Not just Netaji cult, Sati Pati in Gujarat denounces government of India

The Netaji cult in Mathura – which shocked the nation by its bizarre practices and by fighting the police force – is not the only such strange cult to pervade in the societal fabric of India. Gujarat, for years, has witnessed cult-related activities, that largely went unnoticed in the mainstream.

The story of Sati Pati cult is just a case in point. Just four months back, in February to be precise, it had held its annual three-day congregation at Kaparada taluka of Valsad district. Rohiyal Talat, a remote village, six kilometres downhill from the taluka office and hub of the cult, was the venue. Close to 3,000 tribals, including children and the elderly, had thronged the place, located on the Vapi-Nasik Highway, bordering the neighbouring Maharashtra.

The cult believes that natural resources like forest land and rivers were gifted by Queen Victoria to Keshri Sinh, their founder, pre-independence. They disassociate themselves with any activity propagated by the local, state or central government.

"Sati indicates mother, and Pati father. We have all descended from nature and we worship it. Government officials are our servants, but they have become rulers. So we disregard their credibility. We do not vote in any elections. Keshri Sinh ji is the one true owner of India. He has been vested these powers by Queen Victoria herself before the British left India," said Parag Sahare, the local cult leader in Kaparada. "All this land that you see has been given by the Queen herself to Keshri Sinhji. It belongs to us. The government of India is a farce and it cannot impose its rules on us," he added.

The cult refuses to be a part of any activity undertaken by the state or central government. They do not vote in any local, state or national level elections. They refuse to pay the fare after boarding state transport buses. They do not register to get ration cards. They will not vaccinate their children or send them to school. Most do not seek any hospital benefits.

The current leader of the cult is Kunwar Ravindra Sinh, son of Kunwar Keshri Sinh. A man in his early sixties, he merely smiled slyly, when probed about the community's activities at the February congregation, which he presided over. Keshri Sinh, the founder of the cult, is worshiped like a demi-god in this part of the country and so is his son Ravindra. The movement is said to be active since pre-independence days in 1930s.

Next to the dais was parked a white Contessa, a Hindustan Motor sedan, bearing the number plate – GJ.5.PP.9504. Bizarrely enough, it flaunted a 'lal-batti' (red siren). Also, a blood red plaque, with fonts etched uniformly in gold, was nailed beneath the head lights. It read, "Government of India – Owner of India – Bharat Sarkar – Kunwar Keshri Sinh". Ravindra, locals said, zips about uninhibited in the siren-mounted car across the districts of Gujarat. Even, the 60-strong police force, posted at the venue, turned a blind eye to the cult leader's 'lal-batti' vehicle.

The hoardings near the venue bore the photos of Keshri Sinh, claiming him to be the 'owner of India' and 'first lord of the treasury'. Emblems like the Queen's crown, used during pre-independence days, the Ashoka Chakra and the national emblem along with the 'Sati Pati' logos could be seen across the venue.

With closed fists, tribals bow and pay obeisance to Ravindra, greeting him 'Swakarta Pitru Ki Jai'. It means, 'Hail the father who created us'. Parag Sahare, the local cult leader of Kaparada and his cronies are propagating boycott of government services amongst the tribals in the meeting. They, on the other hand, live in pucca houses and claim benefits related to agriculture, electricity and water from the government.

In 2014, the district officials were at their wits' end when the 'Sati Pati' community voiced their boycott of the Lok Sabha elections. Vikrant Pandey, former Collector of Valsad, had to personally visit homes of Sahare and other cult honchos to convince them and get tribals enrolled in electoral rolls. It was in 2012 state polls, that the Election Commission undertook the first ever drive to include these tribals in the electoral rolls. "We want to explain them that voting is essential, even if they opt for NOTA (none of the above)," said Ravi Kumar Arora, Collector, Valsad.

Arora said that the new generation of the Sati Pati community does not have a rigid mindset like their predecessors. "In Valsad, we roughly estimate that close to 3,000 people belong to the cult. While earlier they refused to accept services, the newer generation is slowly changing. Now some from community use public transport and are enrolled in electoral rolls," he said.

"Most of us do not have ration cards. Some of us send children to school due to peer pressure, but do not have their names registered on school rolls as there is an absence of valid identity," said Shanta, a tribal from a neighbouring village, who attended the gathering.

Meanwhile, in the taluka health office at Kaparada, the air is tense. Women health workers are contemplating strategies to make sure that every baby in the village receives full immunisation according to the latest central government mandate propagated under Mission Indradhanush. In India, only 65% of the children are immunised for deadly diseases like polio, diarrhoea, pneumonia etc. They say that 100% immunisation is a hard feat to achieve. "Some babies in these hamlets belonging to Sati Pati communities will always be left out. They do not let us enter their homes. They would not even let us as much stand outside on their doorstep," said Sheela ben, an ASHA worker in Kaparada.

Local cult leader Sahare maintains, "We are against immunisation of children by ASHA workers. Immunisation leads to deaths amongst babies."
The cult is not only limited to Gujarat but is deeply entrenched in many states across India. The cult holds mass meetings at least 14 locations in a year across states in India. The next gathering on the cards was in March earlier this year at Akkalkuwa in Maharashtra.

Kaparada police officials note that literate individuals including a noted teacher in the nearby school of Nana pondha, close to 11 kilometers away from Rohiyal Talat, and an ex-army person residing residing in a nearby village also support the movement. The cult has its office headquartered in Vyara, the capital town of Tapi district in South Gujarat. They enjoy a huge fan following amongst youngsters who post images with Sati Pati motifs and slogans – 'Heavens, light our guide', or 'Swakarta pitru ki jai', on social media platforms like Facebook.

The local branch of the Intelligence Bureau keeps detailed dossiers on the activities of the 'Sati Pati'. Most of their documents are in Gujarati and talk about land and revenue rules. Strangely, absurd text appears in between pages tending towards use of abusive and vulgar language. "We have a tough time deciphering their documents. We cannot understand most of the things they mention in their files," said a police officer from Kaparada station. They say that the 'Sati Pati' movement receives support and funding from political parties, the local ones as well as the Congress and the BJP alike.

"Funding is also received from sources abroad," said the official. While the activities of the cult are largely non-violent till date, Sahare and his men have been called in for questioning to Kaparada police station, couple of times in the past. "We find it tough to penetrate into the cult. At the most, we deploy constables at the mass gatherings to maintain the law and order. Other things they do, frankly, are beyond us."