Satpal Maharaj

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Satpal Maharaj
Shri Satpal Maharaj At UNO.jpg
Satpal Maharaj
Cabinet Minister to the Government of Uttarakhand
Assumed office
March 2017
Relatives Prem Rawat (brother)
Rajaji Rawat (brother)
Navi Rawat (niece)
Residence(s) Dehradun, Uttarakhand and Punjabi Bagh, Delhi
Website www.satpalmaharaj.in

Satpal Maharaj (born Satpal Singh Rawat, 21 September 1951) is an Indian spiritual guru turned politician. He is a national executive member of the BJP. [1] Currently, he serves as the tourism, cultural, and irrigation minister in the cabinet of the Government of Uttarakhand. [2] [3] He is the founder of Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti.

Contents

Early life

Childhood

Satpal was born as the eldest son of Hans Maharaj, a spiritual guru, and his second wife, Rajeshwari Devi, in a small town named Kankhal in Haridwar district. Since childhood, he has had an interest in spirituality and often practices deep meditation techniques. His brothers, Bhole Rawat and Prem Rawat are also spiritual gurus.

Satpal went to St. George's College, Mussorie for formal education. [4] [5]

Spiritual Master

His father passed away in 1966, giving him the task of communicating spiritual knowledge to the world. He used to address a large crowd of followers with his spiritual discourses at very young ages. His message is "God is neither Hindu, Muslim, nor Christian. God is one and is our father. [6]

Recognition as a Social Figure

Since the early years of his life, he has been a social activist, bringing about reforms. He has opened multiple non-profit clinics and brought other important services to the people of remote areas, who do not have access to government programs due to their geographical conditions. In his teenage years, he became familiar with the problems faced by people living in mountainous, remote areas of then-Uttar Pradesh, and he out-reached people living in such areas and supported their demand for a separate state of Uttarakhand. =He set up a socio-spiritual society with the objective of uplifting mankind from the morass of ignorance and superstition. The society is called "Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti", with its headquarters in Delhi, India. [7]

Socio-Spiritual Initiatives

He established a socio-spiritual organization called Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti.

Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti

He founded Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti with the motive of preaching the meditation techniques called "Knowledge". [8] The Society stands for sanskritizing the lower classes in the society and sharing with them the joys and sorrows of life as brethren by providing them with spiritual succor. It fights for their rights and against atrocities on the lower castes and condemns depriving their entry into the place of worship. Community lunch and commune living is a common feature of society. [9]

Padyatras (Foot Marches)

He headed many padayatras, both nationally and internationally, many social causes, and to bring awareness and peace. He is connected to the motive of building a better, healthy, and contented society and has made many efforts to this end, as listed below:

Name of MarchDate StartedDate EndedPlace FromPlace ToDistance Covered (Approx. in km.)Description
Bharat Jago Padyatra (Wake Up India Foot March)24 September 198328 October 1983 Badrinath, Uttarakhand Boat Club, Delhi 710 km.This foot march traversed from the often dangerous mountainous terrain and walked through 500 villages, Maharaj Ji met more than 300,000 people along the way, talking with them and listening to their grievances. The poor and needy were given medicines and blankets. At each of the 24 stops along the way, evening programs were held to discuss the problems of the local people and to inform them of the aims of the padayatra. The march culminated with a gathering of 60,000, calling for social and political awakening. A campaign to clean up the polluted Ganges also began during this march. [10] [11]
Jan Jagran Padyatra (Awaken The People Foot March)11 March 1985Date unknownGandhi Maidan, Siliguri, West Bengal Gangtok, Sikkim 250 km.The aim of this foot march was to inspire youth to create a congenial atmosphere for the development of the hilly region and demand the Government to recognize and alleviate the endemic problems of the hill areas and to listen to the grievances of the local people, who felt ignored and neglected by the authorities. It also supported and re-ignited the long-standing demand for recognition of the Nepali language, which was ultimately successful with its inclusion in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India. [10] [11]
Janata Jage Padyatra (People Awake Foot March)Somewhere in February 1986somewhere in 1986 Bodh gaya, Bihar Patna, Bihar 230 km.The foot march was held in the poverty-stricken and violence-ridden state of Bihar, it called upon the people to reawaken the humanitarian ideals of peace and harmony embodied in the teachings of Buddha and Mahavir Swami and promote caste and communal harmony. Satpal Maharaj said, "The best way to pay tribute to Lord Buddha is to follow his teachings and refrain from doing anything to the contrary. Nothing is achieved through violence and crime. Society can only be changed when we change ourselves." The aim of this padayatra was to help the masses, especially young people, realize that a law-abiding atmosphere is essential for economic and social progress. [10] [11]
Gandhi Yatra (A Car Rally Dedicated to Non-Violence)Somewhere in October 1993somewhere in 1993 Maghar, Uttar Pradesh Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 600 km.To rekindle interest in the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and to promote harmony among religious communities, Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj led "Gandhi-Yatra". This was a 'car rally' in which 350 cars took part. It started where St Kabir was cremated and where a temple and mosque share a common wall. After rallies in many of the main cities of Uttar Pradesh, the yatra finished in Lucknow, where crowds surged into the streets to welcome the participants. A mammoth rally in the historic Begum Hazrat Mahal Park was preceded by a 4 km silent march. [10] [11]
Shrandhanjali Padyatra (Tribute Foot March)Somewhere in 1995somewhere in 1995 Gopeshwar, Uttarakhand Muzzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh 350 km.This march was dedicated to commemorating the martyrs who lost their lives while demonstrating peacefully for a separate state of Uttarakhand. This region has specific problems that the state of Uttar Pradesh seemed unable to address. Maharaj Ji actively supported the Uttarakhand Movement and felt that the ultimate way to honor the dead would be to secure this separate state. When he was Minister of State for Railways in the Devegowda Government, he got the chance to convince the Prime Minister to grant statehood, which was announced during Independence Day celebrations on 15 August 1996. [10] [11]
Sadbhawana Padyatra (Goodwill Foot March)Somewhere in November 2002Somewhere in December 2002 Dandi, Gujarat Sabarmati, Gujarat 350 km.The aim of this march was to promote healing and goodwill between Hindus and Muslims in riot-torn Gujarat after horrific violence, as well as to address the issue of divisive politics that was tearing the social fabric apart. Maharaj Ji voiced the opinion that Gandhi's home state should stand out as a beacon of economic progress and human development and that its social ethos and climate must be congenial for industry and investment to flourish. The procession stretched for 350 km and went for 22 days. It attracted people from different faiths who joined in with great enthusiasm. [10] [11]
Gandhi Rainbow Peace MarchSomewhere in 2005Somewhere in 2005 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Durban, South Africa 100 km.The march started where Mahatma Gandhi was evicted from a train for daring to sit in a 'Whites only' carriage and ended at City Hall, Durban, with a civic reception from the Mayor. Shri Maharaj Ji presented the Deputy Mayor of Pietermaritzburg and assembled dignitaries with a bust of Gandhi as a young barrister, to be installed at the railway station. [10] [11]

Other Social Initiatives

Shri Satpal Maharaj Ji has undertaken many social initiatives by the means of the MUSS.

Mission Education

This initiative was taken under the guidance of his son, Shri Shradhey Maharaj Ji, where they developed a model to supply the recurring stationery to the underprivileged of the society, who drop school due to lack of stationery. Under this initiative, the aim is to create a value system amongst the students of well-to-do families to care for the underprivileged and donate the excess of their stuff. This initiative focused on collection of items from well-off institutions and create awareness, and then making kits of necessary involved, and distributing them in underprivileged schools, so, there is no money involved at all. This is being run at the international level. In May 2019, this initiative became the world's quickest and largest system to donate the stationery, achieving a Guinness World Record. [12]

Political career

Shri Satpal Maharaj is the current Cabinet Minister in the State of Government of Uttarakhand, serving as the Minister of Tourism, Irrigation, Culture. [13]

Works in Uttarakhand

Role in the formation of Uttarakhand

He had played a vital role in the formation of Uttarakhand.

Rail Line Project

He inaugurated a survey to this project as a Union Minister, and Minister of Railways of State of Uttar Pradesh (Now, in Uttarakhand) in 1996. [14] [15] [16] This project got budget allocation and other clearances from the government, it is said to be the longest tunnel rail project in the country, which will play a vital role in the security of the country, and livelihood of the people of Uttarakhand. [17] The Rishikesh to Karnprayag Rail Line is proposed to serve a vital role in the country, for prompt movement of Army (as the geographical location of the line is near India-China Border), pilgrims and locals. [18] The foundation stone for the project survey was laid down by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, on 9 November 2011 [19] at Rishikesh, this was a 125-kilometer railway line project. The survey of the project completed somewhere by the year 2013, [20] however, the project was delayed by state ministers to provide necessary land to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for the commencement of the project construction due to nonfinalization of land acquisition rules of Uttarakhand. [21]

Private bill in 8th schedule

He brought a private member's bill to include Garhwali and Kumaoni language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. [22]

Protein Revolution

Maharaj with his wife and dignitaries of Peru. Shri Satpal Maharaj & Smt. Amrita Rawat, With Vice President & Other Dignitories of Peru.jpg
Maharaj with his wife and dignitaries of Peru.

Uttarakhand Government has inked a tourism promotion horticulture research agreement with Peru. State Government will have intergovernmental interaction of scientific communities from both the countries in order to boost horticulture and wool production in the State. According to Maharaj, the president of Peru will visit Uttarakhand in January to explore the possibilities and economic opportunities here. The MoU for tourism promotion was signed between the Uttarakhand tourism minister Amrita Rawat and Peru president Carlos Canales in the presence of the vice president of India Mohammed Hamid Ansari in their recent visit to Peru. As per agreement tourism officials and other related agencies of Peru will visit the State to study tourism activities and further possibilities of promotional chances here. Besides this Uttarakhand will also import seeds of Peru's native protein-rich high altitude cereal crop Quinoa to cultivate it here. [23] [24]

Satpal Maharaj Bust Donation at Africa. Satpal Maharaj Bust Donation at Africa.jpg
Satpal Maharaj Bust Donation at Africa.

International activities

1. On 17 October 2011, he delivered a speech at 66th United Nations General Assembly session held in New York City on the topic "Sport for Peace and Development". [25]

2. On 19 October 2011, he presented the statement by India in the First Committee Thematic Debate on Conventional Weapons at 66th United Nations General Assembly session held in New York City. [25]

3. He and his wife Smt. Amrita Rawat jointly donated a bust of Mahatma Gandhi to KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, the bust was to be installed at the Pietermaritzburg Railway Station; the station where Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of the train. [26]

COVID-19 disease

Satpal Maharaj, his wife, and his 22 family and staff members tested positive for Covid-19 on 30 May 2020. Satpal Maharaj and his wife had been admitted to AIIMS hospital, Rishikesh and the couple recovered from the coronavirus within 3 weeks; they were discharged from AIIMS hospital, Rishikesh on 17 June 2020. [27]

Related Research Articles

Knowledge is a term used by Shri Hans Ji Maharaj to denote a formulation of four specific techniques that were imparted in a process of initiation. The term continues to be used by two of Shri Hans Ji Maharaj's sons, Satpal Rawat and Prem Rawat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prem Rawat</span> Spiritual leader (born 1957)

Prem Pal Singh Rawat, formerly known as Maharaji, is an Indian international speaker and author. His teachings include a meditation practice he calls "Knowledge", and peace education based on the discovery of personal resources such as inner strength, choice, appreciation and hope.

Hans Rām Singh Rawat, called Shrī Hans Jī Mahārāj and by various other honorifics, was an Indian religious leader.

The Divine Light Mission was an organization founded in 1960 by guru Hans Ji Maharaj for his following in northern India. During the 1970s, the DLM gained prominence in the West under the leadership of his fourth and youngest son. Some scholars noted the influence of the Bhagavad Gita and the Radha Soami tradition, a.k.a. Sant Mat movement, but the western movement was widely seen as a new religious movement, a cult, a charismatic religious sect or an alternative religion. DLM officials said the movement represented a church rather than a religion.

Contemporary Sant Mat Movements, mostly among the Radha Soami tradition, are esoteric philosophy movements active in the United States, Europe, Australia, Latin America, and especially India. These movements assert that Sant Mat shares a lineage with Sikhism and contains elements of thought found in Hinduism, such as karma and reincarnation. They further assert that Sant Mat also contains elements found in Sufism and has inspired and influenced a number of religious groups and organizations. They refer to this spiritual path as the "Science of the Soul" or ‘Sant Mat’, meaning ‘teachings of the saints’. More recently it has been described as "The Way of Life" or "Living the Life of Soul." It incorporates a practical yoga system known as Surat Shabd Yoga.

Maharaj Ji, Maharaji, or similar, may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radha Soami</span> Religious faith related to Sikhism and Hinduism

Radha Soami is a spiritual tradition or faith founded by Shiv Dayal Singh in 1861 on Basant Panchami Day in Agra, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Churdhar Sanctuary</span> Hindu temple in Himachal Pradesh, India

Churdhar Sanctuary is located in Sirmaur district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The total covered area of this sanctuary is 56.16 square kilometres as notified on 15 November 1985. Fauna includes Himalayan black bear, Barking deer, Musk deer, Langur and Leopards. The work of administration at Churdhar is taken care by Chureshwar Sewa Samiti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennium '73</span>

Millennium '73 was a three-day festival held on November 8–10, 1973 at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, United States, by the Divine Light Mission (DLM). It featured Prem Rawat, then known as Guru Maharaj Ji, a 15-year-old guru and the leader of a fast-growing new religious movement. Organizers billed the festival as the most significant event in human history which would usher in a thousand years of peace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garhwali people</span> Indian ethno-linguistic group in the Garhwal region of the Indian state of Uttarakhand

The Garhwali people are an Indian ethnolinguistic group native to the Garhwal, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, who speak Garhwali, an Indo-Aryan language.

Bibliography of Prem Rawat and related organizations lists bibliographical material regarding Prem Rawat and organizations like Divine Light Mission, Elan Vital and the Prem Rawat Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagan Nath Kaul</span> Indian humanitarian

Jagan Nath Kaul was the founder, president, and patron of SOS Children's Village of India. SOS CVI provides a home to almost 15,000 children in 34 children's villages, located in various parts of the country. In addition to the children's villages, SOS provides indirect care to children through its 122 allied projects such as kindergartens, schools and social, medical and vocational training centres throughout India. SOS CVI provides direct and indirect care to almost 200,000 (200,000) children in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kripalu Maharaj</span> Hindu spiritual leader (1922–2013)

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was an Indian religious leader, and the founder of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), a worldwide Hindu non-profit organization with five main ashrams, four in India and one in the United States.

Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences is a private medical college located in Patelnagar in Dehradun district, Uttarakhand, India. The medical college hospital was started in April 2002 and the college received permission for MBBS admission in 2006 and Postgraduate courses started in 2011. It was affiliated to Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University. It has an annual intake of 150 for MBBS seats and 97 Post graduate seats in various specialties recognized by MCI. In 2017 it became a constituent college of Shri Guru Ram Rai University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashutosh (spiritual leader)</span> Founder of non-profit spiritual organisation Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan

Ashutosh, born as Mahesh Kumar Jha and also known as Ashutosh Maharaj Ji (1946–2014), was an Indian spiritual leader, preacher, satguru, and founder head of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (DJJS), a non-profit spiritual organisation. On 29 January 2014, he was declared clinically dead by a team of doctors. His followers believe him to be alive and in a state of samadhi or deep meditation. Since January 2014, his body has been kept in a freezer by the management of DJJS, with a firm belief that he will come out of meditation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti</span>

Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti (M.U.S.S.) is an all-India registered voluntary non-profit social welfare and charitable organization established under Indian Societies Registration Act of 1860 under the leadership & inspiration of Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj. Its primary function is to organize spiritual gatherings all over India and Nepal, at which representatives of other religious and social organizations, as well as political leaders, are also invited to speak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amrita Rawat</span> Indian politician

Amrita Rawat, also known as Shri Amrita Mata ji, is a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttarakhand, India. Shri Amrita Rawat is married to Shri Satpal Maharaj.

The Rishikesh–Karnaprayag line is an under-construction railway line, which will run from Yog Nagari Rishikesh railway station in Rishikesh to Karnaprayag. It is Indian Railways' proposed route for the Char Dham Railway to connect the Char Dham pilgrimage of Uttarakhand. The line is also part of an Indian geostrategic initiative to build infrastructure along the India-China border to discourage Chinese expansion. The project is considered to be of national strategic importance and is being tracked on the Central Government’s PRAGATI portal. When ready, it will help improve connectivity to the Char Dham shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

The Uttarakhand Metro is a light rapid transit system proposed for the city of Dehradun, India. The proposal of the metro rail corridor from the Nepali Farm to the Vidhan Sabha in Dehradun district was approved. The Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) approved 73 km long Deharadun–Haridwar–Rishikesh Metro Rail corridor in Uttarakhand in June 2020. The estimated cost of the project would be ₹ 40,150 crore. The decision was taken by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat who had chaired the meeting of UMTA.

Yog Nagari Rishikesh railway station is a railway station serving the city of Rishikesh in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It lies in the Northern railway network zone of Indian Railways. The station code is YNRK.

References

  1. ↑ "National Executive Members List".
  2. ↑ "Satpal Maharaj, BJP MLA from Chaubattakhal - Our Neta" . Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "Satpal Maharaj Biography: Know the Age, Early Life, Net Worth, Family, Political Career, Uttrakhand CM, and Photo". jagrantv. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Mangalwadi (1992), pp. 135–136
  5. ↑ Life of Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj (1979), p.4
  6. ↑ Life Portrait of Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj (1979), p.5
  7. ↑ Life Portrait of Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj (1979), p.6
  8. ↑ McKean 1996, pp. 53-57
  9. ↑ Life Portrait of Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj (1979), p.8
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "shree Satpal Maharaj padyatras" (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Shree Satpal Maharaj padyatras" . Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "Guinness World Record Mission Education". Guinness World Record. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "11 members of previous cabinet take oath as U'khand ministers along with Chief Minister". Yahoo News. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "Railway Ministers". IRFCA. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Several Rail Projects Yet To Take Off in State".
  16. ↑ "Rishikesh Karnprayag Project". Tribune India . Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "Coming soon: India's longest railway tunnel on Rishikesh-Karnprayag route". Hindustan Times . Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  18. ↑ "Rishikesh-Karanprayag rail line priority project: MP". Tribune India . Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "Work on Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line to commence soon: Satpal Maharaj". meri news. Retrieved 6 April 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ↑ "Alignment plan finalized for Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line". Zee News . Retrieved 6 April 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. ↑ "Rail project caught in unsavory political controversy". business-standard. Retrieved 6 April 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  22. ↑ "Make Kumaoni, Garhwali State languages, says Satpal Maharaj". The Hindu. 21 August 2011. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  23. ↑ "Peru keen on importing Basmati crop tech, Asian buffaloes from U'khand". www.dailypioneer.com. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  24. ↑ Rolan. "Alcalde de Cusco recibió reconocimiento de uno de los más importantes líderes de la India". El Diario del Cusco. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  25. 1 2 "UNO Brochure.pdf" (PDF).
  26. ↑ "Mahatma Gandhi's bust gathering dust in South Africa". The Hindu. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  27. ↑ "Uttarakhand minister Satpal Maharaj, family test positive for COVID-19". The Hindustantimes. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

Bibliography


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