A lot of people seem to think so. And a lot of us who are involved with Isha realise that it does indeed come across that way, but then we know the organization better, than any non-meditator/volunteer at least and so we find it easier to understand what he is trying to say and in what context.
So I am very clear that Sadhguru isn’t particularly aligned with any political side or party. Forget a Guru being aligned, no spiritual seeker can be so aligned because they are after all very limited identities of our personality. The personality which we want to be free of.
So, if you are wondering about this then here are just a few points that I want to share. And on these points I make my overall Judgement call about Sadhguru’s political alignment,
During the 2014 elections
Sadhguru was one of the very few if not the only spiritual leader who didn’t take a side during 2014 election time. This was the time when Sw Ramdev had openly rallied for BJP and Sri Sri also had completely leaned towards them. In that environment, Sadhguru had remained neutral. And I consider this super important because after all those national elections were the biggest thing.
The rise of Nationalism
I will keep my thoughts on nationalism aside. It’s actually a topic for another blog post. But, after 2014 with the rise of BJP it seems there was a rise in the nationalistic fervor. Though it must be noted that Anna Hazare fasting movement and the rise of AAP in 2011 already showed very clearly that people had had enough of the government decadence and the state of the country. So the nationalism was already on rise.
The point is that, however, after 2014 with the rise of BJP people started attributing a lot of the “nationalism fervor” and hindutva rise to them. But I would say it was an inevitable situation that was burning in peoples hearts. It is what brought BJP the landslide victory and then if they came and added momentum to that feeling is it not their job? In a way didn’t people want it?
So what about Sadhguru? Well, Sadhguru was always talking about the country and ‘Bharat’ way back. I remember way back in 2006-7, I had a personal 2 minute conversation with him and I asked him whether I should come to the ashram. He said, ‘yes, it will be good for the country’. I was a little stunned because I NEVER thought about doing anything for the country before that moment. That’s how the environment was then… most of us urbans never really thought about the ‘country’. I cared about the street people and the poor etc… but I never thought about raising standards of the country as a whole. And there was something very inspirational about it. I know lot of people malign nationalism as some kind of xenophobia. But for me it has always been an inspirational vision. Of actually caring about my actions so that it may help my country.
This was in 2007, no BJP, not even much nationalism in the air and this guy was talking to a young 22 year old girl about doing something for the country.
You can take a look at some of his older videos. Like this talk in 2013 on Bharat and Indian culture.
Once BJP came into power, all of a sudden the rising national concern and some errant elements using it to boss around, became political. People consider him to have joined this gang. But he was talking this way back then in a very inspirational context and as a larger vision. People just weren’t bothered earlier on. But now when he talks these things it all gets associated with politics.
Well, at least I and many others know better. After all, we wouldn’t want to misjudge someone do we? We are very liberal that way.
A lot of association with BJP leaders
Since BJP came into power there have been many Isha Foundation events where their ministers presided. The Adiyogi was unveiled by PM Modi himself. Towards this I can only attribute it to Sadhguru’s video, where he talks about supporting the current government because it’s the only way to (hopefully) build a better country. And it is basic common sense – if we as people keep opposing the government like they are colonial forces then what’s left for us? I do understand in the case where the gov really transgresses but when a particular gov has won via landslide victory then we do need to give them a chance. A real chance. And that chance for them is a chance for us, as a country, to grow better and beyond our typical run-rate.
Secondly, there were as usual completely baseless controversies of Sadhguru posturing to forward BJP’s agenda. Like for example Isha’s rally for rivers campaign used the number 80009 80009 which BJP used earlier in their campaigns. So they said “Oooooh prooof for the affiliation”. Except that it wasn’t. Because earlier Horlicks also used the same number in their marketing campaigns. Because it’s a number available for marketing purposes and any organization can use it without being best buds.
So all the above are completely clear situations which need to be seen in the right context. It may be difficult for newbies and that’s why I am explaining it here. But for a lot of us who have been aware and in loop of Isha content for so many years will know there isn’t any “change of colors” or something at all.
There is now just one more bit that I want to address and it’s not so clear but I will share my perspective on the matter. Anyway, at the end of day you have to take the call about this for yourself I am only sharing my thoughts.
Sadhguru only supports BJP. And does not call out the wrong doings.
A fellow Isha meditator mentioned this. And I thought about it.
Here’s what I think.
Firstly, as I mentioned earlier already the environment online, and to some extent offline, has been getting sparked up for many, many years. In 2011, we had people roaming the streets with the Indian flag and supporting Anna Hazare’s fast against corruption. There was the whole Lokmat thing and the rise of AAP, a people’s political party supposedly. In 2012, again people were on the streets with the Delhi rape case. It showed the people were fed up and the situation was getting riled up. And this also happened online. Social media kept getting more and more polarized since then. And initially it felt that these movements and online outrage would actually solve the problem. Only to realise that Nope.
And since then the online polarization has only worsened with shit fests taking place even during a huge calamity like #KeralaFloods on Twitter. Which I had never seen before. Usually in times of calamity Twitter always came together for relief work not for pointing fingers.
And so in this inflamed environment when we have this Guru person talking nationalistic stuff, being friends with babas who openly support BJP (even though they had been friends from a very long time ago) then it comes across that he has a leaning. Especially when he doesn’t openly criticise them. Or he does but in a more sensible not-outraged manner.
I think this is a matter of internal criticism versus external criticism. When we work in an office and need to give feedback to employees there is a fine balance between criticism given one-to-one and given openly. Same with students in college. As a teacher, if the student discusses something with me openly then I may correct them. But then if they score less in an assignment then I may call them and talk to them privately. I won’t openly address their shortcomings in class.
Same everywhere.
If I want to criticize the company I am working for then I can address grievances to the HR or other relevant people. OR I could blog about it openly or anonymously. Either way there would be implications. And as we mature and grow higher in the ranks we need to start making judgement calls about how to do these things.
And since many years, after younger days of open criticism without much care about the consequences, we do become a little considerate. And largely I believe this consideration comes from a real understanding about the world. Because we realise that there are shortcomings everywhere and often very serious ones. For example, I don’t think most companies in India (and large parts of the world) have proper mechanism for women harassment situations. They don’t have any process in place at all. The people are clueless and doofus.
And I know it from close friends that typically if a woman raises such a case within the organization she is the one that loses out. Yes, it isn’t ideal at all. It’s terrible. But the point is, that it is the situation in majority organizations. And because it is such a widespread problem, the solution would be only via long term education programs, constructive feedback and some pressure put properly. Just outraging, creating bad pressure and all that won’t help. Because the entire system is rotted and max to max you will get knee jerk reactions and posturing. You won’t get true change. At least that’s what I think. And I think the AAP rise and also Delhi rape case outrage proved that. Just going and outraging on streets isn’t helping. Sensible pressure for specific well thought out laws or such things will help. Unfortunately most of us urbans don’t know enough about the situation at all to understand what to then support.
So, I have a few government contacts and if controversy relevant to their department is taking place. I ping them about it. And they often give me an internal low down on the matter. I don’t outrage openly. I don’t want to add to that situation that is shaping up online. Where it seems like some fad to outrage.
I think Sadhguru is doing the same and so are a lot of people who have that level of contacts. And who also would be working with the government for the better of the country etc… (and because after all said and done, it is the official government of the country).
And a lot of people think we people are some kind of blind bhakts, but they don’t realise how closely we watch him and the people within the organization – the monks and full-time volunteers. And within ourselves, small meditator groups, there are lot of discussions going on. There is a lot of internal feedback, criticism and outright sling fights going on. All the time. And so that mechanism is ON.
There are also blind bhakts I won’t deny that, it is true in all groups. In all groups there are people who are there with their intelligence fully on and for better reasons and then there are blind followers. So that’s a given.
But that doesn’t mean Sadhguru is leaning towards the RW or BJP.
Just because you can’t see it the internal feedback and improvement mechanism. Because you are outside don’t be so quick to judge. Just think through your own interactions with organizations that matter to you – your family, your company, your affiliate groups – how much can you openly criticise them? And how much will you, internally and more thoughtfully, criticise to bring actual change?
And that’s the key – bring about actual change. How do we do this? Really, really think about it.
