Baba promises thin-air babies

By U. SUDHAKAR REDDY
Chowdapur (Andhra Pradesh), Oct. 6: Hundreds of childless couples and ailing persons are lining up before two godmen in Chowdapur seeking miracle cures.
Swas Baba, alias E. Venkataiah, and Biscuit Baba, alias D. Venkataiah, are literally cashing in on their fears and desires.
Swas Baba, who has been attracting devotees for more than a year, claims he can help infertile women conceive a child by blowing air on their stomach. Then he offers them a lemon which he has blessed.
Biscuit Baba goes a step further and claims that he has a cure for every ailment under the sun, including those which have puzzled physicians.
Devotees come to them not only from Ranga Reddy district but also from neighbouring Mahabubnagar and far off Medak.
"Why are you questioning my credentials," Swas Baba asked when this correspondent confronted him. "I have been chosen to make the barren conceive. I am not taking any money from them. I do't even touch them. It is all God's work."
However, local people said he was taking cash offerings from devotees.
Biscuit Baba, formerly a shepherd, claims he was bestowed with "heavenly powers" 16 years ago. "Many people have been cured of their diseases after coming here," he said.
He hates it when he is compared to Swas Baba. "There is no cheating here," he said. "The other swamy may be a cheat. Don't compare me with him."
According to local people, the two semi-literate persons metamorphosed into godmen overnight and suddenly started attracting hundreds of devotees. "All you need for this kind of business is a tree adjacent to a temple where you can sit, and the gift of the gab," said a villager with a cynical smile.
The fame of the two babas has spread far and wide so quickly that even mentally ill persons are brought to them for miracle cures. They don't turn away anyone.
Parigi Ramulu, a villager of Chowdapur, said Venkataiah, who became Swas Baba, was an ordinary villager who worked in the fields. "I don't know how he became a godman," he said.
At least 200 people visit him every day seeking his blessings. "It is a racket," said Ramulu, adding, "He takes Rs 5 from each devotee as a token offering and other cash offerings too."
But devotees strongly believe in his power. "The baba told us to come here for five Saturdays in a row," said Radhamma and her husband Jayappa of Palepalli in Doma mandal, adding, "We have been married for four years and have no kids. We are sure we will have children now."
Chandraiah, another devotee, claimed that his wife gave birth after being blessed by the baba.
However K. Krishnaiah, whose daughter is a devotee of Swas Baba, said he had been collecting money from people promising miracles. "His behaviour is suspicious," said Krishnaiah.
Kulakacharla sub-inspector of police A. Balaiah said the antics of the godmen had come to their notice only recently. "We will look into this," he said. "We will book a case if someone lodges a complaint."
It is pointed out that the failure of the health department to offer medical care to ailing villagers had prompted them to approach godmen. However, Ranga Reddy district medical and health officer L. Shobavathi said there were 39 PHCs in the area. "The villagers go to these swamys and come to the PHCs only when their conditions worsen," she said. "But we take all the blame." She added that there was no scientific basis for the swamys' claims. "But we can't say anything about the beliefs of people," she added.

(Published in Deccan Chronicle and Asian Age on October 7 2007)