Bhaiyyu Maharaj (29 April 1968 – 12 June 2018), born Uday Singh Deshmukh, was a spiritual guru from Indore in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Personal life
Maharaj was born Uday Singh Deshmukh[1] on 29 April 1968 in Shujalpur, Madhya Pradesh.[2] He was born in a family of land owner agriculturists and worked in the past as a professional model.[2][3]
His first wife Madhavi Deshmukh died in 2015 and they had a daughter Kuhoo Deshmukh .[4] In 2017, he married Ayushi Sharma.[4][5][3]
Public life
Although Bhaiyyu was based in Indore, he was a popular leader in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh because of his spiritual and social works.[1][2] A follower of Hindu deity Dattatreya, he was also called "Yuva Rashtra Sant".[2]
His followers consisted of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Lata Mangeshkar et al.[1] He was also reported to be a consultant to union ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde and Vilasrao Deshmukh.[6]
During the Anti Corruption movement led by Anna Hazare for a Lokpal or corruption watchdog, he played the role of a mediator for the Congress government in preparing a draft of Lokpal bill, which was acceptable to both the parties.[1][7]
In April 2018, he was offered Minister of State (MoS) post by BJP led Madhya Pradesh Government along with four more spiritual leaders, after being inducted as members of a committee set up for the conservation of the Narmada river.[8] However, Bhaiyyu declined the offer[4][6] and mentioned in an interview to have no inclination towards any particular party or community.[6]
In 2018, Maharaj called for Narmada Ghotala Rath Yatra,(Narmada river scam procession), a public agitation with a purpose of exposing the BJP led Madhya Pradesh government's alleged corruption in the Narmada sand mining scams. The agitation was later called off.[9]
Death
On 12 June 2018, Maharaj shot himself in the head at his residence in Indore.[1] He was taken to the Bombay Hospital in Indore where he died due to his injuries.[1][7][10] His elder daughter Kuhu, performed the Antyesti (last rites).[11]
Additional Director General of Police (ADG) had said that a case of probable domestic discord has come up but that they will investigate all angles of his death.[4][12]
The Congress party has demanded a CBI probe into his death.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Template:Sic leader Bhaiyyu Maharaj commits suicide. The Hindu(12 June 2018). Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Bhaiyyu Maharaj: From model to godman to mediator. Indian Express(23 August 2011). Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Model-Turned-Guru Who Loved His Mercedes, Rolex: 10 Facts On Bhaiyyu Maharaj(12 June 2018). Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Bhaiyyu Maharaj suicide: Won't conclude anything in haste, says police. Economic Times(13 June 2018). Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ↑ भय्यूजी महाराज की अंतिम यात्रा पहुंची मुक्तिधाम, अंतिम संस्कार की तैयारियां प्रारंभ(13 June 2018). Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 When Bhaiyyuji Maharaj rejected MoS status saying it 'holds no importance for a saint'(12 June 2018). Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Self-styled spiritual leader Bhayyu Maharaj kills himself - Times of India. The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
- ↑ Bhayyu Maharaj, 4 other religious leaders get MoS status ahead of MP elections bhopal Hindustan Times. hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
- ↑ Bhaiyyu Maharaj told me he was under pressure(13 June 2018). Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ↑ संत भय्यूजी महाराज ने खुद को गोली मारकर की खुदकुशी - IBC24. IBC24. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
- ↑ Bhaiyyu Maharaj's Funeral: Daughter Performs Last Rites. News18. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
- ↑ Bhaiyyu Maharaj, In Suicide Note, Said "Stressed Out, Fed Up": Cops(13 June 2018). Retrieved 13 June 2018.