There are 10 newspaper articles about Prem Rawat posted here from 1971 when Rawat was 14 years old. Regional newspapers were not above altering wire service stories for effect, compare the Mansfield News journal and the Sunday Gleaner Magazine approaches. It was also printed in the Winnipeg Free Press as 'I Was A Teenage Guru'.
In this syndicated humorous column we see the style of the original US premie press releases. The premies soon realised that openly stating the "truth" about their guru would only raise derision and criticism and so began the attempts at image creation and deceit.
Prem Rawat attended a Catholic Boys' School so it's quite understandable that he has never had a Protestant work-ethic. Even in 1971 he was cancelling appearances but it's not as if he was greatly missed nor that his appearances were attracting much attention.
In 1971 there were as many articles about and advertisements for Swami Guru Devendra Maharaj as mentions of the 13 year old Guru Maharaj Ji.
Prem Rawat's "Knowledge" has three parts: regularly listening to his speeches, doing voluntary work for organisations serving him or donating money and daily meditation correctly practicing the four techniques he recommends. The techniques are so simple it's hard to see how they could be practiced incorrectly. First technique ("Divine Light") involves sticking your thumb and middle finger on your eyeballs (NB: with eyes closed) and your index finger between your eyebrows. Second technique: ("Heavenly Music") poking your thumbs into your ears and listening. Third technique: ("Holy Name") thinking about your breathing (NB: continue to breathe). Fourth technique: ("Nectar") curling your tongue backwards and tasting. Rawat's father taught slightly different techniques but either way it's difficult to see how these could produce the benefits claimed for them especially as Rawat claims His Knowledge is the only method of attaining real happiness and love in this life.