The customary political news was elbowed out on Sunday from the main headlines. The focus was on the gruesome murder of a self-proclaimed holy man, Lutfar Rahman Faruque, who claimed to be the sole representative of Imam Mahdi.
Reportedly, unknown assailants entered his rented flat, locked up all the people, and then systematically went about killing six persons, including the son (also a cohort) of the so-called spiritual leader. They spared the children and Lutfar Rahman’s wife, which suggests that the killing was done mainly to silence the spiritual leader and his closest aides.
One newspaper, reporting the death, has hinted at conflict of religious sects, though there can be many reasons, the prime being that too many tigers in one jungle will only result in a scuffle for the top spot.
It reminds me of the line “ek gharme do pir” from Syed Waliullah’s novel on the fraud of holy men.
Sorry to sound so harsh, but the culture of holy men in Bangladesh and most parts of South Asia has become so entrenched that traditional faith is often relegated to glorify these spiritual gurus.
The trend actually began in the 60’s when India, in a bid to present to the world an exotic side to its culture, also promoted people like Mahesh Yogi and the likes.
A new generation in the West, severing ties with the old order which always remained aloof to the mystical attraction of the East, found itself imbued by the psychedelic explosion of the time, espousing unequivocally the need to immerse in the “unknown magic” of the Indian sub-continent.
Whether the magic existed or not, with psychedelic senses overtaking all, people needed to believe in something novel.
The rush to taste a morsel of eastern mysticism even beguiled The Beatles. Meditation, communal living, discarding of all social divisions were topped by something which never fails – unrestrained carnal association.
Enlightenment or not, no one says no to some old-fashioned fun in the hay. The trend quickly spawned several spiritual directions and the culture of the holy man became a social mainstay.
In Bangladesh, the “pir” culture is so intertwined with common life that we find a large number of socially influential people regularly thronging the homes of such people to seek blessings.
There are quite a few such “pirs” who have a large fan base … I mean disciples. They sit around the blessed one, serve him, capitulate to him, and in the case of the killed “pir,” we find that his acolytes not only bowed to him but also touched their forehead at his feet in the form of traditional “sijda” performed by Muslims during prayers.
Interestingly, a few months back, when a reporter of a local TV channel asked these followers to show their respect in front of a camera, they refused along with the “pir” himself.
It’s safe to speculate that Lutfar Rahman was a charlatan because he had not performed any miracle, at least not one which was documented with credible evidence. In fact, this is possibly true for all those who ply the trade of spiritual healer or guru across the country.
The stories of miracles are either opaque or propagated by a set of paid actors.
However, one must give the devil his due. These people have one great talent – the power of the gab, the force of persuasion. Once people’s trust is secured, the toughest challenge is won.
This is attained by an array of fascinating ploys: some prefer large (docile and illiterate) audiences; some adopt radical measures like going around with mud smeared all over the body and performing simple conjuring tricks which involves taking a piece of small rock from a curious listener to turn it into a raisin.
What Lutfar Rahman did to mesmerise a few hundred people is unknown, but it’s on record that his followers paid him a regular amount.
And they got receipts in return! Solid accountancy never fails.
Not surprisingly, this is where all holy men fall on the same platform – whatever the operating style, at one point of the game there is a monetary transaction. Either it’s done directly or the amount is collected by some trusted cohorts, because obviously, being a holy man, the “hujur” (lord) cannot deal in something so material and unrefined.
For good reason this trade now has many branches, going into astrology and treatment of human problems with stones.
Right in this city there are quite a few people who have given the rather hoary trade of the “pir” a new flashy appearance. These people dress smart, talk smoothly, have nicely maintained offices, and use religious references in their dialogue.
The main objective is to part a person from his/her money, though in no way will there be an attempt to demean a major religious faith. The strategy is to earn someone’s trust by showing total reliance on religion.
Having problems getting married? A lover has jilted you? Your boss is a nightmare? Caught in a legal wrangling with relatives over property? No problem is beyond solution. And of course, results are guaranteed!
In the desperation of the moment, many of us do not realise that most problems in life eventually lose their intensity. Over time, we become resigned to them or learn to live with them, while in between, some people get rich.
Well, let the recent killing be a warning: some also end up murdered.