Report of an ex-Sai Baba devotee who wants

to remain anonymous

Date: February 4, 2002

Overview

Sathya Sai Baba until relatively recently, has been arguably the most celebrated and respected holy man in India. He was seen as a role model for the 'New Age' community worldwide, while he gained the respect of political and religious leaders for his educational, medical and general charitable work both in India and overseas.

All this is changing. A 'dark cloud' hangs over the reputation of Sathya Sai Baba, since multiple allegations of sexual molestation, some with minors, have been made by 'primary sources' and seemingly credible ex-leaders of his organization. These testimonies have now been posted on a number of websites and reported in the mainstream press.

Without a properly instituted unbiased investigation by the Indian Government, it seems to the observer that on one hand corruption is at work, circumventing natural justice; while on the other hand, in the absence of serious rebuttal 'trial by media' is occurring.

Acknowledgements

During the writing of this report I spoke on the telephone, emailed, faxed, corresponded with and interviewed many people on both sides of the discussion. Some of these people are currently devotees while others have been involved in 'the exposé' while others are yet to decide, and are in the meantime are still connected with the organization adopting a neutral ‘wait and see’ approach.

I appreciated the assistance given me by all these people.

During the writing of this report I asked academics, each working within the different but relevant disciplines of Law, Psychology and Education to comment on the report so that it may be relevant to the serious independent reader –particularly Indian Government officials who may be investigating this issue.

For the reason that some of my close family are still connected to the Sai Baba Organization, and out of deference to them, I have as the author decided not to use my name on this document. I realize that this does diminish its value, however my family is more important to me than this report. It is my hope that the material will stand on its own.

Abstract

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1.0 General Background

1.1 Early History

1.2 The Followers and Activities

1.3 Sai Baba's Reputation

1.4 The Questions

2.0 Books on Sai Baba

2.1 Howard Murphet

2.2 Smt.Vijaya Kumari

2.3 Tal Brooke

3.0 Current Sexual Molestation Allegations

3.1 The Nexus Article

3.2 The London Telegraph

3.3 India Today

4.0 The Expose And the Internet

4.1 The Unconnected Phase

4.1.1 A Few Websites – September 1999

4.1.2 Yahoo Clubs – November 1999

4.1.3 Resignations – December 1999

4.1.4 A ‘Virtual Group’ – January 2000

4.2 The Connecting Phase

4.2.1 The Findings – February 2000

4.2.2 Swedish School Closed – March 2000

4.2.3 The Diary of a 15 Year Old Boy– April 2000

4.2.4 Apologist Activity – May 2000

4.2.5 Central Coordinating Group – June 2000

4.2.6 Nexus Magazine Publishes – Aug. 2000

4.3 The Connected Phase

4.3.1 Educational Conference- Sept. 2000

4.3.2 Discrediting The Exposé - Oct. 2000

4.3.3 The Telegraph of London

4.3.4 British Parliament - Nov. 2000

4.3.5 India Today Magazine

4.3.6 Sai Baba’s Reaction

4.3.7 Official bodies Involved - Jan. 2000

4.3.8 Hospital Inauguration - Feb. 2000

4.3.9 Official Action In India – March 2000

4.3.10 Volunteer vigilantes – ‘Burn Out’

4.4 The Disconnecting Phase

5.0 Christianity verses Hinduism

6.0 The Indian Skeptic

7.0 Legal Issues

7.1 The Credibility of Primary Sources

7.2 No Clear Rebuttal of Offences

8.0 The Need for a Formal Government Inquiry

8.1 Redress

8.2 Aiding and Abetting

8.3 Injunction

8.4 Clarification

Conclusion and Recommendation

Bibliography

Electronic Media URL’s

Appendix

Introduction

During the last eighteen months investigative journalists have written broadsheet feature articles, while sensational tabloid exposés have capitalized on allegations about the sexual deviance of the enigmatic Indian Guru, Sathya Sai Baba, believed by millions to be an ‘Avatar' or 'Divine Incarnation'.

The purpose of this report is to identify the major allegations of sexual misconduct and review some of the major arguments and stances being adopted by those involved in the debate, including those of Sai Baba himself.

The specific aim of the report is to encourage an inquiry of some kind to be made under the auspices of the Indian Government.

The scope of the report has been limited exclusively to the examination of the reports of sexual impropriety, which have appeared in both the print media and on websites. A plethora of reports that range from Sai Baba's faking of miracles, to accusations of murder, have been omitted for the sake of focus.

The structure of the report needs some comment. The first three sections are designed to allow any reader to become aware of Sai Baba and the current situation in a general sense. Section four regarding the exposé and the Internet, attempts to trace the events and interactions that have led to the pressing need for a full unbiased inquiry. Section five comments briefly on religious issues. The balance of the report seeks to address legal issues while arguing the need for the institution of a formal Indian Government inquiry to uncover the facts.

Email contact with Web Masters and leaders of the exposé has made more in-depth research regarding the history of the exposé possible. The author has also spoken with, or has exchanged emails with, many of the 'primary sources', exposé leaders and the apologists for Sai Baba mentioned in the appendix items. Previously the author had, over a fifteen-year period visited and met Sai Baba. Until September 2000 the author was one of the office bearers of the Australian Sathya Sai Organization, when he was dismissed for seeking an internal inquiry into the allegations against the organizations founder, Sathya Sai Baba.

For these reasons, although striving for objectivity, the author acknowledges that a certain bias may be reflected in this report, which was undertaken for the purpose of seeking the truth and finding 'resolution' for all concerned.

Documents related to the author’s endeavor to instigate an internal inquiry have been cited in the appendix are available on various web sites, if one is interested.

The author has attempted to avoid preconceived ideas about this issue. Although clearly at odds with a position involving either ‘blind faith’ in Sathya Sai Baba, or the irresponsible proclamation of his guilt before a trial, the author is convinced there is more than enough reason to take the matter very seriously.

The author is also convinced that the only method of research that can ultimately be accepted as conclusive, is a properly instituted and clearly unbiased judicial inquiry into the matter, one which rules out any possibility of corruption or protection of this high profile public figure. The author makes no personal authoritative judgment on the matter, until such an inquiry has been constituted.

1.0 General Background

An appreciation of the background of Sai Baba and the organization that has grown up around him is addressed briefly in this section. The past reputation of Sai Baba, and the questions that lead on from the recent spate of allegations, need to be ‘contexualized’ if this issue is to be understood in depth. Both the Nexus Article, and the Brown London Telegraph article, contain valuable sections providing general background.

1.1 Early History

Born in 1926 in Puttapathi, a little village in Andhra Pradesh, Sathyanarayana Raju, was, according to the hagiography written by his late disciple Professor N. Kasturi, able to manifest gifts of sweets and stationary for his school friends out of 'nowhere'. At the age of 14, the boy Sathya proclaimed himself a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, a well-known saint in Northern India.

1.2 The Followers and Their Activities

Since that time Sai Baba's reputation and following has grown to the point where somewhere between 10 and 50 million adherents have formed many thousands of groups in India, with centres in most countries of the world. In 1995 there were 109 centres and groups in Australia with 7,000 adherents (Humphries & Ward, 1995). The members of these groups sing Bajans (devotional singing), study Sai Baba's teachings, provide 'education in human values' classes for children and youth and do Seva (acts of community service) in their local area. Another function of the organization is to both formally and informally arrange pilgrimages for devotees, newcomers and youth groups to the Ashrams of Sai Baba, so as to receive Darshan (being in Sai Baba's physical presence).

1.3 Sai Baba's Reputation

The name of Sathya Sai Baba, has until recently, been synonymous with good works and genuine spirituality. For this reason it has been with great reluctance that negative allegations have been printed in the western 'New Age' press.

(Roads, D. Nexus: editorial).

Many of India's most respected political leaders, both past and present, along with senior judiciary, academics and scientists are said to be devotees (Brown, 2000). The decidedly 'dark cloud' now hanging over the reputation of Sathya Sai Baba does not seem to gel with the reported good works for which he and his organization have become known.

1.4 The Questions

Is Sai Baba the miraculous, loving and awesome Avatar of our Age - India's National Treasure, or is he simply the obviously talented but gravely flawed Sathyanaryana Raju the Paedophile Potentate of Puttapathi - India's National Disgrace? Or is there, as many loyal disciples hope, some other ‘inexplicable X factor', that will yet make sense of this binary controversy? (Brown, 2000 pp.14-15). These are the questions at the centre of this debate. They are the questions that hover over the Indian Government, which up until this point seems to have failed to adequately investigate the allegations referred to in this report.

2. Books on Sai Baba

There have been literally hundreds of books written about Sai Baba, almost all of these are anecdotal accounts of the individual author’s experiences and of the experiences of other people individually known to the specific authors. Mentioned here are three authors each presenting very different perspectives of Sai Baba.

2.1 Howard Murphet

During the 60’s this Australian journalist, while studying Theosophy in South India, met and became enamored of Sai Baba, believing him to be a genuine God-man. Howard Murphet's book, Man of Miracles (Murphet, 1994) became widely successful in introducing Sai Baba to the West. The book proclaimed Sai Baba as an 'Avatar' and described, in detail, many of the miracles purported to be occurring. First printed in 1971 this book and the author’s various sequels are regarded by his current devotees as seminal reading.

The authors stance is that of the 'esoteric researcher who finds the truth he has been seeking all his life'.

2.2 Smt. Vijayakumari

In her book, Other than You Refuge There is None, (Vijayakumari, 1999), the author presents a fascinating picture of Sai Baba as a youth. From the perspective of a young and ardent devotee, this author shares her clear remembrances of life with the youthful Sai Baba (over 50 years ago), including some of his unusual, if not outrageous behavior. Taken in context with stories coming out recently, this book gives a valuable insight into the leelas or 'divine pranks', that were purportedly designed to 'test' the devotion and loyalty of followers.

The strange behavioral patterns innocently recounted by the author, could quite conceivably be the precursor of more aberrant behavior later in life. “Creating a rift between a husband and wife, causing quarrels between a mother and a daughter in law…; walking behind an elderly man and pulling off his dhoti, dropping big ants in the coiffures of ladies…… When after generating all these quarrelsome situations, He came and sat down primly in the chair in front of us, we used to wonder if it could be the mischievous Sai we saw only a few moments ago. But we were a direct witness of that streak of His character. Where can we get such good fortune? He was mischievous, very mischievous." (Vijayakumati, 1999 p. 42)

Is such behavior a precursor of more aberrant behavior later in life?

The author's stance is that of 'the worshipful and love struck devotee'.

2.3 Tal Brooke

The only major literary work alleging Sai Baba's sexual molestations is Avatar of Night (Brooke, 2000). First published during the seventies as Lord of the Air, Brooke relates his paths to both devotion and disillusionment, which included a personal sexual approach by Sai Baba. Brooke comes to the conclusion that his once beloved Guru was a 'False Christ'. This book was understandably perceived by Indian critics as 'anti-Hindu', even ‘anti-Indian’, as it seemed to be influenced by his 'born-again' Christian perspective.

The first edition was effectively banned in India. The recent re-release has been taken more seriously than the first printing, as it directly confirms the latest allegations.

Brooke is currently president of the Spiritual Counterfeit Project, which publishes a range of journals and newsletters through its website www.scp-inc.org/ Amongst other revelations this book details stories suggesting that Sai Baba was storing semen from the school lads for occult purposes (Brooke, 2000, p.332), and that Sai Baba is a hermaphrodite (Ibid. p.330). The book paints Sai Baba as a very powerful pervert, using occult powers for his own gratification.

The almost unbelievable assertions in this book turned many devotees away from taking Brooke more seriously (including this author). However in the light recent allegations Brooke is seen as the first ‘whistle blower’, providing historical context, if not evidence, that such behavior has been alleged for many years.

The author's stance is that of the 'disillusioned and somewhat angry ex-devotee'.

3.0 The Current Allegations of Sexual Molestation

Sai Baba is alleged to have performed sexual acts with devotees usually under thirty, these include mutual masturbation, fellatio and attempted rape (Brown, 2000). The private nature of the personal interviews described has meant it is difficult to find observing witnesses. The personal testimonies of those alleging molestation are however both graphic and convincing.

There seems to be no reason to suspect complicity in regard to these reports (Appendix 4). On the contrary, there seems nothing to gain and much to loose for those making allegations. The decision by most alleging victims to remain anonymous, is understandable, especially if members of their family are still devotees. Until such time as a responsible authority has inaugurated a formal inquiry, there will probably be relatively few public allegations by young Indian victims. The apologist oriented internal mechanisms of the Sathya Sai Organization or the sometimes-fanatical vigilantes in the anti-Sai Baba camp are clearly not forums that can meet the needs of genuine under age victims, if they exist.

Although there have now been many reports posted on various web sites and circulated on email lists, this report focuses on the allegations made through three major print media articles, each originating on a different continent. These articles contain substantial allegations. It can be assumed that published articles are more likely to be well researched than Internet contributions posted by individuals holding a specific bias on a clearly contentious issue.

3.1 The Nexus Article.

In August 2000 Nexus Magazine, an Australian 'New Age' journal with a worldwide boutique readership, printed an article containing testimonies of three very credible ex-devotees and onetime leaders of the Sathya Sai Organization. The article entitled 'Fraud Fakery and Molestation', alerted the international 'Eastern Religious' and 'New Age' communities of the probable 'dark side' of Sai Baba.

As part of the research for this report, the editor of Nexus Magazine, Duncan Roads, shared his method of research prior to printing this article and his experience of feedback once the article had been circulated. See (Appendix B.)

3.2 The London Telegraph

In October 2000 The Telegraph (Appendix 2) printed a 5,000 word investigative feature on the issue. This article was clearly a fair-minded and well-researched appraisal of the situation. Brown interviewed alleged victims, former leaders and those still holding leadership positions within the organization. The allegation of attempted rape and fellatio by Sai Baba are clearly documented in an interview with a young man recorded in this article (Brown, 2000).

3.3 India Today

On December 4^th 2000, India Today printed a major cover story on Sai Baba in conjunction with his 75^th Birthday celebrations, held in the last week of November. The first half of this feature article was devoted to a synoptic overview of Sai Baba's good works and reputation as a revered holy man. This first segment of the article mentioned the many dignitaries attending the celebrations and respectfully acknowledged the positive contributions and teaching of Sathya Sai Baba. The second segment of this article detailed a number of the allegations currently being made by ex-devotees. India Today had obviously done some solid research, giving them the confidence to go into print.

When the India Today ten-page cover story ‘hit the stands’ in six Indian languages (including English), suddenly the Sai Baba controversy was the talking point of India. Colleges, homes, offices, and tea stalls across the country were reportedly debating the issue. What was, 12 months earlier a practically an unknown issue, became a raging controversy. India Today was faced with lawsuits from several devotees for having dared to "defame their God". The reactions from this article are still reverberating in India.

4. The Exposé and the Internet

In answering the question ‘how and why’ in the last three years, has this issue got to a point where the word ‘exposé’, is an appropriate way to describe the spread of information, it is useful to quote from Sampath, H., 2001 who emailed the author in June 2001: "… I can say the answer is one word : Communications. Yes, faster communications between remote corners of the world has resulted in the exposé of Sai Baba snowballing into what it has become today.
In early 1999, when I started an active campaign on the Internet, practically nothing much was known about Sai Baba's fraud or sexual abuse, to most of his followers… the victims of sexual abuse were not identifiable, and were spread out over several countries. Not many victims knew other victims, and as a result they were reluctant to be a lone voice, fearing disbelief by others.”

Negative experiences and information about Sai Baba, having been kept from dissemination, through the isolation of disaffected ex- devotees, without a voice, has been released in parallel with the development of internet technology.

“The internet played the single most important role in unifying and connecting people from all over the world, as well as creating opportunity for the spread of this information about Sai Baba in the electronic medium without boundaries. (Sampath, 2001)

Key historical developments of ‘the exposé’ were provided by Hari Sampath. This information has been condensed and rephrased to help place the exposé in chronological context, while providing a background to the issues that have been raised by the exposé group. This report divides this development into four phases: the 'unconnected' phase; the 'connecting' phase; the 'connected' phase and finally the ‘disconnected’ phase.

4.1 The ‘Unconnected’ Phase

The random and unconnected development of a few web sites, which individuals had set up to tell their story, were probably in existence from the early days of the development of the Internet. At this time there was little connection between those alleging to have been victims of sexual abuse by Sai Baba.

4.1.1 A Few Websites - September 1999

While actively browsing the Internet Sampath found two people, Said Korramshahgol and Jed Geyerhahn, who had been claiming for several years that Sai Baba had sexually molested them as teenagers. Said Korramshahgol had put up a website that detailed these allegations.

As Sampath had heard similar stories, while in India, working in the security department of Sai Baba's Ashram, he became interested and contacted them.

4.1.2 Yahoo Clubs - November 1999

A loose group was formed to actively publicize all the activities of Sai Baba through the Internet and Yahoo clubs. The numbers started growing. An impact among Sai Baba followers provoked Sai Baba to speak angrily about "internet rumours against him".

4.1.3. Resignations - December 1999

A British pianist, David Bailey, extremely close to Sai Baba and regarded as a VIP devotee, was rumoured to have left Sai Baba after hearing shocking tales from the students of Sai Baba. A former Swedish actor, Conny Larsson also came out publicly admitting having had a homosexual relationship with Sai Baba for several years.

4.1.4. A ‘Virtual Group’ - January 2000

A loose group started to become more connected and organized. They decided to formulate a strategy designed inform the millions of innocent believers, all over the world, about the allegations. The Internet was helping many unconnected individuals contact each other. A "virtual group" was being formed.

4.2 The Connecting Phase

This phase looks at the period during which many of the alleging victims, parents, ex-leaders and ex-devotees made email and telephone contact. Interestingly this 'connecting' occurred without personal 'face to face' encounter. The ‘virtual group’ was spread out around the world. A three-point approach was adopted by this newly formed e-group that had decided to inform the world and facilitate freedom of speech using the new technologies. Whatever one’s stance on this issue, it is fair to say that their strategy has been spectacularly successful in accomplishing the first two of their stated objectives:

1.Publicise themselves and the Sai Baba expose on websites, and provide opportunities for the alleging victims of sexual abuse, worldwide to contact them. To verify authenticity of primary sources, as much as possible, and then persuade them to talk to others about their experiences, while posting these testimonies on their growing websites.
2.Collect as many such accounts as possible, and get the International media involved in the effort to expose Sai Baba. They recognized that this would be possible only if several victims were willing to talk to the media.
3.Use the publicity generated by the media stories, to initiate official action in various countries, as well as make the matter known to the Sai Baba followers and the general public. The official actions initiated, by themselves would become news stories, and generate an expanding effect. (Sampath, 2001).

4.2.1 The Findings - February 2000

David Bailey and his wife Faye, created a website which have become known as ‘The Findings’ www.myfreeoffice.com/saibaexposed/ This was a 43-page account revealing what these two long time devotees, and positive ‘published authors’ had recently discovered about Sai Baba. The site became a ‘one stop shop’ for those who had heard about the allegations. The site included accounts from credible witnesses. Many were long-term devotees and disenchanted leaders, people who had been close to Sai Baba.

The Findings were downloaded, printed and distributed to thousands of Sai Baba devotees all over the world with the result that a large number of Western devotees left Sai Baba. Exact figures or even estimates are difficult to ascertain. Certainly the number of new devotees since the posting of The Findings, seem to have been minimal. This is an important point when assessing the impact of the exposé.

4.2.2 Swedish School Closed – March 2000

By this time, two boys from the Swedish Sai Baba School had come forward alleging that they had been sexually molested by Sai Baba. The Swedish School was closed. The School Principal, Brit-Marie Anden, greatly shocked by all these revelations, resigned from the Sai Baba organization, and openly condemned Sai Baba.

The Findings were informally sweeping the ‘Sai Baba World’. In several countries, followers were leaving his organization in droves, while some centres started closing down. There began heated discussions between ex-devotees and diehard devotees on various Internet clubs - the battle lines were drawn.

4.2.3 The Diary of a 15 Year Old Boy - April 2000

A fifteen year old boy from California, who claimed to have been severely molested sexually by Sai Baba in September 1999, had written down these accounts in his diary. Copies of this diary were distributed by his mother to thousands of Sai Baba followers all over the world via the internet. More and more stories of Sai Baba having molested young men and boys were by now emerging from all parts of the world. Many of those making the allegations were saying they had kept silent for fear of being disbelieved. Some stories dated back to the late 1960's.

By this time, the stories were beginning to be taken seriously, and there was a spate of resignations by office bearers of the Sathya Sai Organizations in USA, UK, Sweden, Australia and many other countries.

4.2.4 Apologists Activity - May 2000

The loyal leaders of the Sathya Sai Organization, realizing the gravity of the situation, suggested that Sai Baba "handled and oiled the genitals" of young men only to “raise their ‘Kundalini’ Chakra", and that it was simply a ritual for their own good. Those who had left the organization saw these leaders as “spin doctors". This group of people has over time development of a website www.geocities.com/the_sai_critic/
to counteract the damage wrought by the exposé and present a loyal and plausible devotee viewpoint. This site purports to be unbiased, as do the exposé sites.

4.2.5 Central Coordinating Group – June 2000

A group calling itself The Central Coordinating Group (CCG), consisting of about a dozen former followers of Sai Baba from various countries, was formed. This group researched and identified victims of sexual molestations, encouraging them to talk to the media, and share their experiences with other followers of Sai Baba.

The CCG was very active during 2000. It was said to comprise 18 members and was responsible for much of the organized efforts to expose Sai Baba. The ‘Sai Baba Exposé’ had certainly started taking definite shape.

Strangely, in India, there was still virtually no awareness of these activities, possibly due to the Internet being less freely available to the public compared to other countries, and also a lack of media exposure.

4.2.6 Nexus Magazine Publishes – August 2000

The Nexus Magazine, largely circulated Australia and Canada and some other countries, published an article entitled ‘Sai Baba Exposed: Fraud, Fakery and Molestation’ (Nexus, 2000) This lead to greater publicity, and another spate of resignations from the Sathya Sai Organizations branches, particularly in Australia. This article was basically a reprint of the testimonies of Gallagher, T., de Kraker, H. and Sethi J. & G..

The integrity of Duncan Roads, the editor of Nexus Magazine, is revealed as one reads of his initial reluctance to publish a ‘negative article’ about a person revered by so many of his magazines readership. However after doing some substantial personal research and becoming convinced of the truth of the testimonies he courageously went to print, regardless of the consequences. This report includes an email from Duncan Roads to the author outlining his process prior to printing and his observations of the consequences after printing (Appendix B).

Other magazines in Europe like Sokaren in Sweden, Bild in Germany, Trouw (a newspaper) and Spiegelbeeld in Holland, followed up with more exposé stories, and suddenly the allegations were known to most of the Sai Baba followers in the western world, who used the internet.

4.3 The Connected Phase

This phase has been identified by the use of the now connected 'virtual group'. Those who were now connected took certain actions and initiatives, in a coordinated manner, using the E-lists and the group structure they had established in the 'connecting phase'. The connections with formal institutions outside of the interested 'E-group' also marks this developmental phase.

4.3.1 Educational Conference - September 2000

An alert member of the CCG in Sweden saw on a Sai Baba Organization website from Singapore that UNESCO and the Flinders University of South Australia were scheduled to participate in and partially sponsor a conference on 'teacher training' to be held by the Sathya Sai Organization at Sai Baba's headquarters in Puttaparthi, between Sep 25-29 2000.

The CCG swung into action, and there were thousands of e-mails sent to UNESCO and The Flinders University, along with several sworn statements from victims and families of victims, along with excerpts from The Findings. The UNESCO and Flinders University were asked to immediately withdraw from the conference. The CCG believed that this conference was an effort by Sai Baba to boost his sagging image, and gain "respectability" by association with UNESCO.

The UNESCO conference was originally organized by The Institute of Sathya Sai Education, Bangkok and Art Wong Jumsai, a member of the Thailand Parliament and a long standing Sai Baba devotee.

UNESCO headquarters in Paris immediately consulted with the French Government, and with some input from their legal cell, decided to withdraw. A statement was issued by UNESCO, Bangkok, saying that their action in no way undermined the credibility of Sai Baba or his movement.

This was received with a spate of protests from the now very well connected e-group. Another round of scathing e-mails and letters followed, demanding that UNESCO publicly disclose the real reasons for their withdrawal.

It is reported that David Bailey, from the UK called UNESCO everyday on this matter, while Glen Meloy, another American ex-devotee encouraged many people on his extensive email list to also send letters of protest. Sampath petitioned the secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan with statements and details. With the threat of lawsuits and tremendous pressure from thousands of former followers, the UNESCO finally issued a curt and specific statement directly attributing the withdrawal to the alleged sexual abuse of minors and youth by Sai Baba, while reiterating the commitment of the UNESCO to the UN charter of rights for children. This action could be seen as an indication of tacit recognition of the likelihood that at least some of the allegations could be true.

The international media release did not stop the Sathya Sai Organization from continuing to promote the conference as a "UNESCO sponsored conference", thus leading to more petitions to newspapers in India, like The Times of India (apparently seen as a pro Sai Baba newspaper by the members of the exposé). The CCG e-group prevailed upon UNESCO to issue official disclaimers in newspapers severing all links with the Sai Baba organization. However, the sexual abuse accusations were not mentioned by most Indian newspapers.

4.3.2 Discrediting The Expose - October 2000

Proxy websites were being set up by the apologists of Sai Baba, however they were all unofficial. One of the foremost of these is www.geocities.com/the_sai_critic/ as previously mentioned. Verbal rumours discrediting the individuals working to expose Sai Baba were spread, seemingly openly, at group devotional meetings. Some of the people involved in the exposé were now being called paedophiles themselves. The author personally followed up a pernicious rumour that one of the exposé leaders, David Bailey, was in prison in England for paedophilia. Contacting him on his mobile phone, he assured me he was not speaking from a mobile phone in jail.

4.3.3 The Telegraph of London

The Telegraph of London came out with a six-page story of the Sai Baba fraud and molestations, the author Mick Brown had traveled to America to meet with those making allegations. This story caused a storm of outrage by devotees in many countries.

4.3.4 British Parliament – November 2000

The British Parliament took up the issue. A Member of Parliament, Tony Colman, tabled questions in the House of Commons. Coleman asked the Home Office what action was being taken against the Sai Baba in the UK.

4.3.5 India Today Magazine

Sampath had been establishing contacts with the India Today magazine. They were becoming interested in the Sai Baba story, as the Indian paper The Pioneer had reprinted The Telegraph story.

Sampath tells of much communication between himself and the India Today editor, Arun Puri, regarding the taking on of this rather controversial story. The various political pressures were apparently enormous. India Today finally decided to do a major investigative piece, to coincide with the birthday celebrations of Sai Baba.

The CCG coordinated a worldwide effort to make available to India Today sworn statements from all known victims willing to talk. Information and phone numbers of ex-leaders from a number of countries were made available for the India Today researchers.

The effect of an organized computer literate group can be seen here to have a significant effect in facilitating research for the print media.

By this time the US State Dept. had responded to Hari Sampath saying that the US embassy would investigate these complaints and get back to him. An official quote from them was apparently made available to India Today.

4.3.6 Sai Baba’s Reaction

The Indian print media publicity led to a major change in stance by Sai Baba. Prior to the India Today article Sai Baba had said: "Many of you are pained by what some papers are indulging in, regarding me! Many are urging that something should be done about it. But I am holding everyone back, for that is the best way to deal with both praise and blame. The ocean knows no overflowing or drying up. It is ever full, ever majestic and ever unconcerned". In contrast to this seemingly unconcerned attitude towards the exposé and his detractors, after the India Today article he was projecting anger and vitriol.

During the 2000 Christmas address Sai Baba lashed out at politicians, the media and "the many Judases" who were conspiring against him. He accused those making the allegations of being paid to do so by the press. When read objectively, this speech reads like a political harangue, with its repeated restatements of his welfare achievements and his proclamations regarding his total unselfishness and absolute purity (Sathya Sai Baba, 2000)

4.3.7 Official Bodies Involved - January 2001

Some members of the CCG emailed, telephoned and faxed the United States Consular Office in Delhi regarding complaints previously lodged with that office. These complaints were finally analyzed by the Chief Consular Officer and were turned over to the legal attaché of the FBI in Delhi.

Jens Sethi, the German national who was molested by Sai Baba (Nexus, 2000) filed a complaint with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India.

4.3.8 Hospital Inauguration

Sai Baba organized a function to inaugurate his new hospital in Bangalore. Prime Minister Vajpayee, Chief Ministers Naidu, Vilasrao Deshmukh, S.M. Krishna, and a host of other publicly eminent men attended this well publicized event.

The hospital inauguration could be seen as a statement of loyalty, or even ‘a show of strength’, by both Sai Baba and the devotees in ‘high places’. Certainly it was a clear indication that the exposé of Sathya Sai Baba has a very long way to go before it had wide spread credibility in the political life of India.

According to Sampath, since the India Today article was published, some powerful voices have been speaking to the major print media editors. Sampath believes that these people do not want Sai Baba to be discredited, as this would discredit themselves, as long-term devotees.

4.3.9 Official Action In India – March 2000

Hari Sampath, supported by some of the CCG, filed a 132 page complaint against Sai Baba, to the CBI in India, along with several sworn statements and affidavits etc. As the CBI requires Supreme Court direction to open up investigations into Sai Baba, Sampath moved the Supreme Court. This move has not been successful. Some ex-members are cynical about the possibility of any fair investigation or trial that takes place in India, believing that the highly placed devotees will sabotage any effort to charge Sai Baba or institute a formal inquiry.

The author of this report does not share this viewpoint, believing that such a truth seeking investigation is in the interests of people of good will on both sides of this debate.

4.3.10 Volunteer Vigilantes – ‘Burn Out’

An issue impacting the exposé relates to the fact that the work undertaken is unpaid. Being so, each person who becomes part of ‘the exposé’ is subject to ‘burn out’ either financially or emotionally. Investigating sexual crime is not ‘life enhancing’ work in itself. Such work is undertaken because the ex-devotee feels a responsibility to 'put right' something they believe has 'gone wrong'. This ‘vigilante’ factor does give rise to the 'crusader stance', which can lead to obsession, imbalance and bias. It is clear to this researcher that only a properly instituted Government Inquiry led by trained, paid, impartial personnel can take the research, testimonies and information provided by the volunteer exposé leaders to the next stage.

4.4 The ‘Disconnecting’ Phase

This phase in the opinion of the author has already begun. Leadership issues, differences in modes of operation and the ‘burn out’ factor, already spoken about are resulting in the ‘disconnection’ of the people who joined together to expose what they believed to be true. This phase is almost to be expected and should not be seen as a sign that people have dropped their concern for the issue. Each person has a life to live. This author has reached the point of ‘disconnecting’, once this report has been finalized and passed it on to those who who are still active.

The recent acts of terrorism in the United States are also having an affect on the time and energy of those who were once well organized. It is the author’s opinion that the ‘disconnecting’ phase will continue. However the issue itself will not die away. Over time more devotees will defect and new waves of activism will occur.

The potential for psychological imbalance amongst the vigilante group is clearly high. The impartial observer may see individual imbalance on the part of a specific expose leader or detractor of Sai Baba, as a factor that discredits aspects of the exposé itself, and brings into question the allegations.

The author asks the reader to be ‘understanding’ regarding the perceived intensity, or even fanaticism on the part of some of those who are simply trying to tell their story. The ‘frustration factor’ of not being taken seriously is bound to have an effect on the individual ex-devotee.

The focus needs to be on fact-finding through those primary sources, who believe they have been abused and are prepared to speak out. The endemic nature of the sexual abuse of minors, should be the main issue to be addressed by a formal impartial inquiry. The alleged actions of Sai Baba are the subject in question, not the individual challenges of the exposé leaders.

5.0 Christianity versus Hinduism

A concern that has apparently been reportedly expressed in India is the assumption that the exposé is a Christian initiative designed to discredit Hinduism as a whole. Cathy De Grandpre of Missoula, Montana in an email forwarded to the author from simonandcathy@hotmail.com Fri, 20 Jul 2001 09:20:52 –0600 states: “My concern is that Christians who want to speak out against Sai Baba are doing so not because of Sai Baba himself, but because they believe that Christianity is the only way, and Hinduism itself is wrong. I still feel that the East has a great deal to offer and I don't believe Christianity is the solution to the Sai Baba problem. I wanted to mention my feeling about this because I am an ex-devotee and I would be unhappy to see Christians using the Sai Baba incident to support their belief that the only way to God is through Christ. If they are protesting because they believe that sincere spiritual seekers should be allowed to practice without being manipulated and coerced by charlatan spiritual leaders then I would rally with them.”

While compiling this report there was no evidence that those involved in the CCG of ‘The Exposé’ were involved in any anti-Hindu campaign. There seems to be little reason for the Indian authorities to stereotype the issue as a ‘Christian attack of Hindu culture’.

6.0 The Indian Skeptic

Premanand B., the editor of the Indian Skeptic has been involved in the exposing of Sai Baba for many years. His writings are extensive on all aspects of both Sai Baba, Gurus and cults in India. The text of the Indian Skeptic, vol.12 no. 4, August 1999, pages 18-28 http://sekty.net/Data/Materialy/Baba/e-27txt.php is an interesting and damning portrayal of student life at the at the Sri Sathya Sai Hostel for Boys (if it is true). The article accuses by name the Principle of the Primary School of complicity in providing young boys for Sai Baba to molest “…sending in front good looking, usually fair and sometimes girlish boys, because it is well known that Babaji has a weakness for such boys……These small boys who are generally not even in their teens, are taken one by one in the inner interview room behind the curtain by Babaji. For some time he fondles them and suddenly he opens their zippers and pulls down their pants and underpants. Now Babaji massages and fondles the sex organs of the small boys, who know nothing and take it as some form of spirituality… These boys are labeled FORM BOYS and are kept in the forefront by the Headmistress.”

This article also refers by name to the disappearance of students reported in local newspapers and makes many powerful accusations backed up with the names of high school boys who have been bribed… “Generally Babaji gives some money (usually R’s 500/-) …flashy watches, golden pens, gold chains and pendants, rings, bracelets etc… Usually the number of such gifts are indicators of the degree of sexual connection the boy has with Babaji, it can be mere caressing of genitals, masturbation sodomy or dirty oral sex.”

B. Premanand, considering his long running, and well-documented campaign to expose Sai Baba as a charlatan, would no doubt be described by his critics as a ‘biased writer’. However his seemingly meticulous research containing many names and posing many unanswered questions, would no doubt play an important part in any Government Inquiry into the activities of Sathya Sai Baba.

7.0 Legal Issues

The fact that no formal publicly identifiable Government Inquiry into the alleged activities of Sai Baba has occurred, can be seen as strange to the impartial researcher, especially considering the extent of the allegations against him. The following points would seem to be important as the Indian Government considers their way forward in this matter.

7.1 The Credibility of Primary Sources

Most alleged victims, particularly the younger ones, understandably do not wish to be named publicly for reasons of embarrassment (Brown, 2000). There are however, a number of men now in their thirties and fourties who have been prepared to speak publicly about their experiences. The credibility of these 'primary sources' is enhanced as more witness step forward. The likelihood of all the 'primary sources' being liars would seem to be diminishing. So, although the evidence is anecdotal, by induction a fair-minded researcher cannot help but lean towards the likelihood that at least some of the testimonies deserve to be taken very seriously, by the appropriate Indian authorities.

7.2 No Clear Rebuttal of Offences

It seems that Sai Baba himself has never addressed the actual content of the allegations, other than to assert that he is ‘perfect’. Other than the outburst already mentioned, he focuses on sharing selected information about his good works, totally avoiding the issue of sexual interference, which is at the heart of the issue. While speaking about himself he has said " Sai's heart is pure, His feelings are sacred, and he is totally selfless." (Sathya Sai Baba, 2000) Although this infers that he is not acting in accord with the allegations, it does not deny them. It may be that Sathya Sai Baba is a clinical Theomaniac, genuinely believing that he is God. It could then follow quite logically to his mind that what ordinary people call paedophile activities are ‘sacred activities’ when performed by ‘Himself’.

However, Sai Baba’s possible Theomania, in a sense a side issue. Whether as a citizen of India Sai Baba is breaking its laws should remain the focus of the reader. Religious intolerance towards the cult, based on objections to Sai Baba’s belief about himself should not divert the reader from the issue at hand.

The leaders of the Organization, although confronted with the multiple testimonies, have simply echoed Sai Baba’s statements regarding ‘Himself’, while also stating that anything he chose to do would be for the highest good of everybody. There are clearly a number of leaders who admit that he does apply oil to the genitals of youthful male devotees – for their own spiritual growth. Such statements are well documented on websites.

Sai Baba's assertion that "people who try to obstruct sacred activities are no human beings at all. They are verily demons." (Sathya Sai Baba, 2000), is hardly a reasonable way to refute the allegations. In fact such rhetoric could motivate loyal but unstable devotees to engage in irresponsible violent acts against those who speak out in public about their personal experience. Sai Baba is preparing his devotees for more accusations, "…the rise in the number of treacherous people like Judas." (Sathya Sai Baba, 2000).

8.0 The Need for a Formal Government Inquiry

The need for a formal enquiry into this issue is becoming increasingly obvious. New allegations are being posted on expanded and comprehensive web sites such as www.sathyasaivictims.com and others, while new print media articles and documentaries in Denmark and Canada are soon to be released. 'Trial by media' however is ultimately never a satisfactory way for the public to come to a conclusion about a criminal issue.

The following reasons are put forward to support a formal inquiry of some kind under the auspices of the Indian Government.

8.1 Redress

The aim of such an inquiry would be to achieve some redress for the alleged victims, who have testified to sexual abuse. Initially an inquiry would demonstrate to the world and the ‘primary sources that the issue is being taken seriously by the Indian Government and are seen as potentially more than 'rumours'. In a sense such an inquiry would be seen as redress, as such an action would at the least acknowledge compassion for those who have been prepared to testify publicly, and would be a sensible precursor of any further action that may be taken by the courts or by individuals in the future.

8.2 Aiding and Abetting

If the allegations are adjudicated as spurious and without substance by such an inquiry, then the leaders of the Sathya Sai organization who continue to send 'youth groups' to Sai Baba’s Ashram, will be absolved of responsibility for aiding and abetting a potential paedophile ring. The members of such ‘youth groups’ that attend ‘interviews’ are, if the allegations are true, at risk of sexual abuse.

At the moment, such ‘youth group leaders’ who know of the issue, have a clear ‘duty of care’, to both parents and youth, to at least inform them of the allegations. Such knowledge could be adjudged by a court as a ‘dereliction of duty’, were it subsequently proved that such officers knew of the reports, but failed to inform a minors parents or guardians.

8.3 Injunction

If an investigative body of inquiry were to conclude that the allegations were more than rumour and should be taken seriously, then an 'injunction' to prohibit Sai Baba from fraternizing with young potential victims could be imposed on him. This would seem to be a fair precaution, while court proceedings were initiated. Such action would be standard practice for any school teacher or priest in the West, who had multiple allegations of sexual molestation leveled at them.

However good Sai Baba’s former reputation may be, and however powerful his devotees may be in the Government of India, the protection of innocent children must be the chief consideration by the authorities. Clearly, there is a case for an injunction to stop Sai Baba from further potential offences, until this issue is resolved. This would seem the very least that could be done in the immediate future. Sai Baba should not be able to dictate to the Government of India.

8.4 Clarification

A bona fide Indian Government investigation would at least go some of the way

towards bringing this debate to resolution. Millions of devotees and ex-devotees are waiting for the Indian Government to take a lead, using their investigative powers to either clear Sai Baba or to instigate proper court proceedings for the alleged offences.

Prevarication is consistently been leveled at the Indian law enforcement agencies over this matter. Corruption in high places is being cited as the only reason that this issue has not been addressed. Clarification through the due process of some sort of Inquiry is the only way to proceed with this issue, as has been undertaken in some Western countries, regarding sexual exploitation of minors by Catholic Priests and Nuns.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Through observing the development of this exposé, this report reveals that, trial by media is unsatisfactory for all concerned. Only a properly constituted inquiry is capable of impartial assessment of the testimony of those who claim to have been sexually abused. Certainly there seems to be ample reason to conduct such an inquiry. There seem to be enough contactable ‘primary sources’ who would testify. No doubt more interviewees would step forward once an inquiry was instituted. Sai Baba would also have a chance to be heard.

Media stories such as those quoted in this report and its appendix will never have the respect of the ardent devotee. Only court action would have such respect.

It should be realized, that sincere and loyal devotees of Sai Baba will continue to feel vicarious pride, when either a son or group member receives a personal interview with Sai Baba. Unbeknown to these innocent parents, (if the reports are to be believed), these same sons may be molested in a gross manner and then ordered never to tell their parents or other adults (Brown, 2000).

Without a clearly unbiased and public inquiry, which allows for protection of primary sources willing to testify, the Indian Government itself could find itself open to redress for dereliction of it’s duty.

If in ten or fifteen years, the boys who shared their stories in the year 2002, come to the courts of India suggesting negligence in regard to this matter, there may well be a case to answer, considering the mounting allegations.

It is inconceivable to this researcher that the Indian Government will fail to act in the matter of instituting an unbiased inquiry. If acts of sexual molestation are being perpetrated today, quite literally at the hands of Sai Baba, and the Indian Government does nothing to conclusively rule out the possibility, then the moral and spiritual standing of India will sink to an unfortunate but deserved low.

Some sort of Government Inquiry into this matter is imperative if the reputation of India as a country of genuine spirituality is to be maintained. Indian spirituality and integrity, epitomized in the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, are arguably India’s most valued qualities in the eyes of the world. This issue of Sai Baba’s reputation is compromising these ideals, especially while this unresolved situation exists.

It is sincerely hoped that the Indian Government acts in both it’s own national interest; in the interest’s of all those past students and devotees who claim to have been abused; all future possible victims and in the interest of the genuine Sai Baba devotee, who needs to know the truth as soon as possible.

Sai Baba himself, if he is innocent should be happy to have his name cleared if indeed he has been the target of a huge smear campaign.

Bibliography

Brooke,T., 2000 Avatar of Night: Special Millennial Edition, End Run Publishing, Berkeley, California, USA.

Gallagher, T.; de Kraker, H. and Sethi, G. & J., Sept. 2000, 'Sai Baba Exposed: Fraud, Fakery & Molestation', Nexus New Time Magazine Vol. 7 no. 5, pp. 61-65.

India Today Magazine, 4^th December, 2000.

Humphries, R. & Ward R., 1995, Religious Bodies in Australia: A comprehensive guide New Melbourne Press, Melbourne.

Mangalwadi, V. 1999, The World of Gurus, GLS Publishing, Bombay, India.

Murphet, H., 1994 (1971), Sai Baba Man of Miracles, MacMillan India Ltd, Madras, India.

Nexus Magazine Vol. 7 no 5, August - September 2000, Editorial Duncan Roads p. 2; 'Sai Baba Exposed: Fraud Fakery and Molestation'.

Smt. Vijayakumari (translation by Smt. Padma), 1999, Anyatha Saranam Nasthi -Other than You Refuge There is None, Sai Shriram Printers, Ekkattuthangal, Chennai, India, pp. 41-44.

Sathya Sai Baba, January 2001, 'Overcome jealousy with love', Sanathana Sarathi, Vol. 44 no. 1, pp. 1-11.

Indian Skeptic, B. Premanand, Vol. 12 no. 4, August 1999, pp. 18-28.

References for the electronic media:

· http://sekty.net/Data/Materialy/Baba/e-27txt.php

· www.geocities.com/the_sai_critic/

· www.sathysaivictims.com

· www.exbaba.com

· www.snowcrest.com/sunrise

· www.saiguru.net

Appendices

1. Nexus Editor, Duncan Roads: an email to the author, June 2001 regarding both research and the repercussions of the August 2000 Nexus story.

2. What do I do with the Report. By Jiminy Cricket. (received 4 Feb. 2002)

3. The Telegraph - London UK, Reporter Brown, M, Saturday 28^th October 2000. 'Divine Downfall'.

4. Anonymous 15 year old boy’s dairy September 1999.

Nexus Editor, Duncan Roads: an email to the author.

June 2001

Dear *******,

As I am coming up to a deadline I will do this now, or it will be put off for a few weeks.

As you know, I come from a pretty new-age background. I was exposed to meditation, positive thinking, alternative spiritual concepts, Findhorn, UFOs, all sorts of diets etc. starting from about 13years old onwards.

I was actively involved in new age groups, environment groups, peace groups and organisations all during the eighties. I started up a free 'what's on' magazine in Sydney called Southern Crossings, and ended up in the centre of 'new age' Sydney for several years. I ran Sydney's second largest new-age bookshop (at the time), The New Awareness Bookshop for several years.
All in all, the point I am trying to make is that I come from a 'believer's' background.

Naturally because of my continued exposure to so many 'new agers' during the 70s, 80s and 90s I heard more than my fair share of miracles stories. Sai Baba related miracles were amongst the most numerous. I sold his books in our shops, I knew and know many who swear Sai Baba did this or that or saved their lives etc etc. I just naturally assumed from the sheer volume of personal testimonies that he was genuine etc etc. I wasn't until the mid-80s when I heard my first rumour. Naturally I dismissed it, as it was so 3rd or 4th hand in telling.

I can tell you that so many people wanted to believe in a miracle worker somewhere. All this belief in the supernatural, the new age miracles, needed a living example. Sai Baba became this to many, many people. It was comforting just to know that someone existed, who was demonstrating the end result of why so many of us were meditating and eating brown rice, ie a miracle worker.

Whenever I have been asked by people about Sai Baba, I would cheerfully retell one of the many 'miracles' that are in his books or videos, or maybe a more close-to-home example. I would also maintain that I believed in his genuineness.

I had no desire to follow any of the many attractive new age groups, cults, or philosophies. As you may know, I favoured the Findhorn community 'philosophy' and politely refused all invitations to 'join' anything. My non-attendance at Sai Baba groups did not reflect my lack of belief in him, it reflected my lack of desire to 'join' any structured belief system.

That should give some background and should thus result in a better understanding of my lack of motive to publish that article.

It was only a year ago that I noticed the internet rumours about Sai Baba's sexual misconduct. I found a thriving sub-community on the net making outrageous claims. I could not believe my eyes. I referred a current Sai Baba devotee I know to some of these internet sites, and asked her opinion. She read it and laughed them off. She said it is more proof that the guy is genuine and is upsetting the 'powers that be'. Logically I agreed, but I had a nagging feeling in that part of my intuition that I still am learning to listen to.

I decided to investigate further-with the sole motive being to put my mind at rest on the issue. The trouble was, that the more I investigated the more I became troubled. In the middle of this, I got a phone call from a mother of a young boy that had been molested by Sai Baba. I could not ignore the truth in her voice and the disappointment.

I then started talking directly with men and boys who had had varying degrees of sexual contact with Sai Baba. Eventually I found myself talking with Seral Rahm. I came off that phone call in tears. I took several days to assimilate the information from all the people I spoke to. After speaking to Seral Rahm I did not chase any more.   I then had to decided whether to publish it or not. Would I be seen as just another trash tabloid? After all, I made it a point NOT to publish tabloid-style smear on people, yet here I was considering do such that about Sai Baba?!

The reactions from 'officials' in the Sai Baba movement made me angry, and I then wanted to publish. The responses to my questions regarding the allegations were 'off the record'. I still never received an official answer. No one was denying the allegations, they were instead basically telling me that all the good he has done outweighs the bad, and besides, it is their karma.

They knew!!!!!

We went to print and blew so many minds that it is still repercussing. I have several observations:

1) We received many emails from people with corroborative information. All were vocal in how relieved they were that the 'truth' was starting to come out.

2) We received the most vitriolic, foul-languaged, hate mail we have ever received in 11 years of publishing NEXUS. All from Sai Baba devotees.

3) I lost several good friends. These people refused steadfastly to listen, read, or investigate for themselves. I believe they are afraid of the truth and that is why they will not consider.

4) I know only one male who disbelieves the allegations. I know of many men who have gone from believers to otherwise. I know very few women who have taken the allegations on board and embraced both the information and the resulting emotions. I suspect one could write a book on that one alone. If I were to cast value judgements on the female devotees I know, I would say that spiritual 'vanity' is the reason for rejection. They just plain don't want to be seen to have been following a fraud. I know of one long standing devotee couple, who's first reaction to their discovery that Sai Baba had been sexually molesting someone they knew, was, 'oh my god, what will the neighbours think of us now?'

I do not wish to pass on people's email to myself unless I get their permission first. It is a policy I have and respect. Thus it could be a long and tedious task to provide you with emails from people out there.

I believe I have summarised my experience enough to give you something to go on. I have also forwarded on a letter I sent to a email list group.

I hope this gives you something to start with.

best regards

Duncan

Duncan M. Roads
Editor, NEXUS Magazine
PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 5442 9280;   Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381
http://www.nexusmagazine.com

"The nature of the universe is such that ends can never justify the means.
On the contrary, the means always determine the end."
(Aldous Huxley)

Email to Devotees:

This is a copy of an email I sent to a list of Sai Baba people, who were discussing the NEXUS article. I found several people were making weird assertions about my motives, so I decided to put a letter on record.

Duncan

Dear List,

Since my email has been forwarded to so many others, maybe I should clarify my position.

1) I have been involved in promoting 'new age' and 'alternative' viewpoints since my teens, during the '70s. I have run and organized many conferences, lecture tours, expose etc all promoting self awareness,
natural health and caring from nature.

2) I was made aware of Sai Baba in the late seventies. I know many people who have experienced miracles in their personal lives that they attribute to Sai Baba.

3) I also know many Muslims, Christians and Hindus who have experienced similar miracles in their lives, which THEY attribute to their respective figureheads.

4) Whilst a believer in Sai Baba's miracles and teachings, I chose NOT to become a follower. I perceived that the miracles were as much a creation of the believer as of the teacher. I chose to explore the path
of 'creating our own reality'.

5) I had heard the many rumours about Sai Baba's sexual impropriety over the years, and like many, dismissed them as disgruntled devotees. Later on, I actually took those attacks as 'evidence' that Sai Baba was growing in influence, and that this was the 'system' attacking him.

6) Unlike Sai Baba believers, I have an open mind, one which allows me to read and listen to things that Sai Baba believers refuse even to allow into their consciousness. I read some of the more recent testimonies, and decided to investigate for once and for all to put an end to the rumours.

7) I ended up speaking to many victims, parents of victims, former Sai Baba center 'leaders' and some respected 'figureheads' from the movement.
All confirmed the same pattern of abuse and sexual misconduct.

8) I did not want to believe any of these testimonies, but I also had to be true to what I was uncovering. Sai Baba is, and has, been involved in sexual misconduct with boys and young men. The effects of this
misconduct has caused inestimable damage within many many families, including suicides.

I only investigated the allegations of sexual misconduct. I notice there are also many who claim the miracles are faked, there are many allegations of financial fraud, and there are many dead people who were
supposedly 'healed' by Sai Baba or his vibuti.

In retrospect it would be easy to point the finger and say how evil and deceptive Sai Baba truly is. But in fairness, he would be a nobody if people did not give him their respect, money, and above all - personal
power.

I look forward to an age where people respect and love themselves enough to be able to truly respect and love others. People who feel GENUINE love, joy and happiness in their lives do NOT follow the path of
others-they ARE their own path in its making.

Shame on Sai Baba! Shame on the parasites that feed off his empire!
Shame on the 'Centre Leaders' who knowingly turn a blind eye to the reports they have received of sexual impropriety! Shame on the followers who are so insecure in themselves that they cannot open their ears to
hear the cries their brothers and sisters! Shame on the sycophants who in their blind belief help perpetuate the suffering, injustice and deception that surrounds Sai Baba.

Above all, shame on those who dismiss the cries of pain from their brothers without investigation!

Duncan

Duncan M. Roads
Editor, NEXUS Magazine
PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 5442 9280; Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381
http://www.nexusmagazine.com ICQ#62399259

What do I do with the Report.

Bye Jiminy Cricket

Date: received Feb 4, 2002

In early Feb 2002 I wrote an email to colleague involved in the exposé about a report I had been working on for a year, which I had thought I was going compile into a hard copy document and send to officials in the Indian Government. During the writing of this email it became clear to me what I should do given my current circumstances.

We sometimes don’t know what we really think about something until we write about it. Anyway, here is the email followed by an article written the next day that expresses my current feelings about Sai Baba and where I am at with it all. If you feel it is helpful please use any of these articles to introduce or explain the report.

These writings are part of my overall 'Personal Process Writings’ that outline my stances and positions from my first inquiry into the issue. These are far from ready to be put on the net. However I will give you a few samplings as separate documents as they become ready. Some ex-devotees have thought them helpful and so I have been encouraged to get them into a state of readability.

Re. my report. I am somewhat ambivalent about quite what to do with it and how to finish it for that matter. I go through times of being firm about getting it into a final version and sending a number of hard copies to Government officials in India, who I have reason to think may take it seriously and be in a position to do something about it. Particularly the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.

I was assured by a senior member of this organization that such an issue as ours is in their field - where no one else was doing anything. They were particularly interested in corruption and police negligence issues. However, the key personnel may be devotees or they may be a ‘toothless tigers’, I just don’t know. The huge files one sees bundled up in real ‘red tape’, openly displayed in most Indian Offices, does not give one much confidence.

I am no longer as pin pointed on the issue or up to date with all the unfoldments of the exposé. I may not be as factually correct in all matters as people like yourself, who seem to be doing a great job with the spreading of the salient facts and information.

Beyond this, my partner is currently with Sai Devotees in Southern India, where she is mixing with Sai Baba people who have lots of miracles happening in their homes etc. I don't know if I could handle life with her, when she gets back next week, were I too be too actively involved in the exposé.

I feel I may have done my bit for the time being, and that I need to get on with other developments in my career and life, playing a part where it obviously comes my way, rather than initiating things like this report and taking responsibility for its dissemination. I will keep writing the 'Personal Process Writings', which is a journal of thoughts that arise as I live with the issue, while my partner and son are still feeling connected to SB.

Part of me feels like a 'wimp with ambivalence', and yet I feel it's just not what I should be doing, and that it is smarter and more real to not go on in 'crusader mode' ('wisdom is the better part of valor' and all that stuff). My partner would find it just too hard, were I to come out and publish directly on the Internet or send it to Government Authorities, who could start writing letters back home, which I would have to deal with. I would feel too much like a CIA Agent or something, holding such a secret from my wife.

She and I have been able to be very reasonable with each other over the last six months. I recognize that she simply doesn't want to read the stuff now. Although I believe she is naïve, nnocent and even brainwashed, I also know that there are many lovely, naïve, innocent and brainwashed believers in the world. I am able to be straight with her and tell her the above. As long as I am nice to her she is able to forgive me and accept my views, which is very fair, from her point of view. She knows I am not an ‘evil Judas’ as Sai Baba may suggest. She knows something strange is happening with this issue, but she wants to wait and trust and then see. She thinks, or at least hopes that something major will happen to clarify things in Sai Baba’s favour.

That is the path she has chosen for now. Our life together doesn't work for us if I force my understanding on her. I have tried that and it nearly sent us both crazy. I simply became a dominant male figure pushing my barrow. It was only when I could free her to think as she pleased, and stopped asking her to read the material, that we were able to start forging a new relationship.

I have seen my situation like this. We agree to go to a Romantic comedy together. Halfway through I decide to move to the next theatre which is running the documentary version of the same scenario – its horrific. I know she should come with me to find out the truth, But she doesn’t want to come. We had agreed on a romantic comedy after all. I am the one changing the agenda and pushing her. Only when she is prepared to make the shift or be open to the change in genre involved, will it be possible to discus that movie from a critical perspective.

Posting stuff under my last name (our name) would not be fair on her right now, I would be advertising my position, while she would feel betrayed and implicated - and ashamed of me amongst her Sai devotee friends. I may feel self-righteously correct, but I would not be playing fair. I could seem to be forcing her to make a decision. I know who would currently loose out in such a decision between ‘me a man and SB a God’ – me! I also know that is not the outcome she or I want or need.

I love my partner and do not want to let a 'seducer of youthful bodies and adult minds' have the victory of breaking up our long a fruitful marriage. We have, since I disclaimed Sai Baba, discovered aspects of ourselves which we enjoy beyond our specific ‘spiritual path'. This flowering of relationship has made our marriage more meaningful than we could have imagined. It had always been our 'spiritual unity', which we attributed to taking a parallel spiritual path with Sai Baba as a focus, that seemed to give meaning to our marriage.

Now, with that this ‘spiritual unity’ is out of the way, or even at opposite ends of the spectrum; it is our love for each other - despite our different thinking - that has taken central stage (unity in diversity, as someone once said); our interest in the little things of life, which we do together or with our children and grandchildren, have become more important. The study of our different chosen careers, along with discussion of 'overarching values' has become source of nourishment for our reinvigorated relationship. Strangely our dissention regarding Sai Baba has enlivened many aspects of our life, and shown us how much we still have in common. For even though I am going down a more Christian/ethics/action/grace spiritual route, while she goes more down an Eastern/mystical/meditation/ritual spiritual path, we do intersect through a love of art, nature and honesty about our own path’s - beyond the Sai Baba issue.

I want to give love a real chance. "To establish the positive rather than to combat the negative'', is one way to describe it. Another New Age cliché I have used in the past also speaks to our position. "The highest form of protest is to build the new". In our case it’s a new relationship not based on mutual agreement about religious issues, (or allegations not yet proved in a court of law).

It is a strange position to be in - where I think the person she goes off to meditate on and to pray too, is quite possibly the most prolific paedophile in the history of planet. So I just don’t need to read any more accounts of Sai Baba’s paedophile activities. I no longer wish to contemplate the images that the often-graphic accounts of ‘interviews’ conjure up.

I remember speaking at length to an author of a book on the effects of pornography on sex offenders. This man was in the forefront of his field as a clinical psychologist, researching what rapists and sex offender were reading and viewing, prior to their offences. It was in the mid nineteen seventies. His work entailed listening to many descriptions of sexual perversions and viewing the magazines involved in his research. I remember him saying to me, “There is a time, in the not too distant future, when I will get out of this, I have almost had enough. It is not healthy for my marriage and life to be constantly involved in this stuff, however important it is.” He never wrote his second book on the subject. He had another life to live, with his family, and he knew it was taking its toll.

I think perhaps, in a different way, I am at that point now. So for me it seems important to drop the ownership of this report and pass it on for use by others. This seems to be the path I must take, given my circumstances. Perhaps I have also become a bit precious about my role in it Exposé. That wouldn’t be hard. We all like to think we can make a difference and being seen as ‘a bit of a hero’, seems like a nice reward, however it is not a healthy motivation.

Thinking, “I must finish off this report I started!” may be simply code for gaining some notoriety. I think with other peoples help, like webmasters, this report, and other of my writings, could make a valuable contribution, particularly to those people who will be leaving the Sai Organizations in the next couple of years. It is more for these current devotees than anyone else, that I have been writing. So I will put it into the hands of those people who may be able to use it and finish it off better than I can. I will give them the freedom to use it how they think it can be best used.

Although a part of me would like control of my work, I think I just need to take the risk and send it off - free the work to its own destiny. There may be no need for some of it, as I know there is a lot of similar material out there. One day I may compile aspects of it for some purpose, but such value, if there is some, may not come for years.

When I look at my position I realize I am still 'processing' how to live with this challenging issue and my partner. So for this reason also I do not want my name used either. Perhaps something like this could be said when referring to the report or any quoted sections of it, used in other articles:

"The author, in deference to other family members who remain reverential of Sathya Sai Baba, has asked that the family name not be used on the Internet or in publications, as this would implicate the family members who remain connected to the Sai Organization. Even if you know who wrote this please do not put the name to it, in respect of the authors wishes and position, whatever side of the fence you sit."

Some or all of this current article could also be used to introduce aspects of the report that were used. It may be that I will funnel other thoughts taken from my ‘Personal Process Writings’ as and when I feel they are relevant. I have enclosed something I have written just today.

The use of the name 'Jiminy Cricket' as a non de plume would also be fine. This would give the material an identity. I have written an article that explains why I use the name.

So the writing of email has helped me to clarify what to do with this report. My task now is to depersonalize the identity aspects of it, and send it off to the web masters of integrity, who will not disclose my identity and who will use it responsibly on their sites.

Thanks for being my sounding board. Its amazing what a few sentences can lead too. We really do gain so much from working through challenges by starting to write about them. I feel much clearer after writing this.

Sincerely,

Jiminy Cricket

This is the article I spoke of:

What do I do with the Report.

By Jiminy Cricket.

(received 4 Feb. 2002)

Email

The use of the name 'Jiminy Cricket' as a non de plume would also be fine. This would give the material an identity. I have written an article that explains why I use the name.

Sincerely,

Jiminy Cricket

This is the article I spoke of:

My Attitude to Raju/Sai Baba Feb 2002

I had created through my indecision about the above report a kind of ‘doing block’ (the mega cousin of ‘writers block’). This unusually ‘paralytic state’ had allowed me to watch a lot of movies and to do some reading. After writing the email above I went to bed very happy. The next morning while reading a book by the Christian author, Philip Yancey, ‘What’s So Amazing About Grace’, it became clearer to me where I stood in my attitude towards Sai Baba. Here is my journal entry that reveals my evolving personal stance, as a Christian.

I am starting to describe my theological stance as ‘Liberal Evangelical Christian with a New Age pedigree’. Having done so I am becoming clearer about my attitude and position regarding S. Raju/Sai Baba.

I realize I love him just as I do any other person. Jesus did ask us to love every person, even those who continually commit serial crimes. It is healthy to love people unconditionally.

It seems clear to me that the enigmatic Sai Baba is a congenital homosexual. There are some people who also believe that he is a hermaphrodite – that, if it were true, would have its challenges! In any case, it also clear to me that he has a weakness that has caused his homosexuality to ‘blow out’ into criminal paedophillia – a very different proposition. This paedophillic problem, is compounded by Theomania. I am defining this word as, ‘the insane belief that one is God or a Divine incarnation’. I am not saying that such a belief is necessarily insane. That would make Jesus a theomaniac. I am saying it is the ‘insane belief’. There may have been others and could be some right now. By there fruits ye shall know them, would have to be a criteria. Apparently, someone is admitted to the Jerusalem Hospital every day, believing they are the Messiah

I can not lay the blame of the extent this ‘paedophillic theomania’ at the feet of Sai Baba. He is as much the victim as the perpetrator. It is others, like myself, who have contributed to his condition and to this very messy situation. As a devotee, follower and ‘worshipper’ of the Indian citizen S.N. Raju alias Sai Baba, I cultivated his Theomanical tendencies, just as if I had watered a field of hemlock weeds. I, along with all other devotees must take responsibility for the seeding of this crop and for the infestation it has caused. I advertised a poisonous crop of what turned out to be hemlock, as if it were health giving tulsi herbs.

My emotional decision to place Raju on the Sai Baba (Mother/Father) platform, putting his picture up around the place and to praying to him, has contributed to the power he now wields. Just because I now see things differently, doesn’t mean that I can now act as if he is the only one to blame.

I must share the blame, and not forget that I am jointly responsible, through my naivety.

Now that I have ‘seen the truth’, (as I perceive it), I could so easily become a Sai Baba follower standing on my head. By spending a lot of my energy ‘exposing him’ and trying to play my part in ‘seeing him behind bars’, I could to easily become entangled with the emotional cousins of ‘hate’ such as revenge, righteous restitution and other more subtle and seemingly ‘distant relations’ of hate. These ‘relations’ are not part of the ‘family of love’ that I want to mix with.

To current devotees, I am the one who has lost his faith, dropped his bundle and turned his back on God. That is understandable. I must be able to cope with this assertion in a reasonable and loving way. From the devotees point of view, a view I concurred with only a couple of years ago, I am the fickle one. We were all warned that many devotees would turn their backs on Sai Baba, and this has come to pass. I am one of the ‘disloyal ones’, one who has let his ‘monkey mind’ out of its cage. I need to remember what it was like to be a devotee or else I will fall into the trap of treating current apologists as though they are fools.

The reality is, that just like us, Sai Baba has been shown to have weaknesses. Big deal. His weakness have simply flowered (thanks in part to us) and have seeded ‘big time’, all under the camouflage of ‘absolute purity’ and self-professed ‘perfection’. Cultivated in the ‘ashramic hothouse’ where Sai Baba’s word is absolute law, he has been given the unhealthy freedom of being a ‘potentate’. He is in effect an all powerful king or dictator in small independent country inside India. There are similar situations such as the Pope in the Vatican City on one hand or the situation that Osma bin Laden was in, during the Taliban regime or Jim Jones in Jonestown. I don’t use this analogy to be disrespectful to the current devotees, only to try and describe the power he now holds in his milieu.

The old adage ‘Power Corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ seems to me to be proving true in the case of Sathya Narayana Raju, the citizen of India. But who gave Sai Baba the power? We did. I did. No one can just assume power without people to give them that power. So we (and I mean here the ex-devotees and re-evaluating devotees) should not blame Raju Baba for his magaweaknesses, we must share them. We are the other sides of the counterfeit coin of his self proclaimed Avatarship.

Having said this I do believe that Sai Baba is a remarkable genius, a fine teacher of spiritual concepts, a master story teller and an excellent but often unreliable clairvoyant . I think he may manifest things, but I am also sure he fakes many ‘miracles’ believing as Jim Jones did, that such trickery helps to build up peoples faith. It may be that Sai Baba is to Modern Spiritual Phenomena, what Einstein is to Mathematics, what Mozart is to Classical Music, Elvis to Rock Music, Mohammed Ali is to Boxing or Osama bin Laden is to Terrorism.

Sai Baba is undoubtedly the best at what he does.

Making ‘Himself seem like God’.

I have certainly felt a wonderful grace and a peace emanating from him, just as millions of others have. He has been a catalyst for incredible life changes in me and the many people, who I still respect, who are his followers. These changes seemed good at the time, and still have value for me. Inexplicable and transforming inner experiences that seem to come as a result of an inner connection with Sai Baba, are not a ‘bad thing’. Such experiences need not be rationalized away by those who had them.

In some respects I Sai Baba persona as similar to performer acting the part of a saint. The actor could be a profligate, while his portrayal of a saint is extraordinarily moving and spiritually uplifting to all who see the performance. Such has been Sai Baba’s public life - an inspiring performance. Unfortunately his off stage behavior will be his undoing. There are many well-known examples of tortured men and women who have been unable to control their sexual urges. Usually such behavior is non criminal and so does not destroy an actors career.

I don’t want to negate the wisdom and spiritual truths imparted by Sai Baba, or for that matter any genuine charitable good work he has done, or is continuing to do. I don’t need to tear down or demean the meaningful experiences devotees had in his presence. Why should I try to avoid giving credit for the good that has been done by Sai Baba? The statement, “nothing good is ever lost”, is true. Even if, in black and white terms, the source of the ‘good’ turns out to be ‘bad’, we must remember that the absolute source of all-good is God. Sai Baba has much good in him. God still loves him, even though it seems that many of his actions are wayward.

My attitude to this situation has come to a point, where I can now sincerely say, “I love S.N. Raju the wayward paedophile theomaniac, and Sai Baba the genius spiritual teacher as much as each other ”. I can see they are one in the same. The good, bad and ugly existing in the same package – a mixed human package. Sai Baba has ‘that of God’ within him, but it has been dressed up, marketed and packaged as ‘all of God’.

Through my reinvigorated and enlivened faith in God, (distinct from my former beliefs about Sai Baba being God), I can feel a powerful forgiving love (exampled by Jesus), welling up within me for this enigmatic genius with a deep psychosexual sickness of soul. This forgiving love I feel for him, is so much more real and meaningful than any feelings I had while singing worshipful bajans to Sai Baba as a devotee. In Christian circles this is called ‘loving the sinner while hating the sin’.

After 2 years of working with all sorts of feelings, many I am not proud of, I can say that were Sai Baba to loose all his followers and go to jail for life, I would want to make the pilgrimage to visit him, at some time in my life. Not to ‘gloat’ or to fulfill some strange Christian ministry of ‘saving him’, but just to be an understanding friend, to a broken exposed person. It would be like I might feel if my father or brother were to become a paedophile. I would still want to support them. Sai Baba was a beloved teacher and friend. I won’t just drop him because he was either week or swimming in an ocean of self-delusion. I contributed to his unhealthy view of his theomania.

I don’t feel at all condescending in this approach, although most devotees would probably accuse me of it. I genuinely feel love for this great but ‘fallen being’ – whoever or whatever he is. He simply got it ‘Megawrong’ and tried to make it all look ‘Megaright’. We all tend to do this in our own smaller way. That village boy from Puttapathi did things on a grand scale. He will go down in history as a remarkable human. One of the most successful theomaniacs of all time.

As a boy he not only glimpsed his innate ‘divine heritage’, but went on to assume the ‘full mantle of divinity’, and then had it confirmed by the naïve masses, including myself. His story is living proof of the desire many of us have to have a ‘Living Master’, Savior, Avatar, or ‘Incarnation of the Divine’ who is right here on the planet with us.

I think we all like the idea of being on the ‘inside track’ with such ‘beings’. It makes us feel connected to a ‘happening’ spiritual present and a glorious New Age. When we are connected to these outstanding and charismatic souls we can believe we are at a pivotal moment in history of the planet. We can think that we are in the presence of a ‘Divine Being’ such as one of the founders of the great religions. If we are Christians, and become part of the ministry of a great preacher, “Who the Lord has laid His hand upon” etc.

(using Christospeak or Biblese), then we may muse about how similar it is to being in the presence of a Peter or a Paul or one of the great evangelists or saints.

When I wanted to investigate Sai Baba. I thought to myself……

“If I were alive in the time of Jesus, would I have gone to Galilee to check out the ‘Man of Miracles’ or would I just be too busy for God in human form. If he came back today into an alien culture would I recognize Him”. It is not an unreasonable stance to take. However, it is another thing to be seduced by a genuine ‘false prophet’.

When I first went to India to make that important assessment of Sai Baba, I loved the buzz and the spiritual feeling. I loved the ‘peace, which seemed to pass all understanding’; the miracles looked great and the attention he gave me was heady. If I weren’t so sure now that he is a sexual abuser and paedophile I would probably still be a devotee. But having discovered this dark aspect, and having been forced to believe it through academic research and logic coupled with a study theology, I have been able to review my whole process and make sense of the experience. In following this reluctant pilgrimage of disillusionment, I have discovered a scenic highway of Grace and a much more authentic and pleasant path of peace, than I had experienced in the presence of Sai Baba.

As a devotee I tended to be carried away by the enormity of this ‘Divine Being’, Sai Baba. These contemplations somehow magnified my feelings of ‘universal smallness’. While using spiritual binoculars and focusing them on Sai Baba I also feel bigger, because I was in His Graceful presence, I felt vicarious grace.

When evidence of Sai Baba’s humanness and ‘ungrace’ became so clear that I had to accept it, I all too quickly turned the binoculars around the other way. I saw Sai Baba as alien and distant. He became a person that I disliked intensly. Sometimes I became distant towards God, even more distant than the times before I had focused my spiritual binoculars on this man, Sathyanarayana Raju, the self-proclaimed God. I have decided that binoculars, looked at from either end, making a human seem huge or insignificant, are not a good tool for looking at people. Seeing these charismatic souls ‘as they are’, seems much more healthy. Even if a degree of skepticism creeps into ones soul. It is not easy to combine the wisdom of the snake and the innocence of the dove, as we make subjective decisions.

I believe that Raju the man, in all of his titles, as ‘Sai Baba of the Golden Chariot’, the ‘Avatar of the Age’ and the ‘Paedophile Potentate of Puttapathi’ is to be truly ‘pitied’. I don’t use that word with the contemptuous overtones that are sometimes attached to its use. It is clear to me now, that this man who has masqueraded as a God, has come to believe in His divinity wholeheartedly. He suffers from a clinical condition. If he is a paedophile, as the multiple allegations suggest, then it is also clear that he has a befuddled and retrograde ‘conscience’, while at the same time having a clear and metaphysically evolved ‘consciousness’. It’s a strange and enigmatic mix that I don’t pretend to understand.

I can only be honest, and say things as I see them, in line with the research I have done. I can only share what makes sense to me. This is all any of us can do. In listening to each other’s stories both positive and negative, we may be better prepared to meet our futures.

Like many others, I don’t feel as if I am on any ‘side’ regarding Sai Baba and this issue. I am on the side of the current devotee as much as the disaffected ex-devotee. I am now making the decision to let go of playing an active role in the exposé of Sai Baba so that I can get on with my life. However I am not doing this in a dismissive sense or in an attitude of ignoring those still in the Sai organization. Both devotees and ex-devotees remain friends.

I don’t want to treat my devotee friends disrespectfully, yet nor do I want to ameliorate what I believe to be the awful truth. I think it quite possible that Sai Baba will go down in history as the most prolific paedophile the world has known – using the perfect cover of being a ‘Divine Incarnation’.

If this is true then Sai Baba does need to be exposed. I have no doubt that he will be, even if posthumously. Such a revelation will be a great lesson for humans not to place another human on a divine pedestal – whatever miracles seem to be happening around them, and whoever we think they might be.

Hopefully the Danish TV Documentary ‘Seducer’(31^st Jan. 2000), about Sai Baba and the attendant publicity in that country, will be another step that helps the Indian Government to realize that their ‘favourite son’ can not be allowed to escape thorough examination, by an unbiased team of inquirers.

This debate needs to be sorted out. The devotees versus the ex-devotees is no longer a sensible way to proceed.