Ram Rahim Singh
Encyclopedia
Hazoor Maharaj Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan is the head of the non-profit spiritual organisation Dera Sacha Sauda
(DSS) since 1990.
Under Singh's leadership, DSS has engaged in numerous social programmes, including blood drives, tree planting, disaster relief, and support for transgender people, tribal communities, orphans, and rehabilitated sex workers.
. The family belongs to the Sidhu
clan of Punjabi Jat. Ram Rahim's parents were devotees of Shah Satnam Ji Maharaj, guru of Dera Sacha Sauda.
On 23 September 1990, Shah Satnam Singh Ji Maharaj held a huge satsang
where he publicly conferred sainthood and succession of the spiritual leadership upon Huzoor Maharaj Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan.
Dera Sacha Sauda has set a Guinness World Record for tree planting, three Guinness records for blood donation, and are recognised as a leading agency in whole-body donation.
) have been opposed to the Deras, seeing in them a threat to gurdwaras. In May 2007, a section of orthodox Sikhs claimed that Gurmeet Gurmeet Singh's attire in an advertisement resembled that of the tenth Sikh guru Gobind Singh
. They accused him of blasphemy and of hurting Sikh sentiments. The controversy was followed by multiple attacks on the Dera members. Gurmeet Singh was himself attacked by a mob on 16 July 2007, but escaped unhurt. The Dera Sacha Sauda tendered multiple apologies, regretting confusion over the dress, and stated that it had high regard for all Sikh Gurus.
A criminal case filed against Gurmeet Singh, for hurting the Sikh sentiments, was dismissed by the Sirsa
court in 2009. Ajai Sahni
has stated that the tensions between the Sikh community and the Dera have been exploited by the pro-Khalistan
elements. On 2 February 2008, Gurmeet Gurmeet Singh's cavalcade was attacked, injuring 11 persons. A Khalistan Liberation Force
militant Bakshish Singh was later arrested for the attack.
On 20 June 2008, a group of Sikhs shouted anti-Dera slogans during Gurmeet Singh'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 by the bodyguard of Gurmeet Singh. This led to further protests from Sikhs in Mumbai and Punjab.
Dera Sacha Sauda
Dera Sacha Sauda colloquially DSS) is a non-profit spiritual organization based in Sirsa, Haryana, India. The Dera Sacha Sauda was established by Shah Mastana Ji from Baluchistan in 1948, as a center for spiritual learning....
(DSS) since 1990.
Under Singh's leadership, DSS has engaged in numerous social programmes, including blood drives, tree planting, disaster relief, and support for transgender people, tribal communities, orphans, and rehabilitated sex workers.
Early life
Singh was born to Mata Nasib Kaur and Bapu Sardar Maghar Singh on 15 August 1967, at Gurusar Modia village in Sri Ganganagar district of RajasthanRajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. The family belongs to the Sidhu
Sidhu
Sidhu is the most influential and prominent Jat/Jatt gotra .The Sidhu clan is mainly found in the Malwa region of Punjab state,Ganganagar district and the province of Punjab in Pakistan...
clan of Punjabi Jat. Ram Rahim's parents were devotees of Shah Satnam Ji Maharaj, guru of Dera Sacha Sauda.
On 23 September 1990, Shah Satnam Singh Ji Maharaj held a huge satsang
Satsang
Satsang in Indian philosophy means the company of the "highest truth," the company of a guru, or company with an assembly of persons who listen to, talk about, and assimilate the truth...
where he publicly conferred sainthood and succession of the spiritual leadership upon Huzoor Maharaj Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan.
Dera Sacha Sauda
Under Singh's leadership, DSS has participated in a wide variety of social programs. These include an annual free eye-care event, anti-prostitution intiatives including arranging marriages to DSS members for ex sex workers, anti-drug initiatives, support for the transgendered, tribal emancipation, and anti- female foeticide campaigns.Dera Sacha Sauda has set a Guinness World Record for tree planting, three Guinness records for blood donation, and are recognised as a leading agency in whole-body donation.
Controversies
In 2007, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was accused of hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikhs, and of involvement in murder. He was cleared of both the charges by the courts.Conflict with orthodox Sikh groups
The radical Sikh groups (such as Dal Khalsa) and political parties (such as Shiromani Akali DalShiromani Akali Dal
The Shiromani Akali Dal , translation: Supreme Akali Party) is a Sikh nationalist political parties based in Punjab. The current party to be recognized by the Election Commission of India is the one led by Parkash Singh Badal...
) have been opposed to the Deras, seeing in them a threat to gurdwaras. In May 2007, a section of orthodox Sikhs claimed that Gurmeet Gurmeet Singh's attire in an advertisement resembled that of the tenth Sikh guru Gobind Singh
Gobind Singh
Gobind Singh VC was an Indian soldier, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest Commonwealth award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy", during the First World War....
. They accused him of blasphemy and of hurting Sikh sentiments. The controversy was followed by multiple attacks on the Dera members. Gurmeet Singh was himself attacked by a mob on 16 July 2007, but escaped unhurt. The Dera Sacha Sauda tendered multiple apologies, regretting confusion over the dress, and stated that it had high regard for all Sikh Gurus.
A criminal case filed against Gurmeet Singh, for hurting the Sikh sentiments, was dismissed by the Sirsa
Sirsa
Sirsa is a city and a municipal council in Sirsa district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is a town in the westernmost region of the state, bordering Punjab and Rajasthan. Its history dates back to the time of Mahabharata...
court in 2009. Ajai Sahni
Ajai Sahni
Ajai Sahni is an author and expert on counter-terrorism, and serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi, which maintains the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a website focusing on terrorism in South Asia....
has stated that the tensions between the Sikh community and the Dera have been exploited by the pro-Khalistan
Khalistan
Khalistan refers to a global political secessionist movement to create a separate Sikh state, called Khālistān , carved out of parts mostly consisting of the Punjab region of India, depending on definition....
elements. On 2 February 2008, Gurmeet Gurmeet Singh's cavalcade was attacked, injuring 11 persons. A Khalistan Liberation Force
Khalistan Liberation Force
The Khalistan Liberation Force or KLF is a militant group, and is part of the Khalistan movement to create a Sikh homeland called Khalistan via armed struggle...
militant Bakshish Singh was later arrested for the attack.
On 20 June 2008, a group of Sikhs shouted anti-Dera slogans during Gurmeet Singh's visit to the Nirmal Lifestyles
Nirmal Lifestyles
Nirmal Lifestyle is a shopping mall located in Mulund, a north-eastern suburb of Mumbai, India. With an area of one million square feet, The mall has been built on most challenging concept, ever built in the country. The open mall concept not only placed Nirmal Lifestyle on national platter, but...
mall in Mumbai. The situation developed into an altercation between the protestors and the Dera followers, and one of the Sikh protestors was killed by the bodyguard of Gurmeet Singh. This led to further protests from Sikhs in Mumbai and Punjab.
External links
- Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa
- SachKahoon newspaper
- Shah Satnamji Greens Welfare Force Wing, a humanitarian assistance agency
- Anti prostitution efforts
- Sacha Sauda informational newsletter