Bhole Baba: the preacher whose sermon led to stampede in India

NEW DELHI: A large crowd that an Indian policeman-turned-preacher addressed on Tuesday took a terrible turn when at least 121 people—mostly women and children—died in a stampede.

The nickname “Bhole Baba,” which means “the Innocent Elder,” refers to a self-proclaimed godman who worked as a police policeman before pursuing spirituality and becoming a preacher.

He was born Suraj Pal Singh and later became Narayan Sakar Hari. He is still untraceable, and authorities in Uttar Pradesh, the northern Indian state where the tragedy on Tuesday happened, stated they were still looking for him.

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Origins

Prior to resigning and pursuing spirituality, Bhole Baba served as an Uttar Pradesh police constable for about ten years, according to Sudhir Kumar, a senior police official. The preacher is originally from the hamlet of Kasganj, which is near the Hathras region where the stampede occurred.

According to local media, he used to visit the northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, where he has a sizable fan base, and speak at events mostly on the first Tuesday of each month.

Bhole Baba was a member of the low-caste Dalit group in India. According to a poster placed near the scene of Tuesday’s event, his mission was to establish an ideal society devoid of superstition and full of compassion.

Online persona

In contrast to the austere appearance of most godmen, Bhole Baba is shown in posters and films on his YouTube channel, which has millions of views. He is either wearing immaculate white suits and ties or traditional Indian kurta tunics, and he frequently sports sunglasses.

Bhole Baba is shown speaking to large crowds of largely women, the majority of whom are sat on the ground with their hands folded in awe. He is seen holding a microphone in his hand, sitting on an elaborate throne, and having his wife by his side.

A guy is standing in a doorway near the location of the Hindu religious meeting that on July 3 caused a stampede in the Hathras region of Uttar Pradesh, where followers had assembled. Surajpal, popularly known as “Bhole Baba,” is a speaker. – News reports

According to a remark from him on a billboard, “Humanity was the true religion, is the true religion, and will always be the true religion.” Bhole Baba had established a security force, known as Narayani Sena, with men and women guards who would accompany him to events in order to protect him from followers who would swarm to touch his feet and ask for his blessings, according to an NDTV article.

Hathras gathering

The specifics of the Tuesday event were revealed in many videos that he uploaded to his more than 31,000-strong YouTube channel, and fans were urged to show up in droves.

The film, which had graphics that zoomed in and showed pictures from previous events, declared that “the great Narayan Sakar Hari will manifest in person and bless devotees.” Permission was granted for just 80,000 individuals, but almost 250,000 people showed up, according to the police first information report (FIR).

Later this month, two other events were scheduled to take place close to Agra, the location of the Taj Mahal.

Headline image: At the location of the July 3 Hindu religious meeting that resulted in a stampede in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district, people are gathered around a poster of speaker Surajpal, popularly known as “Bhole Baba,” which was affixed to a board. – News reports