Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan

Singh at Satsang in hometown of Sirsa (2015)
Native name <span class="nickname" lang=""hi"">गुरमीत राम रहीम सिंह
Born (1967-08-15) 15 August 1967[1]
Shri Gurusar Modia (Rajasthan, India[1]
Residence Sirsa, Haryana, India[2]
Nationality Indian
Occupation
  • Spiritual leader
  • social reformer
  • actor
  • director
  • singer
Years active 1990–present[1]
Organization Dera Sacha Sauda
Religion Omnism[3]
Children
  • Honeypreet Insan
  • Charanpreet Insan
  • Amarpreet Insan
  • Jasmeet Insan
Parent(s)
  • Maghar Singh
  • Nasib Kaur

[1]

Website Official website

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is an Indian spiritual leader, social reformer, actor, director and singer. He has been the head of the India-based socio-spiritual organization Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) since 23 September 1990.[1][2] DSS oversees several social programmes, such as cleanliness campaigns, blood donation drives, tree planting, disaster relief, and support for transgender people, tribal communities, orphans, and rehabilitation of sex workers.[4] Singh is one of 36 VVIPs who has Z+ Security cover by Government of India.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The Indian Express placed Singh 96th in their list of the 100 most powerful Indians of 2015.[13]

Early life

Ram Rahim was born to Naseeb Kaur and Maghar Singh on 15 August 1967, at Sri Gurusar Modia village in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan.[1]

On 23 September 1990, Shah Satnam held a satsang where he publicly conferred sainthood and succession of the spiritual leadership upon Gurmeet Ram Rahim.[1] He is married and has three daughters and a son.

Education

Ram Rahim was educated in a school in his village of Sri Gurusar Modia.

Political influence

Because of his following, he has been described as being politically influential in the Malwa region of Punjab.[14][15][16][17] In 2014 Haryana polls, his organisation supported Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[18] In February 2015, his organisation openly supported BJP in Delhi elections, saying that he has over 20 Lakh followers in Delhi.[19][20][21] His organization supported BJP in the Bihar assembly election in 2015, and nearly 3000 Dera followers campaigned for BJP in the state.[22]

Social work

Ram Rahim Singh consoles victims of a fire in Darjeeling on 20 April 2012
Saint MSG helping people during Nepal earthquake, 2015

Ram Rahim has organised drives for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol screening that have been recognized by Guinness World Records.[23][24][25] In association with the American Society of Echocardiography, he also organized the world record for "Most Cardiac Echo Tests".[26] On 21 September 2011 in New Delhi, Ram Rahim initiated a series of sanitation drives and also pledged his support to the Central Government's campaign.[27] As of 2016, about 30 Mega Cleanliness Campaigns have been conducted in several states of India.[28][29][30][31] On 22 May 2012 Ram Rahim laid the foundation of the Shah Satnam ji Super Speciality Hospital at Sirsa. He established a specialised disaster relief and welfare agency called Shah Satnam Ji Green-S Welfare Force Wing in 2001. Especially in the aftermath of the Odisha cyclone and Gujarat earthquake.[32][33][34][35][36]

World records

Saint MSG receiving a certificate from Guinness world records, August 2016

According to Guinness World Records, The largest display of oil lamps consists of 150,009 lamps achieved at an event organised by Singh in Haryana, India, on 23 September 2016 and 1531 participants took part in assembling and lighting the lamps for this display.[37] The largest finger painting is 3,900 m² (41,979 ft²) and was created by Singh and Shah Satnam Ji Green-S Welfare Force Wing, in Sirsa, India, on 23 September 2012.[38] The largest vegetable mosaic measures 1,858.07 m² (20,000 ft²), achieved by Singh and Shah Satnam Ji Green-S Welfare Force Wing, at SMG Sports Complex in Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa, Haryana, India, on 25 March 2014. The mosaic was created to raise awareness of the advantages of eating organic produce, the total weight of vegetables used was 77,723 kg (171,349.88 lb). A mixture of cauliflower, beetroot, capsicum, green peas, garlic, green chilli and tomatoes were used.[39] The most people sanitising their hands simultaneously is 7,675 at an event organised by Singh and Shah Satnam Ji Green-S Welfare Force Wing at SMG Sports Complex in Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa, Haryana, India, on 23 September 2012. This record was organised to promote a hygiene and sanitation drive across several Indian cities.[40]

According to Asia Book of Records, Singh holds a record of most(30) roles and responsibilities in a single film. He made this record in film MSG: The Warrior Lion Heart.[41] He guided and constructed several buildings in a records time like A Girl's College in just 6 days, Girls`Hostel in 42 days, A Hall of area 2,00,000 sq. ft in 35 days, A cricket stadium with 6 stands and 75 yards boundaries in just 42 days, A 175 bedded Hospital in 17 days and A ashram in just 5 days.[42]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Lyrics Composition Label Notes
2012 Thank You For That Yes Yes Universal Debut[43]
Network Tere Love Ka Yes Yes Universal
Chashma Yaar Ka[44] Yes Yes Universal
Insan Yes Yes Universal
2013 Lov Rab Se Yes Yes Universal
2014 Highway Love Charger Yes Yes Universal[45] Album sold 3 millions copies in the first 3 days.[46]Music video became an instant hit on YouTube[47]

Film songs

Year Title Songs Lyrics Composition Label Notes
2015 MSG: The Messenger Desh, Daru Ko Goli Maro, Papa The Great, Never Ever, Never Ever remix, Rataan Bataan, Ram Ram Yes Yes Sony Music India Singh was awarded 4 Platinum Plaques from IFPI for music of this movie[48]
MSG-2 The Messenger Party Dhoom Dhaam Se, MSG The Messenger, Rooh Nashiyaani, Hasin Wadiyon Mein, Sapnon Mein Aana Tera, Hule Maale Gile Chila, Party Dhoom Dhaam Se(remix) Yes Yes T Series Singh has sung in different voices[49]
2016 MSG: The Warrior Lion Heart Dhol Baaje, Sohna Mera Mishri Di Daliye Yes Yes Zee Music[50] Second song unveiled in live concert admist 3.6 million fans[51]

He has performed at over a hundred rock shows with an entirely new genre title ‘Religious Rock’.[52][53]

Filmography

Films

Year Film Director Writer Role Notes
2015 MSG: The Messenger Yes Yes Guru Ji Debut
MSG-2 The Messenger Yes Yes Guru Ji Based on true events
2016 MSG: The Warrior Lion Heart Yes Yes Lion Heart

'MSG - The Lionheart - Hind ka Napak Ko Jawab' and 'MSG Online Gurukul' are future projects of Singh.[54][55]

Television

Ram Rahim is currently shooting his upcoming reality show Aan Baan Shaan Mera Hindustan.[56]

Awards

Ram Rahim Singh Insan receiving Giants International award for social works, 2016, Mumbai.

Singh is recently honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Award for most popular actor,director and writer.[57] Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was awarded 4 Platinum Plaques in four categories including Vocals, Lyrics, Composition and Music Direction for music of MSG: The Messenger from IFPI.[58] He is awarded with Giants International Award for his social works to society in 2016.[59]

Conflict with Sikh groups and controversies

In May 2007, Singh was accused of hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikhs by wearing, in an advertisement, an attire, resembling the tenth and final living Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.[60] His followers also organised a demonstration against their alleged persecution at the hands of some religious organisations.[61][62] Ram Rahim was attacked by a mob on 16 July 2007, but escaped unhurt.[63] The Dera Sacha Sauda tendered multiple apologies, regretting confusion over the dress, and stated that it had high regard for all Sikh Gurus, Sikh religion and the entire humankind.[64] A multi religion delegation approached the apex Sikh organisation to accept the apology.[65] Though the Akal Takht didn't use the word "rejected" — they maintained that the apology was inadequate on several counts.[66]

A criminal case filed against him, for hurting the Sikh sentiments, was dismissed by the Sirsa court in 2009 and Bathinda court in 2014.[67][68] Counter-terrorism expert Ajai Sahni has stated that the tensions between the Sikh community and the Dera have been exploited by the pro-Khalistan elements. He has further quoted Indian military intelligence that Iknoor Khalsa Fauj, Khalistan Zindabad Force and Khalistan Commando Force have attempted to eliminate him.[69] In a case where the Dera's followers were accused of being suicide attackers, the Dera has stated publicly that it was being targeted by vested political groups that were conspiring to defame it.[70][71] The organisation has demanded a judicial probe into the allegations.[67][69][72]

On 2 February 2008, Ram Rahim's cavalcade was attacked with explosives, injuring 11 persons.[73] A Khalistan Liberation Force member was later arrested for the attack who confessed to arranging explosives for the attack on the Dera chief and also executing the plan along with his associates.[74][75] After that, Ram Rahim was protected with Z+ security cover by Government of India.[5]

On 20 June 2008, a group of Sikhs shouted anti-Dera slogans during Gurmeet Ram Rahim'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.[76] This led to further protests from Sikhs in Mumbai and Punjab.[77]

On 27 September 2015, the Akal Takht accepted his apology and pardoned him, but, on observing widespread resentment and protest among Sikhs regarding his pardon, the organisation revoked the pardon on 16 October.[78]

On 13 January 2016, actor Kiku Sharda (who played the character Palak in Comedy Nights with Kapil) was arrested in Mumbai by the Haryana Police for mimicking Singh on his show. Sharda spent 14 days in judicial custody in Kaithal, Haryana. The case was registered on the complaint of Uday Singh, a follower of Dera Sacha Sauda.[79]

References

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