Swami Premananda (guru)

2022-06-03T12:08:28Z

2409:4071:2203:842F:0:0:264D:48AD:

{{Distinguish|Premanand Swami|Baburam Maharaj (Swami Premananda)}}

{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Swami Premananda
| image = File:Swami Premananda of Trichy.jpg
| birth_name = Prem Kumar Somasundaram
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1951|11|17}}
| birth_place = [[Matale]], [[Sri Lanka]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2011|02|21|1951|11|17}}
| death_place = [[Cuddalore Central Prison]], [[India]]
| nationality = {{flag|Sri Lanka}}n
| other_names = Ravi Swamy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hinduismtoday.com/magazine/february-1987/1987-02-swami-premananda/|title=Swami Premananda|date=February 1987}}</ref><br>Tiger Swamy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://magazine.outlookindia.com/story/ashram-of-horrors/204169|title = Ashram of Horrors | Outlook India Magazine}}</ref><br>Kutti Sai Baba(Little Sai Baba)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hinduismtoday.com/magazine/february-1987/1987-02-swami-premananda/|title=Swami Premananda|date=February 1987}}</ref>
| occupation = [[Guru|Spiritual guru]]
| website = {{URL|sripremananda.org/}}
}}
'''Prem Kumar''' (17 November 1951 – 21 February 2011), better known as '''Swami Premananda''', a Sri-Lankan born Indian religious [[guru]] and monk who founded the Premananda [[ashram]]. He was convicted of multiple counts of rape and a murder in 1997.<ref name=convicted/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://magazine.outlookindia.com/story/ashram-of-horrors/204169|title = Ashram of Horrors | Outlook India Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19941215-allegations-of-rape-ltte-links-lead-to-godman-swami-premananda-arrest-810033-1994-12-15|title = Allegations of rape, LTTE links lead to godman Swami Premananda's arrest}}</ref>

==Life and work==
Originally a [[Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka|Tamil]] from [[Sri Lanka]], Kumar had an ashram and orphanage in his birthplace [[Matale]]. During his years in Matale, Sri Lanka he was popularly known as 'Ravi', meaning 'sun', as he had a radiant face. He moved to India with his followers in 1983 to escape the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]], bringing with him undocumented Sri Lankan orphans who had been in his care.<ref name=AppealVerdict/>{{rp|¶4}} He initially opened an ashram in a rented building in [[Tiruchirappalli]], then moved to [[Fatimanagar]] in 1989.<ref name=AppealVerdict/>{{rp|¶4}} The ashram there covered 150 acres of land with plantations of flowers, fruit, and teak.<ref name=provoke/> The ashram served as a shelter for women and [[orphan]] children. In India he was fondly called 'Kutti Sai Baba' which means little Sai Baba in Tamil as he had a hairstyle similar to that of [[Sathya Sai Baba]] during his early days. About 200 people lived in the ashram, most of Sri Lankan origin.<ref name="DNASwami"/> Branches of the ashram later opened in the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, Mexico, and other countries.<ref name=provoke>{{cite news |title=Judgment that provoked Jethmalani |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-06-03/india/27851676_1_swami-premananda-ashram-victims |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130929164859/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-06-03/india/27851676_1_swami-premananda-ashram-victims |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 September 2013 |accessdate=29 September 2013 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=3 June 2005}}</ref><ref name=ghost/>

[[File:Sri Premeshvarar Temple.jpg|thumb|Sri Premeshvarar temple]]
[[File:Samadhi Temple.jpg|thumb|Swami Premananda's [[samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]]]]

==Accusations and trial==
In 1994, one of the girls living in the ashram, Arul Jyothi, was said to have escaped and reported that she had been raped and was pregnant.<ref name=AppealVerdict/>{{rp|¶3}}<ref name="DNAtoon"/><ref name="preg">{{cite book|author=Abraham Samuel|title=Laws of Hospital Administration|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZLJ7-S4Th0AC&pg=PA22|accessdate=15 September 2013|publisher=BI Publications Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-7225-380-6|page=22}}</ref> The [[All India Democratic Women's Association]] provided moral support and legal aid to the victims.<ref name=provoke/> On 15 November 1994, the police started an investigation.<ref name=provoke/> Two ashram residents also reported that another, called Ravi, had been murdered for attempting to expose the happenings at the ashram.<ref name=ghost/>

Trial took place in the sessions court in [[Pudukkottai]], presided over by a woman judge, R. Banumathi. Noted criminal lawyer [[Ram Jethmalani]]<ref name=convicted/> was among those representing the swami. The defence claimed that Premananda had divine powers and was capable of performing miracles. To debunk this myth, an [[illusionist]] was invited into the courtroom. <ref name="DNASwami">{{cite book|author1=Kalpana Kannabiran|author2=Ranbir Singh|title=Challenging The Rules(s) of Law: Colonialism, Criminology and Human Rights in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EaMGo6zqzNYC&pg=PA100|accessdate=15 September 2013|date=11 November 2008|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-0-7619-3665-7|pages=100–102|author1-link=Kalpana Kannabiran}}</ref>

Ram Jethmalani argued that the women had consented to sex. The court noted that in some cases the consent was obtained by deceit, such as promising a cure for ailments such as asthma or by saying that sex with the swami was "service to God". The court also noted that some of the girls had been threatened with dire consequences and that some of the victims were below the [[age of consent]] (16 at the time of trial) when they were raped. Jethmalani also said that the trial was unfair because witnesses and the accused had been subjected to police brutality.<ref name=provoke/><ref name=YoungMan>{{cite news|title=The Angry Young Man|url=http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main12.asp?filename=hub062505the_angry.asp|accessdate=6 September 2015|work=[[Tehelka]]|date=25 June 2005}}</ref>

The alleged murder victim's remains were found buried on the ashram premises and were presented as evidence.<ref name=ghost/><ref name="DNAtoon">{{cite book|title=Scientoonic Tell-Tale Of Genome And Dna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ToAonv_kNrAC&pg=PA113|accessdate=30 September 2013|date=1 January 2009|publisher=I. K. International Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-89866-60-0|page=113}}</ref>

[[DNA profiling|DNA samples]] from Arul Jyothi, her alleged aborted fetus, and Premananda were also introduced as evidence. The prosecution argued that the results established his paternity.<ref name=ghost>{{cite news|title=Holy ghost! Unholy fathers|url=http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main12.asp?filename=hub051405Holy_ghost.asp|accessdate=29 September 2013|newspaper=[[Tehelka]]|date=14 May 2005|archivedate=23 July 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723185024/http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main12.asp?filename=hub051405Holy_ghost.asp}}</ref><ref name="preg"/> The defense hired an expert witness from the UK, Wilson Wall, who took DNA evidence back to the UK and analyzed it; his results were that Premananda was not the father and that analysis by the Indian scientists was mishandled.<ref name=AppealVerdict/>{{rp|¶74, ¶90–91}}<ref name="Wall2005">{{cite book|author=Wilson Wall|title=The DNA Detectives|year=2005|publisher=Robert Hale |isbn=9780709075042 |pages=162–165}}</ref><ref>K. S. Jayaraman for Nature News. 11 September 1997 [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v389/n6647/full/389109b0.html DNA fingerprinting evidence questioned]</ref><ref>Sunil Pandya. 2008 [http://nmji.in/archives/Volume_21/Issue-6/PDF-volume-21-issue-6/Volume-21-issue-6-Letter-Mumbai.pdf Conference on "National Agenda on Problems and Solutions: Hyderabad. 12-14 December 2008"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316004217/http://nmji.in/archives/volume_21/issue-6/PDF-volume-21-issue-6/Volume-21-issue-6-Letter-Mumbai.pdf |date=16 March 2016 }} The National Medical Journal of India 21(6):327</ref>

==Conviction==
On 20 August 1997, Premananda was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined {{currency|67.3|INR}} [[lakh]]s for 13 counts of rape, molestations of two girls and a murder. Failure to pay the fine was to carry an additional term of 32 years and 9 months. He was also convicted of cheating the residents of his ashram, which carried another one-year sentence. Six others were also found guilty of conspiracy to commit rapes and destroying evidence. Five were given life sentences. In view of the severity of the crimes, the judge denied them any future remission of their sentences or amnesty by any state or central government.<ref name=convicted/>

Premananda appeared unperturbed by the sentences and while talking to reporters, said: "Truth will ultimately triumph".<ref name=convicted>{{cite news|title=Premananda gets life sentence|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/Storyold/10248/|accessdate=1 March 2014|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=21 August 1997}}</ref>

==Aftermath==

In January 2000, the [[Madras High Court]] ordered that {{currency|36.40|INR}} [[lakh]]s from Premananda's frozen accounts should be placed in a fixed deposit for three years and the resulting interest should be paid to the victims as compensation.<ref name="fixed depo">{{cite news|title=Court directive on Premananda accounts|url=http://www.hindu.com/2000/01/11/stories/04112235.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223011501/http://www.hindu.com/2000/01/11/stories/04112235.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2014|accessdate=29 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=11 January 2000}}</ref> The original guilty verdict was appealed to the Madras High Court and the appeal was rejected in December 2002.<ref name=AppealVerdict>[http://judis.nic.in/judis_chennai/qrydisp.aspx?filename=1040 Madras High Court Verdict 12 December 2012]</ref><ref name="SC rejects"/>

In April 2005, the [[Supreme Court of India]] rejected an appeal.<ref name=ghost/><ref name="SC rejects">{{cite news|title=Jethmalani's charges 'disturb' top lawyers|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-06-03/india/27867369_1_life-imprisonment-sessions-court-ram-jethmalani|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130929164801/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-06-03/india/27867369_1_life-imprisonment-sessions-court-ram-jethmalani|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 September 2013|accessdate=29 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=3 June 2005}}</ref> On 5 February 2009, the Madras High Court rejected a [[habeas corpus]] petition, keeping in view the recommendations of the district sessions judge at the time of conviction and the previous Supreme Court order.<ref name="MHC rejected">{{cite news|title=Premananda case: habeas corpus petition dismissed|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/06/stories/2009020660040700.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210172233/http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/06/stories/2009020660040700.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 February 2009|accessdate=29 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=6 February 2009}}</ref> On 26 June 2010, however, the same court accepted Premananda's petition requesting a three-month parole to undergo medical treatment.<ref name=parole>{{cite news|title=Pass orders on Premananda's plea|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/article485589.ece|accessdate=29 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=26 June 2010}}</ref>

As of 2005 a European named Doris was running the ashram who said that Premananda was innocent.<ref name=ghost/>
In March 1997, Aruljyothy, one of the girls who had been taken away for interrogation, stated in court that the girls' testimony against Swami Premananda had been made under torture. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://advaitananda.com/a-similar-case-of-abuses-of-authorities-in-tamil-nadu-in-chennai-where-satya-yoga-have-its-headquarter-the-strange-case-of-swami-premananda/|title=A Similar Case of Abuses of Authorities in Tamil Nadu, in Chennai, where Satya Yoga School Has Its Headquarter: The Strange Case of Swami Premananda|date=14 August 2011}}</ref>

==Death==
Premananda died on 21 February 2011 of acute liver failure, while being held in [[Cuddalore Central Prison]]. Until his death, he continued to maintain that he was innocent.<ref name=death>{{cite news|title=Godman Premananda passes away|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/139851/godman-premananda-passes-away.html|accessdate=29 September 2013|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=21 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/02/21/fea03.asp|title = Features | Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers}}</ref><ref>Daily News, Sri Lanka</ref>

==Legacy==
On 16 November 2014, Swami Premananda's [[birth anniversary]] was observed by his devotees at the residence of [[C. V. Vigneswaran]] in [[Colombo]], Sri Lanka.<ref name="Birthday-OL">{{cite news|title=Swami Premananda Birthday celebration in Colombo|url=http://www.omlanka.com/Swami-Premanada-161114.html|accessdate=20 March 2016|work=Om Lanka|date=16 November 2014}}</ref> On 22 February 2015, the Swami Premananda International Conference was held in Colombo. It was attended by [[A. T. Ariyaratne]], founder of the [[Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement]], [[D. M. Swaminathan]], a [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Sri Lankan Tamil]] Cabinet Minister, [[C. V. Vigneswaran]], the [[Chief Minister of the Northern Province]], and about 50 delegates from various countries including Argentina, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Nepal, the UK, the US, Sweden, Switzerland, India and Poland.<ref name="AnnualConference-TST">{{cite news|title=Swamy Premananda International Conference|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150405/plus/swamy-premananda-international-conference-142979.html|accessdate=20 March 2016|work=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|date=5 April 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sripremananda.org Official website]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Premananda, Swami}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindu religious leaders convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:20th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:People from Pudukkottai district]]

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Swami Premananda (guru)