(25/04/2018)
A seven year old kid named Asumal Sindhi had come to India from Pakistan after partition. The hard working kid moved to Ajmer in 1963 to earn bread for his family. He would ply “tonga” or horse carriage from Railway Station to famous “Ajmer Sharif” to ferry pilgrims.
It was in 1973 that he floats a trust to establish his first ashram in Motera village on the banks of the Sabarmati river outside Ahmedabad. It happens after coming in contact with a widely respect saint “Lilashah” whom Asaram takes as his Guru.
Between 1973 to 2001, Asaram’s clout witnessed a meteoric rise. He established many Hundreds of Ashrams and Sadhna kendra’s across the country. Moved in Chopper from one Satsang venue to other, hardly spending more than three days at a single place.
In 2001 Kumbh that happened in Allahabad, his satsang pandal occupied the biggest area held by one single organziation. Politicians, ministers, CM’s cutting across party line would flock to him for a Darshan and “Aashirwaad”.
But controversies soon started to erupt around him. Along with Jodhpur Rape case, he has Surat Rape Case, Land Grabbing Case and a murder case on his name.
His followers see him as incarnation of God who is going through difficult times to wash sins of humanity. Still hundreds gather outside the jail where he is lodged on every month’s full moon night or “Poornima”. They break fast after a ‘Jar” of water reportedly touched by him is brought outside from inside the Jail.
While in custody when he was once transported from Jodhpur to Delhi for a medical checkup at AIMS, his followers ensured to book majority of flight and made it a difficult ride for the crew and the pilot by constantly moving across to get a glimpse of and touch feet of Asaram.
Today after he has been pronounced guilty of Rape charges, changes of his release look bleak then ever. What happens to the misplaced faith of millions, is still a thing to see.
