SATHYA SAI BABA

VIR SANGHVI - INDIAN JOURNALIST

Vir Sanghvi On Sai-Fi.net
 

Vir Sanghvi And Sathya Sai Baba

Vir Sanghvi's False Statements Against Sathya Sai Baba

Vir Sanghvi Menu (click on a link to go to relevant section):

Introduction To The Indian Journalist Vir Sanghvi: RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Vir Sanghvi is an Indian journalist who is a staunch critic of Sathya Sai Baba. He is currently the editorial director for the Hindustan Times (which may explain why they almost exclusively report negative information about Sathya Sai Baba), former editor for Sunday, former consulting editor for Anada Bazaar Patrika, former editor for Imprint, founder-editor for Bombay Magazine and currently writes a Counterpoint weekly column in the Hindusan Times. Vir Sanghvi was allegedly educated at Mayo College, Ajmer and Oxford University, is reputed as being one of the youngest editors in India and is also a television personality.

Don't let all of these credentials fool you. Vir Sanghvi is willing to compromise his integrity and reputation as a journalist by resorting to disrespectable research, bias and sensationalistic propaganda to promote his views against Sathya Sai Baba.

Vir Sanghvi's "Counterpoint" Columnist Article: RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

On November 25th 2006, Vir Sanghvi wrote a Counterpoint columnist article in the Hindustan Times entitled "The Truth About Sathya Sai Baba". Not only did Vir Sanghvi not know that Sathya Sai Baba turned 81 (he claimed Baba turned 80), he admitted that he is "not big on Sathya Sai Baba" and referred to him as the "old boy".

In his Counterpoint article, Vir Sanghvi made the following inaccurate claims about Sathya Sai Baba:

  1. Sathya Sai Baba just celebrated his 80'th birthday.
  2. There is a "sordid controversy" about Sathya Sai Baba engaging in questionable behavior with "little boys".
  3. The homosexual allegations against Sathya Sai Baba are "too numerous to dispute".
  4. That the list of Western complainants runs "into triple figures".
  5. All of Sathya Sai Baba's miracles can easily be performed by conjurors.

Did Sathya Sai Baba Just Celebrate His 80th Birthday? RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

The answer is "no". Sathya Sai Baba just celebrated his 81st birthday. Nice double-checking there, Mr. Vir Sanghvi.

Did Sathya Sai Baba Engage In Questionable Behavior With "little boys"? RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Those opposing Sathya Sai Baba wage an unremitting smear campaign against him that accuses him of "serial pedophilia" and the sexual abuse of "boys" and "children". These allegations are fallacious, unsustantiated and wholly untrue. There are no testimonies from "boys", "children" or parents of children that support the erroneous claim that Sathya Sai Baba is a pedophile who engaged in sexual interactions with children. To date, there are no court cases, police complaints, affidavits, public grievances or lawsuits from any parent alleging that Sathya Sai Baba sexually abused his/her child. Not even one single legitimate complaint. Sathya Sai Baba has never been charged with any crime, has never been convicted of any crime and has never had even one single complaint lodged against him, first-hand, by any alleged victim (child, teenager, parent or adult) in India.

Vir Sanghvi cannot cite even one single police complaint or court case that supports his erroneous claim that Sathya Sai Baba engaged in questionable behavior with "little kids". One would think that a journalist of Vir Sanghvi's calibre would have the basic integrity to research and confirm allegations before publishing unsupported opinions, speculations and conspriacy theories in the Hindustan Times. To date, neither Vir Sanghvi or anyone else have been able to confirm even one single case where Sathya Sai Baba engaged in questionable behavior with "little kids".

Are The Homosexual Allegations "too numerous to dispute"? RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

To support his claim that the homosexual abuse allegations against Sathya Sai Baba are "too numerous to dispute", Vir Sanghvi suggested that one enter "Sathya Sai Baba" and "homosexuality" into a Google search. Because there are almost 18,000 returns, Vir Sanghvi concluded that these allegations are "too numerous to dispute" and some of these allegations must be true. What kind of journalist bases facts and figures on Google results? This is not only shabby research, it is poor journalism.

For example, enter "George Bush" and "homosexuality" into a Google search and you will get an astounding 1,250,000 (plus) returns: View Results. Enter "Jesus" and "homosexuality" into a Google search and you will get an astounding 1,300,000 (plus) returns: View Results. Enter "Mother Teresa" and "homosexuality" into a Google search and you will get 330,000 (plus) returns: View Results. Using Vir Sanghvi's lamentable logic, one must conclude that some of these results are indicative that George Bush, Jesus and Mother Teresa engaged in acts of homosexuality. What kind of journalist uses this type of propaganda as "evidence" against others? In my opinion, the only type of journalists who engage in this type of low-class propaganda are tabloid journalists who care less for facts and care more for sensationalism and fiction.

Furthermore, enter "Vir Sanghvi" and "homosexuality" into a Google search: View The 500+ Results. Enter "Vir Sanghvi" and "stupid" into a Google search: View The 1,300+ Results. Enter "Vir Sanghvi" and "offensive" into a Goolge search: View The 1,200+ Results. Enter "Vir Sanghvi" and "corrupt" into a Google search: View The 1,000+ Results. Enter "Vir Sanghvi" and "bias" into a Google search: View The 1,100+ Results.

Since Vir Sanghvi is not an internationally revered guru like Sathya Sai Baba (who has millions of followers), these results are high for one person. Are we to conclude that Mr. Sanghvi engaged in acts of "homosexuality" and that he is "stupid", "corrupt", "biased" and "offensive" based on Google's results? Using Sanghvi's standard, the answer is "yes". After all this is the standard and "evidence" that he attempted to use against Sathya Sai Baba. Why can't others use the same standard against Mr. Sanghvi?

For those who are not gullible, naive or sensationalists, Google's results are not indicative of guilt, evidence, complaints, behavior or anything else for that matter. Google's results simply return webpages (many duplicates) with all possible combinations of keywords located on any given webpage. This explains the Google results obtained for George Bush, Jesus and Mother Teresa. This also explains why Vir Sanghvi had 500+ Google results when his name was combined with the word "homosexuality".

Is There A List Of Western Complainants That Run "into triple figures"? RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

I am not aware of any list composed of Westerner complainants that "runs into triple figures". Where did Vir Sanghvi obtain this information from?

On the sites run by ex-devotees of Sathya Sai Baba, they provide a list of alleged sexual abuse victims. The list is composed of sixteen names (many are fake names). That's it. See For Yourself. All of these alleged victims (except one 16 year old) are adults 18 to 31 years of age. No "little boys" are listed. Perhaps Mr. Sanghvi could inform us as to which reliable source he viewed to support his claim that there is a "list of complainants" that runs "into triple figures" (for Westerners only)?

It is my strong suspicion that Vir Sanghvi is either referring to the bogus online-petition against Sathya Sai Baba on SaiPetition.net (in which anyone can submit multiple fake entries under multiple fake names) or he is referring to Robert Priddy's bogus list of "Prominent Ex-Devotees Of Sai Baba" (a majority who were never "fondled" by Sathya Sai Baba and whose names were mostly lifted from the bogus online-petition website). Why is it that a notable journalist like Vir Sanghvi cannot back up his claims with verifiable and reliable sources? Are these the low standards that Vir Sanghvi must utilize in order to promote his Anti-Sai bias and poorly-constructed arguments in the Hindustan Times? Sadly, this appears to be the case.

Can All Of Sathya Sai Baba's Miracles Easily Be Performed By Conjurors? RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Mr. Sanghvi claimed that "every single one" of Sathya Sai Baba's miracles can be easily performed by even "moderately-talented conjurors". Although it is true that any alleged materialization that Sathya Sai Baba performs will be inextricably tied to doubt, I have yet to see any "conjuror" who can heal people from incurable diseases, appear to people all around the world (in dreams, visions and physical form) and manifest vibuthi, amrita, kumkum, tumeric, holy water, mishri, coins, statues of gods and goddesses, siva lingams, crystals, gems, fragrances, flowers, lights, and various other substances on the altars of devotees all around the world and in the privacy of their own homes (like Sathya Sai Baba is reputed as doing).

There are literally thousands of such stories and first-hand accounts. Even some ex-devotees (to this day) still attest to Sathya Sai Baba's paranormal abilities.

The following links show a small sampling of manifestations and materializations typically associated with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. These manifestations occur in the privacy of devotee's homes all around the world, thousands of miles away from Sathya Sai Baba's physical form. Any "conjuror" up to duplicating these alleged miracles?:

Some Responses To Vir Sanghvi's Article About Sathya Sai Baba: RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Dear Mr Sanghvi,

As a reasonably aware citizen, I think that the duty of a journalist, as a professional, is to project the facts and the truth after doing enough home work demanded by the subject concerned so as to inform and inspire people to think on issues which affect people at large!

Your write-up bordering only on negatives, belies my expectations from a respected profession and a very respected person, known to have a good command over English language. I felt sad at the undignified language used. One may certainly differ in opinions on an issue or a personality, but decently, and without lowering one’s own dignity. In fact what is the real issue that is being raised in the article? Who is being awakened and to what “truth”, by the write-up? It appears to me as a reader that the writer is giving vent to some venom bottled up within him for long!

The writer needs to introspect and ask himself whether he is convinced of the points he is projecting and their veracity; has he really visited Puttaparthi or stayed there and observed enough, or is he writing on hearsay and hasty conclusions of a few?

As a citizen of this democracy I want to know if your facts are in place. If not, you will be guilty of misleading and making false news and doing a great disservice to humanity!

- Lalita Gupta (November 28, 2006)
Sunday was a depressing day for me for two reasons. First, I saw re-cycled, jaundiced and ill-researched vitriolic spouted on the pages of a newspaper that is regarded largely as a credible carrier of news and information to many parts of the country. Second, a person who I've grown to admire and respect for his views, his knowledge and his expression, fell very low in my esteem. The two reasons are connected and the person responsible for the undiluted venom on Satya Sai Baba is none other than the Editor-in-Chief of the Group (pardon me if I get the title wrong!), Vir Sanghvi.

I am not here to defend Baba, as I think He needs no defense. Therefore, while I could counter Mr. Sanghvi's Counterpoint point-by-point, I just do not have the time and inclination to expend on something so half-baked. Had this come from a blinkered-eye, religious bigot, one would have just turned the page over.

But, coming as it did from a respected journalist of Mr. Sanghvi's stature, all I can say is that, Mr. Sanghvi, you need much more than a sharp mind, a quick turn of phrase and an ability to appreciate the nuances of cuisine to delve into something that touches ones soul and knocks at the divinity within each one of us.

You need an open mind and open heart, ready to experience the bliss that divinity (and, yes, by that I do refer to Sai Baba) can confer on you. And when that bliss touches your life, you don't question the material worth of the ring or the locket or the ash or the all-pervading peace that has blessed you. You shed your cynical (and over-analytical) posturing and let simple faith carry you through the vicissitudes of life.

Perhaps if you'd done what a good journalist would do - that is, speak to people who have had direct and profound experiences - rather than take the arm-chair recourse to surfing the net and citing what a participant on a news channel had said a couple of days back, you would have learnt of the thousands of people who have experienced 'miraculous' cures that doctors and scientists have no answers to.

Next time, Mr. Sanghvi, take a detour from your beaten path and go down to Puttaparthi and see 'love in action' with your own eyes - no trashy web sites and recycled yellow media articles - try and understand the phenomenon with that sharp mind and then we'll perhaps better accept your expression of your first hand experiences.

Till then, don't mock faith and don't compromise your own credibility.

- Priya Sarkar (November 28, 2006)
Dear Mr Sanghvi,

With due regards to your experience & expertise on Journalism, I think it is wrong to criticise someone who has done so much good for the society.

Even if you perceive him only from a social worker's point of view, you would find that to provide drinking water to hundreds of villages of Rayalseema is not an easy task. And the project would not have fallen into place so quickly, had not the people working on the project had so much faith in Him.

I'm sure people like PC Sorcar and other 'Rationalists' would have much to say on Sai Baba, but have these people, besides reiterating & conjuring false propaganda, done any good to the society?

And surely, the President Mr Abdul Kalam, or Chandra Babu Naidu, the ex- Prime Minister Mr Vajpayee or even for that matter Mr Shivraj Patil aren't exactly people with loads of free time at their disposal to be making regular visits to Prashanthi Nilayam.

I wonder Mr Sanghvi , if you have actually taken the time to go to Prashanthi Nilayam yourself? I have studied in His institution for 12 long years & I can say with my head held high, that I am proud to be a Sai student. I may not be exemplary, but yes I am principled to a very fair extent. I have been involved in several service activities while I was there & the statistics are immense. Such activites would have been impossible to execute elsewhere.

Have you noticed that despite the criticism Sai Baba faces, his fame only keeps growing by leaps & bounds ?? So surely there is more to him than creating Omega watches or the 'sacred ash' as you call it ???

Have you wondered why people from as far as Russia & even from a communist country like China would flock to have a mere glimpse of this entity ????

- Sirisha, Scotland, United Kingdom (November 27, 2006)
Dear Mr Sanghvi,

It is obvious that you haven't met Sai Baba and are trying to get your 10 minutes of fame from this article.

You should go and meet Sai Baba, bow in front of him, ask for his forgiveness and become enlightened.

- J Chandra, USA (November 28, 2006)
Dear Mr Sanghvi,

I am an admirer of your writings and certainly did not expect you to write the kind of article that has been printed in the Hindustan Times of Sunday, 26th November, 2006. Many journalists write paltry articles about petty issues, but it is disappointing when a journalist of the caliber of Mr.Sanghvi writes something so unnecessarily destructive.

Let me clarify that I am biased neither for, or against Satya Sai Baba. I know many good people who swear by him, but I do not know anyone who has spoken about any harm he has done to anyone, or any misuse of money. On the contrary, what I have heard about the charities he sponsors is awesome.

Even a simple housewife like me can see the evil misuse of religion and faith that seems to increase steadily. As a result, people are losing faith even in simple human values. Faith is a sustaining power which mankind can ill-afford to lose. What will this article achieve? Only that the sentiments of some good people will be hurt, the faith of some will reduce, and donations - along with the charitable work will reduce. Who does this article help? Maybe you are indulging in some satisfaction of pseudo-intellectualism?

There are enough examples of religious heads who have lead hoards of people astray; who have created cults which can only be deplored, and who have made a racket of religion. These would have been worth an expose`, because it would have warned innocent people from allowing themselves to be mislead. I did not see a single example in Mr. Sanghvi's article, about anyone being mislead by Satya Sai Baba.

Intelligence and the power of the pen are tools that can achieve miraculous results. It is disheartening to see them being used for meaningless negativity.

- Poornima Toolsidass (November 28, 2006)

In Conclusion: RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

I think Mr. Vir Sanghvi owes Sathya Sai Baba an apology and should immediately retract his erroneous, inaccurate and dishonest comments until a time comes when he can factually document his current speculations and assumptions with verifiable, accurate and truthful data from reliable and reputable sources. The style of Vir Sanghvi's article is emotional, as opposed to objective. This behavior is not what one would expect from the editorial director of the Hindustan Times. Or is it?

The internet version of Vir Sanghvi's article allows for people to submit responses. Although several responses (pro and con) were published, mine was not, hence this webpage. Just more proof of the suppression and dictator-like control weilded by Vir Sanghvi on the Hindustan Times and his abject failure to accept responsiblity for his blind guesswork, second-rate research, overemotionalism and ludicrous claims against Sathya Sai Baba.

People like Vir Sanghvi use their professions and status to push their subjective, emotional and personal views against Sathya Sai Baba, instead of relying on objective facts. As stated many times before, the objective facts speak for themselves:

  • Sathya Sai Baba has never been proven to be a "charlatan".
  • Sathya Sai Baba has never been convicted of any crime.
  • Sathya Sai Baba has never been charged with any crime.
  • Sathya Sai Baba has never had even one single complaint lodged against him by any alleged victim, first-hand, in India. As a matter of fact, not even one alleged victim has even tried to file a basic police complaint or court case against Sathya Sai Baba in India (the only place where courts would have jurisdiction over Baba as an individual defendent).

These are the cold, hard facts and no rationalist, critic, skeptic or ex-devotee can provide a scintilla of verifiable evidence to the contrary.