How Computer Baba became a minister

NK SINGH

The government decision to abolish those flashing red beacons atop ministers’ cars, the most visible symbol of power, can be annoying, at times. When MP government granted the status of Minister of State to Computer Baba, the saffron robed monk pasted a printout on the windscreen of his SUV, announcing his official status. The prominently placed printout proclaims: “Mahamandleshwar Computer Baba, Minister of State status, Member, Public Awareness Campaign Committee, Madhya Pradesh Government.”

The Indore-based, 53-year-old monk is as colourful as they come. Born Namdev Tyagi somewhere in UP, he prefers to be known as Computer Baba. He earned the moniker because his followers believe that he is as quick as a computer. Even the official notification appointing him a minister does not carry his real name; it simply identifies the guy as Computer Baba.

He became one of the most photographed sadhus in 2016 Simhasth at Ujjain with his matted hair, bare torso and rosary of holy beads slung over his Apple laptop. Many of his admirers call him Helicopter Baba because of his penchant for hiring choppers.

Computer Baba nurses political ambition; he was aspirant for an AAP ticket in the last Lok Sabha election. He also nurses a fragile ego and quick temper. The BJP had invited some selected sadhus of the state for a dinner with party president Amit Shah last year. Computer Baba was not invited for that feast organised at CM House. The monk lost no time in announcing a campaign against the government.

He teamed up with Yogendra Mahant, another Indore-based sadhu with political ambitions. Mahant was a small-time Congress politician and who unsuccessfully contested municipal ward election thrice. The 55-year-old failed politician, who also dabbles in property business, has now become a Mahant, a Hindu religious leader. He was last seen participating with vigour in Digvijay Singh long march along 3,000 km banks of the Narmada.

Not to mysterious about turn 

On March 28, the two holy persons announced a state-wide agitation against the “corrupt” Shivraj government for “patronising” sand mafia. Accompanied by a publicity blitzkrieg unleashed on social media and TV, they charged the government with failure to stop illegal mining in Narmada and cow slaughter in the state. 

The two sadhus threatened to expose its “fake” claim of planting 6 crore saplings around Narmada. The state-wide 45-day agitation, starting April 1, was called Narmada Scam March.

The wannabe agitators were invited to Bhopal on March 30 to discuss their grievances with Home Minister Bhupendra Singh. Subsequently, the chief minister’s secretariat proposed a committee for Narmada conservation, with half a dozen religious leaders as its members. The list included, of course, Computer Baba and Yogendra Mahant. 

Department of planning, economics and statistics formed a special committee for tree plantation, water conservation and cleanliness drive, particularly along Narmada banks. General administration department equally promptly announced ministerial status for members of the committee on April 3.

The background of three other newly appointed Ministers of State is no less interesting. Bhaiyyuji Maharaj, born Udaysingh Deshmukh, has many leading politicians as his devotees. He came to limelight in 2011 during Anna Hazare’s agitation when he mediated on behalf of government. Deshmukh, 49, worked as a marketing executive and model before finding his calling. 

The Indore-based spiritual leader, who drives a Merc, married one of his disciples recently after the death of his first wife. He had also expressed his displeasure with government when it did not invite him to an international conference of spiritual leaders organised at Indore.

Narmadanand came into news after getting ministerial status because the monk, who has an ashram in Omkareshwar and Dindori, figures in government’s BPL list! The new minister of state is armed with a blindness certificate although he does not suffer from any disability! 

Minister of state Hariharanand Sarswati has an ashram in Amarkantak, from where Narmada originates. He is involved in river conservation, afforestation and organic farming.

All’s well that ends well. Both Computer Baba and Yogendra Mahant promptly called off their agitation after their official appointment. They said the agitation’s purpose had been served. The government also heaved a sigh of relief. 

The thinking in official circles is that ministerial status is too small a price for avoiding an embarrassing agitation by men in saffron; the MP government has already granted ministerial status to about 150 persons. 

Tailpiece

The irony seems to have escaped everyone’s notice. The five sadhus were granted ministerial status on the same day that MP police arrested Rajendra Namdeo, who was absconding for over two months in a molestation case. Namdeo, as vice-chairman of a government board to promote art of tailoring, was also a Minister of State.

My column Powers That Be in DB Post of 9 April 2018

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