A Report On Dera Sacha Sauda

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A Report on Dera Sacha Sauda - Exclusive News

By Sikh Information Centre

Jun 23, 2007 - 9:35:11 PM

Since mid-May, Punjab has been torn by violence inspired by the spiritual organization Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS).

Dera Sacha Sauda

The DSS is based in the town of Sirsa, in Haryana, India, which borders the Indian state of Punjab. It terms itself a "non-profit spiritual organization" and claims to have over 10 million followers, and 36 branches in 11 States, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It was founded in 1948, and is currently headed by Gurmeet Singh (also know as "Maharaj"). The organization purports to be non-profit and to refuse donations. However, it has many followers who work the fields of its ashrams, with the income from the produce of the fields going to the organization. This income likely funds Gurmeet Singh's preferred mode of transportation, which is "a fleet of Mercedes cars, protected by up to 25 bodyguards."

Attack on Sikhi

Approximately two weeks ago, DSS printed an advertisement featuring Gurmeet Singh. This advertisement, coupled with other activities of DSS, demonstrate a deliberate and extremely offensive attempt to copy Sikhi. Specifically, it attempts to copy the creation of "Khalsa," the orthodox manner of Sikhi instituted by the tenth and final Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh. It does this in several ways.

First, Gurmeet Singh appears dressed in the style of Guru Gobind and seated in "Bir Asaan," the style of seating used by Guru Gobind during the creation of Khalsa. This seating style is still used during Amrit Sanskar, the ceremony in which a Sikh is initiated into Khalsa. According to Jagtar Singh of the Sikh Federation, "Impersonating a Sikh guru always runs the risk of outraging even the most moderate of Sikhs."

Second, Gurmeet Singh is portrayed distributing Jaam-e-Insaan, an attempted copy of the Amrit (or nectar) used in Amrit Sanskar. Amrit Sanskar is a vital ceremony in Sikhi. This is when a Sikh is publicly baptized into pure Sikhi and takes the surname "Singh" (or "lion") to denote equality with others in the community. This distribution of Jaam-e-Insaan is also a copy of Khande di Pahul, where nectar is prepared. According to Sikhi, since Guru Gobind only "Panj Pyaras" have the authority to prepare Amrit, which they must do in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book)while following a prescribed method.

Third, Gurmeet Singh includes a list of "Rules for Humanity" in his advertisement. This is an undeniable attempt to copy the "Rahatnamas" (or "Codes of Conduct") of Sikhi which were instituted by Guru Gobind. While Gurmeet Singh's list of rules are all very similar to those in Sikhi, what is most offensive is his attempt to copy Guru Gobind by issuing such a list.

Fourth, Gurmeet Singh ordered his followers to adopt the name "Insaan" (or "human"), in a copy of Guru Gobind's admonition to adopt the name "Singh" (or "Kaur" for women) after Amrit Sanskar. Thus Gurmeet Singh has attempted to copy the unique creation of Khalsa by creating Insaan.

DSS has also attempted to copy and offend Sikhs and even other religious groups in several other ways not included in the recent advertisement. Just as Guru Gobind taught the importance of "Panj" (or "five"), so Gurmeet Singh has copied this concept by using "Sat" (or "Seven"). Dr. Adyita Insaan, the spokesman of DSS, has equated Gurmeet Singh to Sikh Gurus Gobind Singh and Har Krishan, as well as to Ramachandra, a Hindu god. Additionally, DSS deceptively uses the symbols of the four main religions in India to attract followers: the Sikh Ek Onkar, the Muslim Star and Crescent, the Hindu Om, and the Christian Cross.

In summary, DSS has created an amalgam religion which primarily attempts to copy Sikhi and is offensive to Sikhs and those of many other religions. Under Indian law, this deliberate offense is illegal. Indian Penal Code 295a reads: "Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of [citizens of India], [by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise], insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to [three years], or with fine, or with both.]"

Other Criminal Activities

In a December, 2002 letter to then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a female member of DSS accused Gurmeet Singh of sexually exploiting his "Sadhvis," or female followers. The anonymous author of the letter, whose family urged her to become a "Sadhvi," says:

"Two years after I became a 'Sadhvi', a special woman-disciple of Maharaj Gurmit Singh came to me one night at 10 o'clock and said that the Maharaj had summoned me to his room. I felt elated that Maharaj himself sent for me. I was going to him for the first time. After climbing the stairs, when I went into his room, I saw that he was holding a remote in his hand and was watching a blue [pornographic] film on the TV. Beside his pillow on the bed, lay a revolver.... He offered me water and said that he had called me because he considered me very close to him. This was my first experience. Maharaj took me in his embrace and said that he loved me from the core of his heart. He also said that he wanted to make love with me. He told me that at the time of becoming his disciple, I had dedicated my wealth, body and soul to him and he had accepted my offering. When I objected he said, 'There is no doubt that I am God.'"

Gurmeet Singh then blackmailed the "Sadhvi" into having sex with him by threatening to kill her and her family. She claims that many other Sadhvis are regularly raped by Gurmeet Singh, saying that her time comes "every 25-30 days." She says other Sadhvis who have tried to reveal their sexual exploitation have been threatened, beaten, and even maimed. This letter inspired an investigation of the DSS by India's central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

On October 24, 2003 two men riding a motorcycle and claiming to be from DSS shot journalist Ram Chandra Chatrapati four times at point-blank range. Chatrapati was the editor of "Poora Sach" and had been investigating the recent charges of sexual exploitation by Gurmeet Singh. He died of his injuries a month later. Two men arrested on suspicion of Chatrapati's murder said they were DSS followers and had been sent on orders from Kishan Li, a senior DSS official, to kill Chatrapati because of his investigations.

Sirsa District Deputy Commissioner D. Suresh says his office has also received multiple complaints about the Sirsa-based DSS allegedly being involved in the theft of land, drug distribution, and tax evasion.

After the mid-May 2007 publication of the offensive DSS advertisement, many Sikhs in Punjab protested Gurmeet Singh's attempted copy of Guru Gobind. DSS followers retaliated, assaulting many Sikhs and injuring many of the police trying to calm the situation. Over 100 people were injured by DSS followers, many of them police. They also attacked fire personnel, set a police jeep on fire, and attacked a deputy commissioner's residence. Worst of all, Kamaljit Singh, a Sikh, was killed on May 17th by a bullet fired from inside a Sunam, Punjab DSS compound.

Conclusion

The son of murdered journalist Chatrapati, Anshul Chatrapati, has alleged that members of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) have urged Sonia Gandhi, president of the Indian Congress, to influence the CBI probe into DSS in favor of Gurmeet Singh out of respect for his strong support of the Congress in the recent elections. The recent transfer of the DSS case from CBI officer Dr. Armandeep Singh to Satish Dagger, which Anshul Chatrapati believes is an indication of government tampering in the ongoing investigation. He believes the PPCC entered into a deal with Gurmeet Singh prior to the elections in which the Congress would overlook his criminal activities if he urged his followers to support the Congress.

This government interference in an objective investigation, coupled with the refusal to prosecute Gurmeet Singh under IPC 295a, places a large part of the blame for the DSS-inspired chaos in northern India on the shoulders of the Indian Government.

India must diligently pursue the thorough investigation of Gurmeet Singh and his criminal activities. Additionally, India must charge Gurmeet Singh under IPC 295a in order to achieve both justice and peace in northern India.

Source: Sikh Information Centre