Asaram's land is Government land too

 

Asaram’s Land Is Government Land Too

One of the major news developments today is that the Gujarat government has decided to reclaim 45,000 square metres of land that was allotted in 1971 to the self-styled ascetic Asaram Bapu for establishing an ashram. The Ahmedabad High Court has granted permission for this move.

Born in 1941 in Berani—now in Pakistan—Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani later came to be known as Asaram Bapu. This so-called “spiritual guru”, accused in several serious criminal cases, enjoyed close proximity to the upper echelons of society, including influential politicians. A man of immense wealth, he reportedly owns more than 400 ashrams and 40 gurukuls in India and abroad, with assets estimated at over ₹10,000 crore.

Large tracts of government land were allotted to him not only in Gujarat but also in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Urgent action is required to reclaim all such land. In a country where millions remain landless, the policy of generously allotting land to ascetics and religious leaders demands serious scrutiny. Even land grants made during the British era must be re-examined in this context.

Asaram’s crimes eventually came to light, leading to his imprisonment. Yet it remains uncertain whether justice will be delivered in its fullest sense. How many such ashrams exist where similar abuses continue unnoticed? Until the spiritual façade is torn away, the mask remains intact. In 2018, Asaram was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a 16-year-old girl at the Manai Ashram in Jodhpur. In 2023, he received a second conviction for repeatedly raping a female disciple at the Gandhinagar Ashram between 2001 and 2006. Earlier, in 2008, two young men died under mysterious circumstances at an Ahmedabad gurukul linked to him. Subsequently, more than one witness in related cases was murdered by his associates.

Believers must seriously reflect on how individuals capable of such darkness are elevated as guides meant to illuminate society. People should also exercise caution and consciously avoid gravitating towards such dangerous centres masquerading as spiritual institutions.

The land now being reclaimed will reportedly be used for a sports enclave and an Olympic village in connection with the Commonwealth Games proposed in Gujarat in 2030 and the Olympic Games likely to be held in 2036. State governments should adopt a similar approach to acquire the remaining ashrams owned by Asaram.