Satpal seeks divine intervention

Harish Chandola
The Hindustan Times
September 11, 1999

Satpal seeks divine intervention
Joshimath, September 10

IN THE Darkness of night, sounds of “kirtans” (hymns in praise of Gods) can be heard coming from a hill.

You can be sure that it is a party of Satpal Maharaj’s disciples leading people in the singing of these kirtans. Satpal Maharaj is the Congress candidate from Garhwal parliamentary constituency. He is using this novel way of reaching village voters of this almost entirely Hindu constituency. The small Muslim votebank is limited to the towns.

Satpal Maharaj is a respected religious leader. His kirtan parties visit villages in the evening. Everyone gathers in a house and Satpal Maharaj’s disciples lead them in singing songs in praise of deities that are revered in these mountains. After hours of singing, at the end of the session, the disciples remind the congregation that Satpal Maharaj is standing for election and people vote according to their conscience.

This correspondent travelled to several villages accessible through steep and narrow paths. These include Karchyun, Tugasi, Upper Raini, Lata and Subayin.

They had all been visited by Satpal Maharaj’s kirtan parties.

The BJP, renowned for its religious fervour, has in the election become a totally political organisation. It is engaged in combating the popular charge that the government it had headed failed to create a separate hill state. Its leaders had assured the people that they would do so within three months of coming to power.

To retain this seat, the BJP is asserting that it alone can create a hill state. There are few takers for this. Its candidate is retired Major General B.C. Khanduri.

For the hill people, Uttarakhand is not the issue in this election. This is because by now they know that no political party at the national level is sincere in its creation. A hill state however continues to be an issue for the leaders seeking votes. For the people, there are other important issues. Like their children going to schools with no teachers, rehabilitation of last year’s landslide and this year’s earthquake victims, failure of crops, unemployment etc.

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.