NEW DELHI: All the men and women who matter were there to toast the celebrated god man Chandraswami as he turned 46 recently, the impressive guest list included several Cabinet ministers, four chief minister, former ministers, bureaucrats, businessmen and other religious heads, indicative of the power he wields.

Wearing a spotless white silk dhoti and Kura, embellished with a red and green zari worked Shaw, the god man held out his palm in blessing as his well-wishers paid obeisance to him. The first of the VIPs to arrive were Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan, Union Minister for Environment Kamal Nath and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh.

As the evening progressed, the country’s political glitterati headed for Chandraswami’s spanking new ashram, ‘Vishwadharmayatayan,” located in Qutab Institutional Area, to make their presence felt on the occasion. The evening brought together people who normally ‘wouldn’t great each other Seshan brushed shoulders with Subramaniam Swammy, Buta ‘Singh led the Shahi Imam of Jama Majid on his arm, and fashion designer Bina Ramani sat next to Devi Lal.

Large crowds gathered outside but only those who produced the scroll like invitation card specially crafted for the occasion, were let in, except for the VIPs, who were led in by the Swami’s well-trained disciples. Everything had been well organized, including the dolled up ushers in blue silk saris, who made sure the guests were seated according to their VIP status and plied them with cold drinks and snacks.

Everyone was vying for a chance at the mike, to bless the Swami with a long life. But even before the evening began to get underway, Seshan and Kamal Nath made quick exits, Prime Minister PV ‘Narasimha Rao had sent a personal letter of greeting to the Swami through his grandson, which was read out. BJP leader Uma Bharati, too, sent her brother with a message of greeting.

Chairman of the Madras based Apollo Hospital, Dr. P,C. Reddy, was the first to eulogize the Swami’s deeds, Home Minister S.B. Chavan, who entered later, said; “I have come here only to wish Chandraswami.””

A host of other religious personalities from Swami Ramana Acharya of Ayodhya to the head of the Church of North India Father Patrick Motilal read prayers and message of good health to the Swami. The other guests included Textile Minister Venkata Swamy, Welfare Minister jitaram Kesri, Minister of State Ram Lakhan Yadav, Suresh Kalmadi. MP. Gujarat Chief Minister C. Mehta, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal and Mrs, Vasundhare Scindia Raje. A But the appearance of the UN as Chief Minister, which his Black Cat commandos created a stir among the audience, as they. Watched him stride up to greet the man on stage. However, the man. Who sprung a surprise on every> ‘one was the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, who was escorted into the” party by none other than former union Minister Buta Singh.

Not to be left out of the festivities were some representatives front the film world producers S_ Bokadia and Subba Reddy and actor Aditya Pancholi.

Ashe evening ended with a dazzling display of fireworks, the invincibility of god man Chandraswami in the topsy-turvy world of Indian politics had clearly been established.

Article extracted from this publication >>  November 25, 1994