Asaram

Asaram
Image of Asaram
Born (1941-04-17) 17 April 1941[1]
Berani, British India
Nationality Indian
Citizenship Indian
Organization Shree Yog Vedanta Sewa Samiti
Criminal charge Rape, Murder
Criminal penalty Life imprisonment
Criminal status In Prison
Children Narayan Prem Sai (Son)
Conviction(s) Rape, 2018
Capture status
 Arrested
Partner(s) Narayan Sai
Date apprehended
 1 September 2013
Imprisoned at Central jail, Jodhpur

Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani, known as Asaram Bapu by his followers, is a religious leader (Godman) in India.[2] Starting to come in the limelight in the early 1970s, he gradually established over 400 ashrams in India and abroad and was popular among politicians and common people for his religious discourses (pravachan).[1] In 2018, Asaram was found guilty of rape of a minor girl and is currently serving life imprisonment for the sexual assault in Jodhpur.[3][4][5]

He was mentioned in a list of fake sadhus released by Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, the apex organisation of Hindu Sants (saints) and Sadhus (ascetics) in India.[6]

Early life and family

Asaram was born on 17 April 1941, in the Berani village of the Nawabshah District in British India (Present-day Berani Town is located in Jam Nawaz Ali Tehsil of Sanghar district Sindh Pakistan), to Menhgiba and Thaumal Sirumalani.[7] His birthname was Asumal Thaumal Harpalani[8][9] or Asumal Sirumalani.[10][11]

Following the partition of India in 1947, he and his family moved to Ahmedabad, then part of the former Bombay State in India, now Gujarat, leaving behind their immovable assets in Sindh. The family moved to Ahmedabad, where Asaram's father founded a coal and wood selling business.[1] Asaram ran this business for a short time after his father's death.[12]

According to Sant Asaram Bapuji ki Jeevan Jhanki, an autobiography published by his ashram, Asaram received his formal education at Jai Hind High School, up-till class III, when his father died. He had a series of escapades to ashrams which started with running away to an ashram in Bharuch at the age of 15, eight days before his scheduled wedding to Laxmi Devi, which though finally happened.[11] The book also mentions Lilashah as the spiritual guru, who accepted him as her disciple and named him Asaram on 7 October 1964, in one of his escapades.[11]

Sources have described him to be involved in a variety of professions ranging from selling liquors[8] and tea[10] to repairing cycles[9], prior to his establishment as a religious leader.

Asaram and Laxmi Devi have two children, son Narayan Sai and daughter Bharti Devi. Their son Narayan Sai works with Asaram and is also mentioned in the Akhada's List of fake religious leaders.[13][2] Sai is also imprisoned in the same prison awaiting trial.[14]

Activities

Ashrams

According to Sant Asaram Bapuji ki Jeevan Jhanki, Asaram returned to Ahmedabad on 8 July 1971. On 29 January 1972, he built a hut at Motera, then a village on the banks of the Sabarmati.[11] Although his official biography doesn't mention it, Asaram also lived in Motera's Sadashiv Ashram for two years, before setting up his own hut adjacent to it.[15] He converted his hutment into an ashram in 1973, starting with 5–10 followers. In 1981 and 1992, the Indian National Congress-led state government allotted the ashram 14,515 m2 land. In 1997 and 1999, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government allotted it 25,000 m2 for expansion.[11] Asaram had few followers in the beginning, but the numbers increased as local politicians became his devotees.[16] By 2013, Asaram had 400 major and minor ashrams in India and abroad, with numerous followers.[16]

Teachings

Asaram has organized spiritual discourses all over India, whence his disciples are accorded diksha (initiation by a guru) by him. Around 20,000 students visited his satsang in Ahmedabad in December 2001.[17][18][19]

Parents' Worship Day

Asaram's Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti (YVSS), organizes a Matri Pitri Poojan Divas ("mother-father worship day") on 14 February, as a form of protest against Valentine's Day, which is supposedly symbolic of a Western cultural invasion.[20][21][22] Asaram's proposal was supported by many prominent Indian politicians including union ministers and President Pranab Mukherjee.[23]

In 2015, the Government of the Chhattisgarh state institutionalized the practice, and directed all schools to observe Matru-Pitru Diwas ("mother-father day") every year on 14 February.[24]

Controversies

Land Encroachment

A number of Asaram's ashrams have faced legal challenges, on grounds of illegal encroachment. Multiple state governments has razed ashrams to reclaim lands, that was illegally encroached upon including by forgery of documents.[11][25][15][11]There have been multiple pending cases and investigations into Asaram's Samitis for reasons of illegal encroachment.[26]

Gurukul Deaths

By 2008, 40 of Asaram's ashrams had gurukuls (residential schools) attached to them. The death of four boys at two of these Ashrams in 2008 led to allegations of black magic being practiced there.[11]

On 3 July 2008, two boys went missing from Asaram's residential school (gurukul) in Motera (Gujarat).[16] On 5 July 2013, the boys' mutilated bodies were found on the banks of the Sabarmati river near the Ashram. The parents alleged that the police harassed them and refused to register a complaint against Asaram or the ashram administration.[16] The incident led to public agitations, with allegations that the boys had been sacrificed by Asaram and his followers for black magic.[27]

A CID probe, ordered on the behest of the High Court of Gujarat rejected the claims of practice of black magic.[28]

The Narendra Modi-led Gujarat state government set up the Justice D.K. Trivedi Commission to probe the deaths in the Motera ashram.[29] In 2009, Asaram's followers organized a rally, protesting against their alleged harassment by the Gujarat police. The protest turned violent, and over 200 supporters of Asaram were arrested after they attacked and injured 20 policemen.[30]

According to the CID report, no evidence of black magic practice was found in Asaram Bapu Ashram.[31]

Delhi gang rape comments

In January 2013, while addressing a gathering of his followers, Asaram reportedly said that the victim of the 2012 Delhi gang rape was as guilty as her rapists: "The victim is as guilty as her rapists… She should have called the culprits brothers and begged before them to stop… This could have saved her dignity and life. Can one hand clap? I don't think so."[32] He also reportedly opinionated against harsher punishments for the accused in the Delhi rape victim case, as he felt that the law had the potential to be misused.[33][34]

The comments were widely criticized.[35]

Asaram denied the accusations and stated that his statement had been distorted and misrepresented.[36]

Jodhpur rape conviction and imprisonment

In August 2013, a 16-year-old girl accused Asaram of sexually assaulting her on the night of 15 August at his Manai ashram in Jodhpur on the pretext of exorcising her from evil spirits, though ashram inmates called such molestations "samarpan".[37][38] The girl's parents, who were disciples of Asaram, filed a complaint with the police in Delhi, and a case was registered after the medical examination of the girl confirmed sexual assault.[39] The issue was discussed in Indian Parliament and a strict action was demanded.[38]

When Asaram did not appear for interrogation by 31 August, Delhi Police booked him under multiple non-bailable sections of IPC.[40] Asaram remained inside one of his ashram(s) in Indore and avoided arrest while clashes broke out between his disciples and the journalists and policemen.[41] Eventually, the Jodhpur police arrested him on 1 September 2013 from his ashram,[37][42] and flew him to Jodhpur, where he is imprisoned.[43]

Asaram has dismissed the girl's allegations[44][45]and went on to claim impotency as an alibi, which was subsequently rejected after he passed the Potency test.[46][47] He has since been in jail and has been denied bail 12 times.[48][49][50][51] He was charged under Sections 342, 376, 506 and 509 of the IPC, as well as under Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act.[43] The family of the victim alleged of receiveing threats from Asaram’s followers to drop the charges against him.[43]

On 25 April 2018, Asaram was pronounced guilty of the rape charges and imprisoned for life with a fine of ₹5 Lakh to be paid to the victim.[51] Two of his associates were awarded 20 years imprisonment.[52][53][54] Asaram Bapu and other co-accused have appealed in the High Court against conviction[55]. On 29th September 2018, Rajasthan High Court suspended the sentence of one of the co-accused Shilpi.[56]

Surat rape case

In December 2013, Asaram's son Narayan Sai was also arrested on charges of rape, after two sisters from Surat alleged that he and his father had raped them in Asaram's ashram during the mid-2000s.[57] The elder sister accused Asaram of repeated sexual assaults during 1997–2006 at the Motera ashram. The younger sister accused Narayan Sai of sexually assaulting her during 2002–2005 at the Surat ashram. One of the sisters also alleged that Asaram's wife and daughter helped the two men exploit the girls.[58]. The trial in this case is currently in progress.[59]

Attacks against witnesses

From 2014–15, there have been numerous attacks against various witnesses in the Asaram case.[15][60][61][62][63][64] Amrut Prajapati, a former aide of Asaram, who had turned against him, was shot and killed on 23 May 2014, after multiple prior attempts.[11][16][65][66][67] Another former associate Akhil Gupta who was the prime witness in the Surat rape case, was shot and killed on 11 January 2015.[68][69][70] Mahindra Chawla, hix ex-follower and prime witness in Surat rape case narrowly missed an attempted murder.[59]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Coal-seller Harpalani turned Asaram 'bapu' faces new allegations". Daily Bhaskar. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Asaram, Ram Rahim, Rampal: The 14 fake babas put on boycott list". Hindustan Times, New Delhi. HT Correspondent. 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Self-styled godman Asaram found guilty of rape of teenager in 2013 - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  4. ↑ Desk, The Hindu Net (25 April 2018). "Live | Asaram convicted for raping minor girl". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Asaram Bapu verdict live updates : Godman along with two co- accused found guilty by Jodhpur Court". The Economic Times. 25 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Apex body of sadhus releases 2nd list of fake godmen - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "Asaram worked at a tea stall before he became a 'godman'". IBNLive. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Controversial godman: Can Asaram come clean on the rape allegations?". Hindustan Times. 29 August 2013. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  9. 1 2 "The Politics of Sex". India Today. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  10. 1 2 Preeti Panwar. "Asaram Bapu's life journey from a tea seller to the spiritual guru". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Exclusive: The rise and fall of the guru". indianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "How much are Asaram's assets worth?". Yahoo News India. 2 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Asaram, Son Asked To Appear Before Commission By June 6". IndiaTV. 8 May 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2005.
  14. ↑ "Who is Asaram, the preacher who built an empire of ₹10,000 crore". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 "The saint and his taint". Tehelka.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Dark Side of Asaram Bapu". OPEN Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  17. ↑ "Students throng at Asaram Bapu's discourse". The Times Of India. 2 December 2001. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2001.
  18. ↑ "Many to take 'diksha' today". The Times Of India. 8 May 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2005. Many to take 'diksha' today
  19. ↑ "Spiritual leader Asaram Bapu survives chopper crash". The Times of India. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "Indianisation of Valentine's Day". New Indian Express. 15 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  21. ↑ "Worship parents on Valentine's Day, says Asaram Bapu". India Today. 29 January 2012. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  22. ↑ Day, Parents Worship (29 January 2012). "Worship parents on Valentine's Day, says Asaram Bapu". India Today. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  23. ↑ Prerna Koul Mishra (22 August 2013). "Commoner vs Asaram: Her word against the 'Gospel'!". India Today. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  24. ↑ "It's official: Chhattisgarh renames V-Day as 'Matru-Pitru Diwas'". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  25. ↑ "Asaram ashram encroachment demolished in Gujarat". Thaindian News. 27 November 2010. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  26. ↑ "Asaram Bapu's prosecution sought for Rs 700cr land grab". Times Of India. 17 January 2013. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  27. ↑ "Deaths in Ashram: No evidence of black magic, says lawyer". indianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  28. ↑ "No evidence of black magic practice in Asaram ashram: CID | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  29. ↑ "Parents of boys demand CBI probe". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  30. ↑ "Asaram supporters thrash cops, 203 booked for rioting". dna. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  31. ↑ "CID finds no proof of black magic in Asaram ashram". The Indian Express. 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  32. ↑ "Asaram Bapu holds girl responsible for Delhi gangrape, says 'spare' the rapists, slams media". The Indian Express. New Delhi. ANI. 8 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  33. ↑ "Delhi gangrape victim as guilty as rapists: Asaram Bapu". FirstPost. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  34. ↑ "Asaram Bapu adds to shame, says victim at fault too". Hindustan Times. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  35. ↑ "Asaram says rape victim should have 'begged', draws flak". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  36. ↑ "Delhi gang rape: Asaram Bapu denies 'controversial' comment". India News. 8 January 2013. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  37. 1 2 "Asaram Bapu brought to Jodhpur after late night arrest". NDTV. 1 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  38. 1 2 "After rape, Asaram Bapu threatened me to keep quiet, says girl". Financial Express. 26 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  39. ↑ "Asaram Bapu rape case: Medical test confirms sexual assault of victim". India Today. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  40. ↑ "FIR registered by victim against Asaram Bapu reveals a horrific tale of sexual assault". intoday.in. Archived from the original on 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  41. ↑ Singh, Mahim Pratap (31 August 2013). "Asaram supporters attack on journalists condemned". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  42. ↑ "Indian guru Asaram Bapu arrested over rape claims". 1 September 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  43. 1 2 3 "Asaram Bapu, Two Others Convicted of Raping Minor Girl". The Wire. 25 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  44. ↑ "Bakwaas: Asaram Bapu's response to charges that he threatened teen girl". NDTV. 27 August 2013. Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  45. ↑ "Sonia & Rahul running a campaign against me, says Asaram Bapu". Deccan Chronicle. 29 August 2013. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  46. ↑ "Asaram cleared potency test without any drugs". Archived from the original on 6 September 2013.
  47. ↑ "Asaram tells police he is impotent, potency test says he has active libido". intoday.in. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  48. ↑ "Asaram's son Narayan Sai gets temporary bail". rediff.com. 25 May 2015. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  49. ↑ "SC rejects jailed godman Asaram Bapu's bail plea - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  50. ↑ "SC refuses to grant bail to Asaram Bapu, orders lodging of fresh FIR - Times of India ►". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  51. 1 2 "Self-styled godman Asaram sentenced to be in jail until death for raping minor girl". The Hindu. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  52. ↑ "Self-styled godman Asaram found guilty of rape of teenager in 2013 - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  53. ↑ Desk, The Hindu Net (25 April 2018). "Live | Asaram convicted for raping minor girl". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  54. ↑ "Asaram Bapu verdict live updates : Godman along with two co- accused found guilty by Jodhpur Court". The Economic Times. 25 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  55. ↑ "Asaram cites 'trial by media' in rape conviction, files appeal against life term". hindustantimes. 2018-07-03. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  56. ↑ "Asaram Bapu rape case: Rajasthan HC suspends sentence of co-accused, grants her bail". dna. 2018-09-29. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  57. ↑ "Asaram's son Narayan Sai arrested, Gujarat Police get one-day remand". Zee News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  58. ↑ "Police arrest Asaram Bapu's wife, daughter; release them". dna. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  59. 1 2 "I fear for my life, says prime witness in rape cases against Asaram, Narayan Sai". India Today. 25 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  60. ↑ "Husband of woman who accused Narayan Sai of rape attacked". www.oneindia.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  61. ↑ "Witness in Asaram rape case attacked". The Indian Express. 12 March 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  62. ↑ "Five held for attack on witnesses in rape cases against Asaram, Sai". The Indian Express. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  63. ↑ "Guard left, 6th Asaram case witness attacked". The Indian Express. 14 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  64. ↑ "Another Asaram Bapu case witness shot at, seventh attack till now". The Indian Express. 11 July 2015. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  65. ↑ "Amrut Prajapati, witness against Asaram, succumbs to bullet wounds". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  66. ↑ "'Vanzara protected Asaram like a wall'". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  67. ↑ "'Asaram is alive because of my husband, my husband is dead because of him'". The Indian Express. 24 June 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  68. ↑ "Asaram case: 5 things to know about Akhil Gupta who was shot dead". Archived from the original on 10 August 2015.
  69. ↑ "Looking at all possible angles, not ruling out Asaram link to 'well-planned' murder: police". The Indian Express. 14 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  70. ↑ "Outrage as SECOND key witness in Asaram Bapu's rape trial is shot dead". Mail Online. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
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