Popular, but preacher has fair share of critics

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 18 

Thirtyseven-year-old Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, who calls himself a “Sant”, has his headquarters at Gurdwara Parmeshar Dwar Sahib on the Patiala-Sangur highway. His soulful voice and the ability to interpret Gurbani in simple terms has attracted millions towards him. His critics, however, accuse him of distorting Gurbani.

“In 1999, Sant Dhadrianwala arrived in Shekhupur village and five years later set up a dera over 1.75 acres of land which now stretches to 34 acres. The land is in the name of Guru Granth Sahib and no one is the owner,” says Bittu, Dhadrianwale’s driver.   

The preacher, who was attacked near Ludhiana on Tuesday evening, has had spats with other preachers, sect heads and Punjabi singers on the social media. He is, perhaps, the only preacher to have performed  “kirtan” inside the CIA headquarters in Patiala several years ago.

Known for his bitter criticism of dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Dhadrianwale recently had a spat with Damdami Taksal head Harnam Singh Dhumma whom he described as a “government agent” after the latter allegedly objected to the manner in which he (Dhadrianwale) tied his turban.

Last year. Dhadrianwale and several Sikh radical leaders had revolted against the Akal Takht Jathedars for pardoning Ram Rahim in a blasphemy case. Dhadrianwale later alleged that he had received threats from one of the five Jathedars and chose not to join any protest thereafter.

His followers rubbish the controversies around him. “Instead of blaming him for distorting Gurbani, his critics should acknowledge the fact that he is spreading the Guru’s word throughout the world,” they maintain.

After incidents of sacrilege in Punjab last year, a last year, Sikh hardliners gave a call for “Sarbat Khalsa” and both Dhadrianwale and Bhai Panthpreet Singh participated. 

It is believed that after several rounds of talks with Akali leaders, they stopped hitting out at the present dispensation.