Interviewer:
Greetings, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Greetings.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, after almost a week, the viewers and your devotees will see you again.
Gurudev:
Yes, everyone was saying that a video should be posted at least once a week so they can see me. They were asking whom they should look to if I don't appear. But you see, I have been restricted from making videos for now. The doctors have advised against it, and Shantikunj (the ashram) has also requested that I don't make videos for the time being. However, seeing that 8 or 10 people came today specifically to request this, I decided to do one video today.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, this video is also being made because of an emergency situation. It has come to light that some people are committing fraud using your name.
Gurudev:
Yes, it's not just fraud; the situation is that some boys who were here previously have been removed. They are no longer allowed to enter here. Since they were old associates, they had everyone's phone numbers. They are now using those numbers to contact people and spread misinformation. They are telling people, "Gurudev has aged, he can no longer work, he cannot come to the temple, so come to us instead; we will do the work for you."
Gurudev:
I heard about a lady who came here crying this morning. They took 5,000 rupees from her and today gave her an amulet, demanding another 2,700 rupees. I asked her, "You have been coming to me for so long, why did you go to them?" She said they promised they would get her work done. I told her it's fine, she can go and spend more money there if she wants, but it won't be that easy.
Gurudev:
They have done this before too. There is a person named Jaydeb from Jangalmahal; they took 4,000 rupees from him. He later asked me if I had received the money. I said, "Where would I get the money from? They have pocketed everything."
Gurudev:
I don't want to take names, but there was a "Dada" (elder brother figure) here whom everyone knows. When the new committee questioned him about where two Benarasi sarees belonging to the Goddess went, and where the silver plate and glass set went, he couldn't provide an answer. Those items were under his care, and he had the keys, but they are missing now.
Gurudev:
Now, he is telling people that I am old and incapable of working. They claim they have brought in "Tantrics" to do the work. I have been doing this for 32 to 35 years and have never done anything like that. These people come for a year or two and suddenly start acting like Tantrics. They even take the medicines I used to prescribe and distribute them as their own. It's one thing to help people, but cheating them like this is wrong.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, at Shantikunj, it is still written in large letters that this temple does not accept a single penny. Shantikunj has always maintained this ideology. Throughout your life of spiritual practice, you have repeatedly spoken about the ill effects of taking money and why it should be avoided. Despite this, we are hearing reports of such fraud.
Gurudev:
We have heard about it. They have the phone numbers, so they bypass me and call the devotees directly. Since he was a lead figure here at one time, people still call him, not knowing that he has been removed from our circle. Our committee removed him because of his bad behavior and his inability to account for the missing items.
Interviewer:
Those who visit the temple regularly can see the difference in the atmosphere and the behavior of the people there now. Many devotees tell you this every day.
Gurudev:
Yes, they say the temple environment is good now; there are no hassles, and they can offer their prayers peacefully. Kalu-da is there now, taking care of everything. Things are fine. It was just that during my period of physical weakness, some people tried to take undue advantage of the situation. But the new committee has cleared them out. It's no use calling them anymore; they are not with us.
Gurudev:
My health will take about another month or a month and a half to fully recover before I can resume my work. I have to follow the doctor's advice. Many devotees have been understanding; they say they will wait even three months for me to get healthy. I am seeing this support from all sides.
Interviewer:
Also, given the unpredictable weather, it's better to be cautious.
Gurudev:
Yes, I agree. One shouldn't be whimsical about health. I want to help people, but I must keep my own body fit first. If I fall ill again, I won't be able to do anything. So, I am being careful for now. People are still coming to my house—about 10 to 15 people every day. Today, eight people came from different places. I told them I am unwell and asked them to come back later. They agreed. Some just come to see me because they haven't seen me in a long time. Three people came from Khidirpur just to get my blessings from a distance.
Interviewer:
It is strange because we have warned people about this fraud many times on this channel. As Gurudev said, he isn't fully recovered yet and won't be going to the temple for a while. Also, the Gangasagar Mela is coming up on the 15th. We are already worried because the trains will be incredibly crowded.
Gurudev:
Yes, the Gangasagar Mela is the only one open right now, and the crowds will be massive. Usually, 5 to 10 lakh (500,000 to 1 million) people attend. I used to go there myself years ago when there were no proper facilities or shelters; we used to stay out in the fields. Now, they build temporary huts, but only a day or two in advance.
Gurudev:
The administration has been strict because of the COVID situation. It's necessary because if cases spike again and another lockdown happens, everything will shut down. The government should be very cautious as cases are rising again. In Kolkata, there are 200 to 250 cases daily. We saw the crowds at Park Street on December 25th—so many people, and you can't tell who is wearing a mask and who isn't. People have become indifferent.
Gurudev:
Many people went to Tarapith on the 25th but couldn't even offer prayers because of the crowd. The same will happen at Dakshineswar on January 1st. I don't know what the government will do, but they should probably consider temporary restrictions. If this continues, we might face another lockdown.
Gurudev:
The Gangasagar Mela is the second-largest fair in the world after the Kumbh Mela. The sheer number of people is hard to manage. No matter what laws you make, it's difficult to control a crowd at the sea. I went there for 22 years, so I know.
Gurudev:
So, the main point of today's episode is to stop this fraud and make you all aware. Gurudev is still recovering, and he won't be at the temple for the Gangasagar Mela either.
Gurudev:
Look, let them earn money if they want, but the blame eventually falls on me because they originated from here. People will come back to me when things go wrong. These people have distanced themselves from society by doing this. For the outside world, Shantikunj is one entity; they won't distinguish between individuals. That is the main concern. They are taking advantage of my age and illness. Please stay away from these traps, or you will lose your money and everything else. I still do not take money, and I get very angry if anyone mentions it. It is a form of indecency.
Interviewer:
That is all we wanted to convey today. Please be careful. We will end today's episode here. Greetings, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Greetings.