Poisoning Occurring At Spiritual Guru’s Event Sparks Debate Over ‘Godmen’ Phenomenon

A deadly crowd crush at an Indian spiritual guru's event killed 121 people, mostly women. The incident highlights the controversial 'godmen' culture in India, where self-styled spiritual leaders command devoted followings, raising questions about safety and exploitation.

At least 121 people were killed and many others injured in a stampede at a religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh in India recently, raising concerns over the so-called ‘godmen’ in the country. The event took place last week by Bhole Baba, a self-proclaimed godman considered to be a deity by millions of his followers.

Ten of thousands of people, mainly young, low-caste women, had come to listen to Bhole Baba and take the soil that he had tread on, as it was considered to have a magical power. This is where the crush occurred, many people fainted and fell on the muddy field and some of the victims fell into a sewerage pit.

This tragedy has once again brought into focus India’s spiritual guru business that has become a multi crore business where gurus are followed blindly and their followers bestow their hard earned money on them without thinking twice. While there are numerous cases of godmen who are involved in charity works, there are other cases that have landed them in serious criminal cases such as fraud, murder and rape.

Scholars argue that the reason for such a following of these spiritual leaders is that they receive immense support from the lower castes of India who are socially excluded from the structures of Hinduism. K. Kalyani, a sociology professor at Azim Premji University, argues that the caste system is ‘‘stiff’’ and that is why godmen are abundant in India.

Its detractors claim that some godmen manipulate their devotees and have improper relationships with the authorities. But those who believe in it are not ready to let go of the tradition; for instance, Sheetal Jatav, who barely escaped the recent tragedy of being trampled to death. ‘’He chants good words and desires all of us to perform good acts, we reach there and get a sense of calmness about the place’’, she said of Bhole Baba.

Also Read: Hathras: Sad Demise of the Holi Festival Sheds Light on the Dark Side of India’s ‘Godmen’ Business

While authorities continue to probe the organisers for alleged negligence, concerns arise over the responsibility of the spiritual gurus and the risks of large religious gatherings in India.