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Dera Sacha Sauda

DSS Logo
Abbreviation	DSS
Established	29 April 1948; 76 years ago (1948-04-29)
Founder	Mastana Balochistani, Amukurejuddin Khan
Type	NGO Non-profit Social Welfare & Spiritual Organization
Registration no.	5234
Legal status	Active
Purpose	Humanitarianism activism environmentalism drug rehabilitation secularism vegetarianism
Headquarters	Sirsa, Haryana, India
Coordinates	29°32′01″N 75°01′04″E / 29.533593°N 75.017702°E / 29.533593; 75.017702
Region served	Asia-Pacific Middle East Northern Europe North America
Secretary General	Vipassana Insan
Successor	Shah Satnam Singh
Current leader	Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
Website	www.derasachasauda.org

Dera Sacha Sauda (colloquially DSS) is a spiritual cult and self proclaimed "non-profit social welfare and spiritual organisation" that was established on 29 April 1948 by Mastana Balochistani, an ascetic, as a centre for spiritual learning. Its main centre is situated in Sirsa, Haryana, northern India. The organisation has 46 ashrams (divisions) across India and branches in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Australia and the United Kingdom. DSS presently has more than 60 million followers worldwide.

Allegedly 400 followers of the sect have been castrated inside the sect’s headquarters to "bring them closer to god", one of the victims came forward and filed a complaint in court against the guru. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation the castrations were done to "safeguard" female followers from "possible sexual advances".

Its leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, is a controversial figure in India and was accused of murder and convicted of rape. On 25 August 2017, a special CBI court in Panchkula, Haryana, found him guilty of sexually assaulting 2 Dera sadhvis (female followers). The self styled 'godman' faces a minimum of 7 years in prison for the offences, the exact duration of which is to be finalized on 28 August 2017.

History

Dera Sacha Sauda was established by Mastana Balochistani, from Balochistan, in 1948. He was popularly known among his devotees as His Holiness Beparawah Mastana Ji Maharaj. He died on 18 April 1960. Shah Satnam Singh, born on 25 January 1919 took over the spiritual leadership position from Balochistani at the age of 41 and served until 1990. He died on 13 December 1991. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh became the third master of DSS on 23 September 1990. DSS is a registered NGO.

2017 riots

Its leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was accused of murder and convicted of rape. On 25 August 2017, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Panchkula, Haryana, found him guilty of sexually assaulting two Dera sadhvis (female followers), one of whom had written to the then prime minister of India about it in 2002. Singh faces a minimum of seven years in prison for the offences, the exact duration of which is to be finalized on 28 August 2017. More than 150,000 followers of DSS had gathered at Panchkula along with a few nearby places, where the hearing was taking place, and upon learning of the court's verdict were involved in a mass riot which led to the death of at least 30 people and more than 250 seriously injured. The Chandigarh and Punjab high court ordered for all of DSS's properties to be attached to pay for the losses incurred due to the violence. A few incidents were reported in Indian capital of New Delhi, which is just 243 kilometres (151 mi) away from the epicenter. The incident led to widespread criticism of the government, that despite high court's repeated warnings, failed not just in gauging the severity of the situation but also in enforcing the Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code prohibiting an assembly of any more than four people, which was in effect at the time of the verdict.

Principles and positions

The sect cites as its principles, laid down by Shah Mastana: secularism, equality, no acceptance of materialistic wealth, and truth and faith over everything else, meditation to the road of truth, quietism, strict individual discipline, strict social discipline, hard work, faith and meditation to escape from re-births (moksha). According to group documents, the organisation "envisions an egalitarian, conflict free and peaceful world where the inner spiritual realization, self-confidence and attainment of God are foremost through the practice of true meditation. The world order will be free of social evils, exploitation and sinful conduct. Practically the women will find their right place in society."

Political activities

Dera Sacha Sauda is the only among the various Deras, which openly asks its supporters to vote for particular political parties. The previous Congress government enjoyed the organisation's support and it reciprocated by providing a Z-plus security cover for the group's leader. Singh's son is married to the daughter of the Congress leader Harminder Singh Jassi. The Dera Sacha Sauda supported Congress in the 2007 Punjab state elections, and helped the party take control of the Malwa region. Before the 2012 Punjab state elections, the Congress leader Amarinder Singh, his wife Preneet Kaur and his son Raninder Singh visited Singh, asking him to extend his support to Congress. However, Dera's support to Congress alienated the party's Sikh vote bank. In the 2012 elections, Congress performed poorly, and Jassi lost the election. The poor performance of Congress in Malwa in 2012 was seen as a signal of the downfall of Dera's political power.

In 2014 Haryana polls and Lok Sabha Polls, Bhartiya Janta Party requested support from the organisation Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In February 2015, the organisation openly supported BJP in Delhi elections. The organization supported BJP in the Bihar assembly election in 2015, and nearly 3000 Dera followers campaigned for BJP in the state.

Welfare activities

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh formed a welfare and disaster relief organisation called Shah Satnam Ji Green-S Welfare Force, which now has more than 70,000 doctors, engineers, rescuers, paramedics, and tradesmen participating. The organisation has rendered aid during many of India's natural disasters like Kolkata fire and the factory collapse in Jalandhar.

During the 2013 flash floods in Uttarakhand, a team of volunteers and doctors provided medical care to people, distributed food packets and conducted rescue missions. The area of Deoli-Brahmgram village was called a 'village of widows' as many men belonging to the area died in the floods. In an attempt to rehabilitate the women, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh announced that 1,500 followers of the sect were willing to tie the knot with the Uttarakhand widows.

Anti-prostitution initiatives began in November 2009, when Singh called on his followers to counter prostitution, and to help sex-workers escape a "life of perpetual slavery". In December 2009, Dera and its volunteers took a step towards reducing sex trafficking in the country and also preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS virus, by giving a consent for marriage with adult sex workers and to "help them escape their dreary existence". In January 2010, a mass marriage ceremony for former sex workers took place in Sirsa. Dera Sacha Sauda's 400-bed multi-specialty hospital was inaugurated by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in Sirsa in March 2014 and has been named Shah Satnam ji Speciality Hospital.

Dera Sacha Sauda had launched a social welfare campaign and had filed a petition in the Supreme Court to grant legal status to transgender people. On 15 April 2014 the Apex Court gave a judgement in favour of the Eunuchs and ordered that the hijras and transgender people will now be given the legal status of the third gender. This will make them eligible for quota in various government jobs, education institutions and also ensure medical treatment.

DSS also initiated a series of sanitation drives and as of 2016, about 30 Mega Cleanliness Campaigns have been conducted in several states of India and also in other countries.

References

1. "State-wise list of VOs/NGOs signed up on the NGO-PS - Haryana(1183)". 12 August 2004. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
2. ^ DSS (11 May 2013). "About Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) – Social Welfare & Spiritual Organization". Retrieved 5 November 2016.
3. ^ "The Baba on song - Rise and spread of Dera Sacha Sauda". The Indian Express. 26 October 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
4. "Thousands of Patients examined in the Largest Eye Screening Camp". DSS. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
5. Largest Blood Donation. Guinness Book of World Records
6. "Dera again makes it to Guinness Book of World Records Collects 43,732 units of blood in a day". The Tribune. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
7. "Deras: Where religion and power coincide - Biggest Deras In Punjab". The Indian Express. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
8. ^ "Rape trial, castration of followers: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is no stranger to controversies". 23 August 2017.
9. "Rape, Murder, Mass Castration: Controversies surrounding Gurmeet Ram Rahim". 25 August 2017.
10. ^ "Guru Ram Rahim Singh rape verdict draws crowds". 25 August 2017 – via www.bbc.com.
11. "India's 'guru of bling' accused of tricking 400 followers into cutting off their testicles to meet God". 3 March 2015.
12. "Spiritual leader allegedly manipulated 400 men into removing testicles". 1 March 2015.
13. ^ "Baba Bling: Meet Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the Dera chief who thrives on controversies". 25 August 2017.
14. ^ "This Isn't Ram Rahim Singh's First Brush With Court And Controversy".
15. ^ "Shocking Facts About Rockstar Baba aka Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan". 27 December 2014.
16. ^ "Gurmeet Ram Rahim: Why is he such a controversial figure?".
17. ^ "Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim found guilty of rape, CBI court ruling comes after 14 years".
18. Rajalakshmi, T. K. (21 December 2002 – 3 January 2003). "Godman under a cloud". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
19. "List Of NGO In Sirsa".
20. "List Of NGO of Sirsa".
21. "Dera Sacha Sauda NGO ID-5488241216".
22. SHARMA, NIDHI (2 December 2016). "Dera chiefs play gurus to tallest of politicians" – via The Economic Times.
23. ^ Navjeevan Gopal (7 March 2012). "Amid depleting clout, dera chief's kin loses". The Indian Express.
24. "Poll-bound Punjab awaits Dera Sacha Sauda diktat on voting". The Times Of India. 29 January 2012.
25. "Dera Sacha Sauda: The key to power in Punjab — Rediff.com News". Rediff. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
26. "Haryana polls: Dera Sacha Sauda's political wing to support BJP".
27. Anand Kumar Patel (5 February 2015). "BJP's New Friend: Dera Sacha Sauda, the Sect Led by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh". NDTV.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
28. "Delhi Assembly polls 2015: Dera Sacha Sauda extends support to BJP". Zee News. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
29. "Former Punjab top cop alleges Dera Sacha Sauda controversy was conspired by SAD govt". Times of India. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
30. "Messengers of self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh rooting for BJP". timesofindia-economictimes. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
31. {www.shahsatnamjigreenswelfareforcewing.org/about/}
32. "Devastating fire breaks out in Darjeeling market". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
33. "1,500 Dera Sacha Sauda volunteers earn praise for rescue efforts". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
34. "Heroes of Jalandhar who saved many lives". IBN Live. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
35. "DSS sends a team of AIMMS docs to Uttarakhand". Millennium Post.
36. "Uttarakhand Relief Work by Dera". Deccan Chronicle.
37. "DSS followers wed Uttarakhand widows, victims of the 2013 flash floods". Zee News.
38. "Unbelievable Movement by Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan against Prostitution".
39. "Indian sect members vow to marry sex workers - Manchester News". Manchesterwired.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
40. {http://www.sikhnet.com/news/dera-sacha-sauda-members-vow-marry-sex-workers}
41. "Dera Sacha Sauda members to marry sex workers - Sakal Times". Retrieved 5 November 2016.
42. "Dera Sacha Sauda sect organises mass marriage ceremony for sex workers". Asian News International. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
43. {http://www.oceanofweb.com/news/prostitutes-wedding-successful.html}
44. ^ "Welfare of Prostitutes and a eunuch (the hijras)".
45. "Dera Sacha Sauda opens 400-bed multi-speciality hospital". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
46. "A boon for the Grassroots- Shah Satnam Ji Speciality Hospital". Sachi Shiksha. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
47. "SC acts on Dera Sacha Sauda petition for eunuchs, grants legal status". Sachi Shiksha. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
48. {http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/faith-and-rituals/supreme-court-recognizes-the-transgenders-eunuchs-as-the-third-gender-efforts-by-revered-guruji}
49. "Mass cleanliness drive by Dera sect in Jaipur". The Times Of India. 2 November 2011.
50. India, Press Trust of (3 October 2016). "Raj min, Dera chief joins cleanliness drive". Retrieved 10 November 2016 – via Business Standard.
51. "Punjab election move? BJPs Vasundhara Raje makes Gurmeet Ram Rahims MSG- The Warrior tax-free in Rajasthan". Retrieved 10 November 2016.
52. "Two days after Swachh results, Khattar takes part in Sirsa dera head's cleanliness drive in Karnal". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 3 June 2017.

External links

• Dera Sacha Sauda Official site
• SaintGurmeetRamRahimSinghJiInsan.org

v t e State of Haryana
Capital: Chandigarh
Topics	Divisions of Haryana Outline History Tourism Geography Politics Government Governors Economy Sports
Districts and divisions	Ambala division Ambala Kurukshetra Panchkula Yamunanagar Faridabad division Faridabad Nuh Palwal Gurgaon division Gurgaon Mahendragarh Rewari Hisar division Fatehabad Hisar Jind Sirsa Karnal division Kaithal Karnal Panipat Rohtak division Bhiwani Charkhi Dadri Jhajjar Rohtak Sonipat
Major cities	Faridabad Gurgaon Panipat Yamunanagar Rohtak Hisar Karnal Sonipat Panchkula Bhiwani Sirsa Bahadurgarh Jind Kurukshetra Kaithal Rewari Palwal Charkhi Dadri
Culture	Haryanvi culture Cinema List of films, Chandrawal, Jagat Jakhar) Music Folk dance Saang) Haryanvi language Ahirwati Bagri Braj Bhasha Bangru Deshwali Khadar Loarki Mewati Pahari) Haryanvi people
Economy	Power stations and power organisations
Places of interest Sarasvati civilization (Indus Valley Civilisation) Adi Badri Balu, Kaithal Banawali Bhirrana Farmana Jognakhera Kanwari Kunal Lohari Ragho Mitathal Rakhigarhi Siswal Sothi Archaeological National monuments State monuments Baoli (Stepwells)s Kaithal (Bhai ki Baoli) Fatehabad (Rania,_Sirsa#History"Rania) Gurgaon (Akhara Baoli, Badshahpur Baoli, Dhumaspur Baoli) Maham in Rohtak (Choron ki Baoli) Narnaul (Alijaan ki Bawdi) Buddhist and Hindu sites Buddhist mounds (Agroha Mound, Sugh Ancient Mound) Buddhist stupas ([Adi Badri, Haryana Haveli Nangal Sirohi Hemu Ki Haveli in Rewari Noor Mahal in Karnal Gurugram: (Sikanderpur, Mohammadpur Jharsa, 12 Biswa haveli in Gurgaon gaon, Mahalwala haveli in 8 Biswa of Gurgaon gaon) Forts Asigarh Fort (Hansi) Badhshapur Fort Buria Fort Chhachhrauli Fort Dhosi Hill Fort Fatehabad Fort Farrukhnagar Fort Hisar-e-Firoza Fort Kotla Indor Fort Jind Fort Kaithal Fort Gajpat Singh Fort at Karnal Loharu Fort Madhogarh Fort Mahendragarh Fort Meham Fort Nahar Singh Fort at Ballabhgargh Pinjore Fort Raipur Rani Fort Fort of King Saras of Sirsa Tosham Hill Fort Hills Dhosi Hill near Narnaul Kotla Hill in Mewat Indor Hill in Mewat Madhogarh Hill near Mahendragarh Mahendragarh Hill Morni Hills in Yamunanagar Tosham Hill in Bhiwani Caves Chyvan Rishi Cave at Dhosi Hill Tosham Hill Caverns Nar Narayan Cave in Yamunanagar Historical Bhima Devi Temple Complex at Pinjore Dhosi Hill Farrukhnagar Kalayat Ancient Bricks Temple Complex Mughal Bridge at Kernal Harsh ka Tilla at Kurukshetra Nahar Singh Mahal Narnaul Pataudi Palace Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple Surajkund Tomb of Saikh Taiyab at Kaithal Tosham rock inscription Yadavindra Gardens State Protected Monuments Monuments of National Importance Protected areas Abubshahar Wildlife Sanctuary Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary Kalesar National Park Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary Morni Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary Sohna Sultanpur Lake Bird Sanctuary Endangered wildlife breeding Chinkara Breeding Centre Kairu, Bhiwani Crocodile Breeding Centre, Kurukshetra Deer Park, Hisar Kalesar Elephant Rehabilitation Centre Pheasant Breeding Centre, Morni Pheasant Breeding Centre, Berwala Peacock & Chinkara Breeding Centre, Jhabua Sparrow Conservation Centre, Pinjore Vulture and Sparrow Conservation and Breeding Centre, Pinjore Zoos Bhiwani Zoo Hisar Deer Park Rohtak Zoo Pipli Zoo Herbal parks Shatavar Vatika Herbal Park, Hisar Ch. Surender Singh Memorial Herbal Park, Tosham Ch. Surender Singh Memorial Herbal Park, Kairu Ch. Devi Lal Herbal Nature Park Lakes Badkhal Lake Blue Bird Lake at Hisar Damdama Lake Karna Lake Tilyar Lake at Rohtak Dams Anangpur Dam Hathni Kund Barrage Kaushalya Dam Masani barrage Ottu barrage Palla barrage Pathrala barrage Tajewala Barrage Rivers Chautang Ghaggar-Hakra River Markanda River Najafgarh_drain Sahibi River Sarasvati River Yamuna Religious Adi Badri, Haryana Sarsvati udgam sthal Agroha Dham Baba Thakur Banbhori Devi Brahma Sarovar Bhuteshwar Temple Jayanti Devi Temple Jyotisar Kartikeya Temple Markandeshwar Mata Mansa Devi Mandir Nada Sahib Naugaja Peer Pindara Temple Sannihit Sarovar Sita Mai Temple Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon St. Thomas' Church at Hisar Offices High Court Legislative Assembly Raj Bhavan Public places Kingdom of Dreams Mall of India The Oberoi Extreme corners Easternmost point: Kalesar village Yamuna riverbank in Yamunanagar district Westernmost point: Chautala–Sangari border road crossing in Sirsa district Southernmost point: Kol Gaon hill in Ferozepur Jhirka tehsil of Gurgaon district Northernmost point: Khokhra village riverbank north of Chandigarh–Baddi river bridge in Panchkula district Highest and lowest Highest point: Karoh Peak in Sivalik Hills of Panchkula district Lowest natural surface elevation point: Deepest underground cave: Coldest avg temp: Karoh Peak in Sivalik Hills of Panchkula district Hottest avg temp: Hisar Wettest avg rainfall: Morni hills in Sivalik Hills of Panchkula district Driest avg rainfall: Bhiwani Oldest Oldest archaeological site: Rakhigarhi 4700 BC or 6700 years old Indus Valley Civilisation in Hisar district Oldest archaeological mine site: Kaliyana hill Indus Valley Civilisation stone mine (3000 BC or 5000 years old) west of Charkhi Dadri
Government and politics Elections Elections in Haryana 1991 1996 1998 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 Chief ministers Banarsi Das Gupta Rao Birender Singh Bansi Lal Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Bhajan Lal Devi Lal Om Prakash Chautala Hukam Singh Bhupinder Singh Hooda Manohar Lal Khattar Governors Dharma Vira Birendra Narayan Chakraborty Ranjit Singh Narula Jaisukhlal Hathi Harcharan Singh Brar Surjit Singh Sandhawalia Ganpatrao Devji Tapase Saiyid Muzaffar Husain Burney Hari Anand Barari Dhanik Lal Mandal Mahaveer Prasad Babu Parmanand Om Prakash Verma Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai Jagannath Pahadia Kaptan Singh Solanki State agencies Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Debt Conciliation Board Doordarshan Haryana Foreign Investment and NRI Cell Forests Department, Haryana Department of Economic and Statistical Analysis, Haryana Department of Environment, Haryana Department of Excise & Taxation, Haryana Department of Finance, Haryana Department of Industries & Commerce, Haryana Department of Industrial Training & Vocational Education, Haryana Department of Institutional Finance & Credit Control, Haryana Department of Labour and Employment (Haryana) Department of Land records & Consolidation, Haryana Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Haryana Department of Rehabilitation, Haryana Department of Higher Education (Haryana) Department of School Education, Haryana Department of Elementary Education, Haryana Haryana Board of School Education Haryana Civil Medical Services Haryana Environment Protection Council Haryana Land Record Information System Haryana Power Generation Corporation Haryana Police Haryana Roadways Haryana Seeds Development Corporation Haryana State Directorate of Archaeology & Museums Haryana State Legal Services Authority, Haryana Haryana Tourism Corporation Haryana Urban Development Authority Haryana Waqf Board State Counselling Board, Haryana Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam
Sports Venues Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium Nahar Singh Stadium Tau Devi Lal Stadium Sector 16 Stadium Mahabir Stadium Associations Haryana Cricket Association Teams Haryana cricket team Haryana football team Bhiwani Boxing Club
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• Dera Sacha Sauda
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