Spirituality on TV: The rise and fall of Nirmal Baba

Prime time news on any news channel is usually devoted to things of national importance. But on Saturday night, three top Hindi news channels devoted most of their 9 pm programming to showing the sometimes quirky advice given by Nirmal Baba alias Nirmaljit Singh Narula. From advice on sartorial style, the importance of consuming popcorn and watching movies , Narula’s advice had some spiritual leaders on the discussion panels of channels a little stunned as well.

But what is stunning about Narula is the amount of money he is alleged to have obtained from devotees since his rapid ascent over the last decade. From shows on news channels and general entertainment channels, the guru and possessor of the ’third eye’ is reportedly worth over Rs (hold your breath) 200 crore. While the number is a bit unbelievable, he is being accused of misusing the funds to buy a hotel (and possibly start a hotel chain), buying property in Delhi and using funds for activities for undisclosed activities. Suddenly effigies are being burnt, FIRs being filed and aggrieved believers are turning up on television to criticise him.

Suriving on ‘humble’ donations from devotees and ticket sales (you need to pre-book your ticket for Rs 2,000 prior to every darbar) Narula isn’t the last of spiritual guides to make a sizeable pile of cash thanks to the guilability of his devotees. Thanks to television channels, spiritual leaders can quickly expand their base across the country without even having to make their physical presence felt. The explosion of channels has also meant there are several spots lying free which are up for sale and it is hardly unusual to find spiritual shows at odd timings on multiple channels. Incidentally if you’re hoping for a glimpse of the great man in person, bookings for all of Narula’s upcoming shows stand closed presently. Whether they are already full or whether he has decided to back down thanks to the controversies, is not explained on his site.

Following the media turning against him, Narula has now asked his supporters to mantain calm, not offered them any refunds and a sked them on Twitter to complain against the news channels .

Hardly surprising since a casual inspection of his website reveals the bearer of the third eye is garnering eyeballs on almost every television channel across media networks, including some of the news channels now targetting him. As an aggrieved customer, Narula perhaps sees it as a right to complain. He’s paid the money, why are the news channels going after him? If they had a complaint with him, surely they should have not taken his money if they believed what he was doing was wrong. Perhaps he is considering going to a consumer court about this. Or perhaps the Press Council of India Chairman? However, given that we know Mr Katju’s views on most Indians in the country perhaps Narula can expect little sympathy from him.

And yet all of this hubub really doesn’t means much. Even if Narula’s operations are shut down, there is hardly a shortage of soothsayers to fill the spot in the universe and television channels he currently occupies. Public disclosures of wealth for all trusts run by such bodies and its use would be a good starting step. A second step that would be welcome is television channels being a little more judicious in their sale of airwaves. It would help when such controversies arise. An ideal third step, that seems too much to ask for, would be legislation against superstition but given the opposition Maharashtra  has faced in trying to enact one, let’s just stick with what we perhaps can get done.