People have
come up with several theories to establish the Baba's link with the ruling BJD,
the local SP's (Superintendent of Police) involvement in extracting money from
the Baba to protect him against all his illicit activities, so on and so forth.
Media investigations have claimed that the Baba has been involved in chit fund,
in illegally holding property, having black money and all that one can
attribute to such dhongi (hypocrite) people.
The Baba it
seems has been arrested last night owing to public pressure. The media is still
abuzz with Baba news and several important news are now hiding from the screens
and papers. Of course, we are now used to this phenomenon.
Now let's
try to dissect this media and public trial with some logic. At the first
instance, as far as my knowledge goes, any citizen of India can go in any
presentable attire and stay in a hotel by paying the charges. Baba did that. I
don't know what made the girl to accompany him to stay there but am deeply
saddened by the way the girl's name and photographs have been used in both
mainstream and social media. It is out and out derogatory and abuses her right
to life and privacy.
Some media
houses are claiming to have unearthed a great evidence by showing that they
have obtained flight tickets that confirms Baba in fact flew to Hyderabad with
the girl. What a great Khulasha (discovery) that!!! But they forget that the
Baba has every right to buy a ticket and fly in an airplane.
Now coming
back to the girl. Are we raising legal issues about her being seen with the
Baba or we are just behaving like moral police? Let me make it simple. At the
first instance, did the girl raise a complain that she was abducted,
hypnotized, forced into a sexual relationship or anything of that sort? What
she says now(post this episode) in defense or to avoid being harassed by such
trials is a different issue. Initially, as it is seen, she had no complaints.
And she is no minor either, as we can see from media reports.
So, legally
in this case, Baba has not committed any crime. At least I believe so. However,
the issue is about faith. The Baba has played with sentiments of lakhs of his
followers for sure. But who follows such Babas? The fools!
The
agitation and obsessed media activism has made another khulasha about the Baba.
He has been involved in many illegal activities including perhaps chit fund
scams. But do we believe the authorities did not know about it? All such
illegal dens of our God Men are well protected by the authorities (throughout
the country). The chit fund scams flourished due to fool investors and because
the scamsters got protection from the govt. authorities including police. But
we keep silent until some such incidence happens. In fact many so called
intellectuals maintain a criminal silence even as such frauds flourish in their
neighborhood for years. So the media trial has a positive angle.
One good
thing this episode has done is to bring the Baba's illicit doings under
scanner, for the moment though. All the complaints against him, that were
conveniently ignored and suppressed by the govt., may get a new lease of life
post this episode of khulasha. However, will it be the end of road for such
Dhongi Babas and to the foolishness called 'blind faith.' A big NO!
I only feel
sorry for the way the girl has been treated...
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan Panda
No comments:
Post a Comment