Putting the fear of the law in India’s fake “godman”

[Guest guest]

Mumbai : In tradition bound India, if someone claims to be able to

exorcise ghosts, levitate or pull a gold chain out of thin air, it

does not take long for him to become known as "godman".

 

While many godmen are not confidence tricksters, there are numerous

so-called "Miracles Babas" who are just out to get rich by

duping as

many people as fast as they can.

 

But Mumbai police are cracking down on the chariatans and have called

for the help of group known as the All India Committee to Eradicate

Superstitions and Blind Faith, to convince people special power is

more often than not sleight of hand or illusion.

 

"The Campaign is meant to be an eye-opener. We want to put a

complete

stop to those posing as godmen. They are involved in outright

cheating and violent acts." Joint commissioner of police for

crime in

Mumbai, S.S. Vagal said.

 

Vagal said the campaign, which includes public meetings and

television programmes, had begun to show results.

 

"Certainly, we have been able to make an impact. Several people

have

voluntarily made complaints and we have nabbed at least 25 of the

fake godmen" he said.

 

Activists say the "Miracle Babas" come to India's

commercial hub from

poorer parts of the country seeking their fortune by exploiting

people's insecurities.

 

"Its easy money – without any investment. As long as fear

exists

among people such godmen will thrive," Said Narendra Bhabolkar,

founder of the 20 year old committee that seeks to expose the

tricksters.

 

A committee worker at a public gathering shows how a gold chain that

looked as if it had been plucked out of the air had actually been

tucked up a sleeve.

 

"It's simple. If you want people to bow down at you then you

perform

a trick," said well-known magician Anand Tayade, who is helping

with

the campaign against fraud.

 

"There's no such thing as performing miracles on this earth.

These

Godmen are unliked learned saints who renounce worldly life, give

sermons and induce a feeling of positive energy. They are out to

cheat gullible people to make money," Tayade said.

 

Many godmen call themselves "Tantriks" – those who follow

the

esoteric Hindu and Buddhist traditions of ritual and yoga.

 

In another demonstration, a man is clad in saffron robes and a false

beard and seems to sit suspended in mid-air without any support but

for a hand resting on a pole.

 

But a superstition-busting activists tells the hushed crowd of more

than 100 people that that long garment actually hides a wooden seat

fixed to the pole.

 

Godmen claim to be able to perform miracles and solve just about any

problem under the sun – from helping jilted lovers, or people

with

marriage and sexual problems, to those with job worries.

 

"It's the environment one grows up in that's usually

responsible

while others are looking for avenues to overcome stress in

adversity"

said Shyam Manav, another activist trying to educate people about

superstition.

 

The Godmen charge anything from about 150 rupees ( RM11.50) up to

millions of rupees, depending on the whole range of factors including

what herbs and roots are provided as a potion.

 

And people seeking help from all walks of life can fall prey to the

tricks. But while most godmen restrict themselves to relatively

harmless fraud, others get caught up in much more sinister affairs,

including human sacrifice to appease "evil spirits"

 

In July, a nine year old boy was found dead on the out-skirts of

Mumbai. A man told police he killed the boy after a godman told him

doing so would save his troubled marriage.

 

"We have intensified patrolling day and night to arrest fake

godmen.

Another human sacrifice cannot take place," said assistant police

commissioner R.D. Jagtap.

 

While Mumbai Police say the fake godmen are becoming more scarce in

the city, the activists campaigning against superstition are

traveling further out to towns and villages to spread their message.

 

"We understand that blind practices cannot be ended easily. It

will

take generations. But our effort will continue," said committee

to

eradiate blind faith member and Bollywood actor Shreeram Lagoo

 

by Jayashree Lengade, Reuters.