Bomjan started his meditation from May 16, 2005. He claims to have eaten nothing since then. One wonders whether he takes food secretly. A thorough scientific investigation should dispel doubts people have about his “perpetual fast”. Last November, Bomjan volunteered to appear at the Gadhimai Festival and stop the slaughter of animals. When he didn’t show up, many suspected Bomjan’s claims. Was that cowardice or caution?
Every country has its share of superstitions, and our underdeveloped motherland abounds in them. When “godmen” appear from nowhere (or from India) and make fantastic claims, people respond with awe and worship, not questions and verification. However, thanks to the persecuted Nepali free press that miraculously survives, some have begun to raise questions.
Last March, investigative journalism focused on the “godman” Kalibaba, who made headlines for the wrong reasons. Our president, vice-president, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepali Congress leader Khum Bahadur Khadka, and the former king, Gyanendra, went to visit the fire-sacrifice the godman had conducted at Pashupati. The latter even gifted the baba with Rs 100,000. The former three wanted Kalibaba’s blessings on their careers while the latter two desired his help in remaking Nepal a Hindu state. Journalist Saroj Dahal revealed amazing facts about Kalibaba (Himal Khabarpatrika, 29 March-13 April, 2010).
This “godman” had deceived people all his life, even lied about his date of birth. Having left school after the fifth class, Kalibaba never lectured at Amrit Science College, as his website claims. He had abandoned his first wife after promising her upkeep, and tricked a second woman into marrying him. Pledging Rs 10 million to his village school on condition that it would name itself after his father, the baba hasn’t yet doled out the money. Yet the former king, Gyanendra, attempted to use Kalibaba’s tantric “powers” to strengthen his throne, reform his son Paras, and eliminate his enemies. Now, anyone can judge whether Kalibaba and his royal devotee succeeded and whether the “godman” is genuine.
Every country has its share of superstitions, and our underdeveloped motherland abounds in them. When “godmen” appear from nowhere (or from India) and make fantastic claims, people respond with awe and worship, not questions and verification.
Throughout our history, kings have used “divine powers” for political benefit and many “Kalibabas” have advised them. Prithvi Narayan Shah claimed visions of the Devi (of Sallyan Kot) and Bhairabi (of Indrayani). His son Pratap Singh tried to get spiritual power using tantricism through the help of Bajranath Pundit. Pratap destroyed the virginity of many women for his religious quest. Horoscope convinced Rana Bahadur Shah that he wouldn’t live beyond 24 years. When his wife died, he went to the holy city of Benaras. The East India Company paid him Rs 82,000 per year, and the Nepal government had to refund this amount. Contrary to the oracle, Rana Bahadur lived beyond the age of 24, and a bullet sent him to his heavenly abode. Rajendra Bikram also went to Benaras with his wife and two sons. His religious pursuits cost the state dear. Mahendra used astrology, mysticism, propitiation of deities, priests and tantricism to further his political aims. To discredit the first democratically elected government of B P Koirala, Mahendra gifted Yogi Narahari Nath (consider him a “logical” predecessor of Kalibaba) with Rs 25,000. With the amount, Nath organized protest rallies in Gorkha. The yogi’s hoodlums attacked government offices. Using state money, Mahendra conducted burnt-sacrifices, sent a person to learn tantricism from Hindu teachers in Madras, and secretly kept in touch with the RSS (Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh), which wants to turn India into a Hindu state. (Having failed there, RSS tries to succeed in Nepal.) The Western educated King Birendra used astrologers, and also trained in tantricism. Later in life, Birendra became the devotee of a south Indian guru who had prophesied to him a long, prosperous life. When Birendra and family succumbed to bullets in the palace massacre, he and others had the guru’s lockets around their necks. So, many “Kalibabas” have advised our kings, who now adorn our history books.
However, as Bomjan has shown, fakers have disciples among the ordinary population too. Walk from the Pashupati temple to Gaushala. Three stalls there proclaim the eight-metal-alloy finger-rings they sell. Evidently, an Indian guru near Kolkata has pronounced special mantra on these during “auspicious” days. The stall owners claim these rings can neutralize the negative powers of the heavenly planets. Buy them from Rs 30 onwards, wear them for 90 days, and after that they’ll do wonders for you. These will cure any sickness, will boost your faltering business, and will even make your lazy son study. Ask the sellers why they haven’t worn the rings themselves and improved their lot from being mere pavement hawkers, and they have no answer. You could similarly question many astrologers that seat along that route. Followers throng their stalls, and fakers earn their bread.
Two years ago, this Pashupati road featured a young cow that had five legs. The fifth one had just grown from the side, didn’t reach the ground, and was simply a birth defect. Some human babies have six fingers, and now doctors simply remove the extra digit. However, this Dhading man brought the cow to Pashupati and succeeded in making the animal the center of his cult. Men, women, and children went under the calf and poured money into the offering box. This continued for about three months, until the owner felt he could no longer endure the “thug” title he earned. While the cult lasted, the man made his fortune and the calf had its followers.
During mid-August this year, a self-professed shaman of Dang claimed that he could bring back to life a 12-year-old boy who had died of snakebite. Having made the dead boy sit on a chair and plastered him with mud, the shaman tried his tantricism in vain and fled the crowd to save his own life.
Christianity has its share of fakers too. Many have claimed that Jesus Christ would return to earth on the days they predicted. When Jesus failed to appear, they cooked up explanations to mollify their followers. A murderous African rebel group calls itself the “Lord’s Resistance Army”. Twisted church leaders in South Africa used the Bible to justify the detested apartheid system. Similarly, some Nepali pastors have proven spurious by their lives and behavior.
Obviously, education will not prevent fakers from having followers. Even when the police questioned Bomjan after his thrashing of locals, some people respectfully folded their palms in a “namaste” to him. This “godman” continues to inspire awe. Gyanendra, our president, and our prime minister have education but the Grade 5 pass out Kalibaba enthralled them.
No easy solution! Fakers will continue to gather followers, among the educated as well as the ignorant. More investigative journalism will certainly reduce but not eradicate fakers and their disciples. Dahal’s article on Kalibaba lost the “godman” many proselytes but failed to convince some. So, expect more fakers but pity their followers.
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