Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is an Indian social reformer, preacher, spiritual leader, and actor. He has been the head of the India-based socio-spiritual organisation Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) since 23 September 1990.^[1] DSS oversees several social programmes, such as a cleanliness campaign, blood drives, tree planting, disaster relief, and support for transgender people, tribal communities, orphans, and rehabilitation of sex workers.^[2]

Early life

Ram Rahim was born to Naseeb Kaur and Maghar Singh on 15 August 1967, at Gurusar Modia village in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan.^[3] He was born in a Jat Sikh Sidhu family.^[4]

On 23 September 1990, Shah Satnam held a satsang where he publicly conferred sainthood and succession of the spiritual leadership upon Gurmeet Ram Rahim. He is married and has three children. One of his sons is married to the daughter of Harminder Singh Jassi, a former Indian National Congress MLA from Bathinda.^[5]

Political influence

Because of his following, he has been described as being politically influential.^[6][7][8][9] In 2014 Haryana polls, His organisation supported Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its work. BJP won in polls first time in Haryana.^[10] In February 2015, his organisation openly supported BJP in Delhi elections, saying that he has over 20 Lakh followers in Delhi.^[11][12][13]

In a case where the Dera's followers were accused of being suicide attackers, the Dera has stated publicly that it was being targeted by vested political groups that were conspiring to defame it.^[14][15] The organisation has demanded a judicial probe into the allegations.^{[16][17] [18]}

Social work

Ram Rahim has organised drives for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol screening that have been recognized by Guinness.^[19][20][21] In association with the American Society of Echocardiography, he also organized the world record for "Most Cardiac Echo Tests".^[22][23] On 21 September 2011 in New Delhi, Ram Rahim initiated a series of sanitation drives. He also pledged his support to the Central Government's campaign.^[24] On 28 Oct 2014 he inaugurated the cleanliness drive "Ho Prithvi Saaf, Mitey Rog Abhishaap" along about five lacs volunteers who responded. As of 2011, about 28 Mega Cleanliness Campaigns have been conducted in several states of India.^[25] On 22 May 2012 Ram Rahim laid the foundation of the Shah Satnam ji Super Speciality Hospital at Sirsa. He established a specialised disaster relief and welfare agency called Shah Satnam Ji Green S Welfare Force Wing in 2001. Especially in the aftermath of the Odisha cyclone and Gujarat earthquake.^{[26][27][28][29][30]}

Music

Ram Rahim's music has been published by Universal Music.^[31][32] He has written, composed and performed in his music videos which forms a genre described as "Religious Rock". He has released 6 music albums including Network Tere Love Ka.^[33] and Highway Love Charger. He has performed at over a hundred rock shows.^[34]

Films

Ram Rahim has acted in the films MSG: The Messenger which was released worldwide on 13 February 2015. According to the producers, the movie deals with youth-related issues like drug abuse. The film has seven songs and it was released in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and English.^[35] The film received negative reviews from critics.^[36][37]

A sequel, MSG-2 The Messenger, was released 1 October 2015.

Criminal accusation

CBI is investigating cases of forced castration ,Rape and Murder against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.^[38][39]

Conflict with Sikh groups

In May 2007 he was accused of hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikhs by wearing, in an advertisement, an attire, resembling the tenth and final Sikh Guru Gobind Singh^[40]His followers also organised a demonstration against their alleged persecution at the hands of some religious organisations.^[41][42] Ram Rahim was attacked by a mob on 16 July 2007, but escaped unhurt.^[43] The Dera Sacha Sauda tendered multiple apologies, regretting confusion over the dress, and stated that it had high regard for all Sikh Gurus, Sikh religion and the entire humankind.^[44] A multi religion delegation approached the apex Sikh organisation to accept the apology .^[45] Though the Akal Takht didn't use the word "rejected" — they maintained that the apology was inadequate on several counts.^[46]

A criminal case filed against him, for hurting the Sikh sentiments, was dismissed by the Sirsa court in 2009.^[17] Counter-terrorism expert Ajai Sahni has stated that the tensions between the Sikh community and the Dera have been exploited by the pro-Khalistan elements. He has further quoted Indian military intelligence that Iknoor Khalsa Fauj, Khalistan Zindabad Force and Khalistan Commando Force have attempted to eliminate him.^[18]

On 2 February 2008, Ram Rahim's cavalcade was attacked with explosives, injuring 11 persons.^[47] A Khalistan Liberation Force member was later arrested for the attack who confessed to arranging explosives for the attack on the Dera chief and also executing the plan along with his associates.^[48][49] After that, Ram Rahim was protected with Z+ security cover by Government of India.^[50]

On 20 June 2008, a group of Sikhs shouted anti-Dera slogans during Gurmeet Ram Rahim's visit to the Nirmal Lifestyles mall in Mumbai. The situation developed into an altercation between the protestors and the Dera followers, and one of the Sikh protestors was killed.^[51] This led to further protests from Sikhs in Mumbai and Punjab.^[52]

On 27 September 2015 the Akal Takht accepted his apology and pardoned him, but on observing widespread resentment and protest among Sikhs regarding his pardon, the organisation revoked the pardon on 16 October.^[53]

See also

• Ashutosh (spiritual leader)

References

External links

• Official website

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