Early Life and Background
Dhirendra Brahmachari, born Dhirendra Choudhary on 12 February 1924 in village Basaith Chanpura, Madhubani, Bihar, was a renowned yoga teacher who introduced Kundalini Yoga to the Western world and established 3HO. He was a mentor to Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, and operated ashrams in various locations such as Bhondsi (Gurugram in Delhi NCR), Jammu, Katra, and Mantalai (near Sudhmahadev in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir). Additionally, he authored several books on yoga.
Mentorship and Influence
After finding inspiration in the Bhagavad Gita, he departed from his home at the age of thirteen and journeyed to Varanasi. He became a disciple of Maharshi Kartikeya, whose ashram was located at Gopal-Khera, approximately twelve miles from Lucknow. It was there that Dhirendra Brahmachari delved into the study of yoga and related disciplines. In the 1960s, he received an invitation to visit the U.S.S.R. as a hatha yoga expert in order to provide training for Soviet cosmonauts.
Meeting Indira Gandhi in Shikargarh
In the 1960s, he received an invitation from Mr. Nehru to teach yoga to his daughter Indira Gandhi to help improve her health. There is a small town near Jammu – Shikargarh. Before becoming the Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi used to spend holidays here. It’s an everyday thing. Indira was sitting on the rock and reading a book. Just then a person sitting in a mare passes by. This person wearing white cotton dhoti asks, is she Indira Gandhi? I want to meet him. Indira’s assistant does not allow her to do this. Meanwhile, Indira’s eyes fall on that person. She goes and meets him.
The person tells that he is a teacher who teaches yoga. This year was 1957. Now let us move forward some 14 years from this meeting.
Political Influence Post-1971 Election
After the 1971 elections, this yoga guru gives the cabinet list to some of his journalist friends. After a few days, the cabinet is officially announced and the list matches 100% with the Yoga Guru’s list. This was the status of the person who was called Rasputin of India. In Indira Raj, whose voice did not just speak, she roared, and roared in such a way that everyone from bureaucrats to ministers would get scared.
Dominance over bureaucrats
In his book ‘India since Independence: Making Sense of Indian Politics’, VK Ananth writes that the plane crash in which Sanjay Gandhi died. That Pitts S2 aircraft belonged to Dhirendra Brahmachari. Dhirendra Brahmachari used to receive many such planes, vehicles and expensive gifts on which no custom duty or tax was paid. He had a luxurious house in the posh Friends Colony of Delhi. Where leaders kept coming and going. Industrialists and actors longed to have a glimpse of him. Everyone knew that if Brahmachari said yes then no one except Indira could say no. In a then report of India Today, journalist Dilip Bob writes,
Rise to Power Post-1977
The world realized the real power of Dhirendra Brahmachari after 1977 when the Justice Shah Commission report, formed to investigate the Emergency, revealed many details about him. However, his influence had begun long before this period.
Parallel Rise with Indira Gandhi
The story of Brahmachari’s rise runs parallel to the rise of Indira Gandhi. In the 1960s, Brahmachari operated his yoga center from a rented house in Defense Colony. By 1969, as Indira strengthened her hold on Congress by sidelining the old guard, Brahmachari secured a plot of 1.68 acres near Ashok Road for only Rs 50,000. Shortly after, he acquired another 3.3-acre plot at a quarter of the price.
Establishment of Vishwayatan Yoga Ashram
Brahmachari opened a yoga ashram named Vishwayatan near Gol Post Office in New Delhi. Janak Raj Jai, who worked in the PMO in the 1960s, recounts in his memoirs that the file for this ashram was sent to the then Education Minister Dr. KL Shrimali. Shrimali refused to grant funds because the ashram had not submitted audit reports for the previous years. When Indira Gandhi intervened, Shrimali explained the situation to her. The matter escalated to Prime Minister Nehru, who angrily questioned if he should remove Shrimali for Brahmachari’s failure to submit audit reports. As long as Nehru was in power, Brahmachari’s influence was kept in check, but it grew significantly later.
NK Singh, who used to be secretary to Commerce Minister DP Chattopadhyay, had told the Shah Commission that celibates used to brag to him. Once he told NK, “I got TP Singh removed because he was reluctant to clear the land file”.
TP Singh used to be the Finance Secretary in the Indira government.
IK Gujral’s card cut
This was just a bureaucrat’s talk. The real influence of Brahmachari can be seen from the incident when he got Inder Kumar Gujral removed from his post. We find mention of this story in writer Manisha’s book ‘Profiles of Prime Ministers’. This incident happened when Gujral was the Minister of State for Housing. Brahmachari was demanding some more land for the ashram near Gol Post Office. When the file reached Gujral, he flatly refused to give more land. Seeing this, Brahmachari went to Gujral’s office and said in front of him threateningly, ‘Either you give me a place or lose your ministerial post from tomorrow.’ Within a few days, Umashankar Dixit was made a cabinet minister and placed above Gujral. The matter did not stop here either. Umashankar Dixit was also not ready to clear the file. In the end, both he and Gujral were transferred to another department.
The Flying Sanyasi
The newspapers used to call Brahmachari by another name, The Flying Sanyasi. Look at their fleet of planes,
-Four seater Cessna plane which he used to fly himself
-A 19 seater Dornier which he received as a gift from abroad An air taxi service named Air Aparna which he used to rent to special people.
-And the most special Maule- 5 aircraft. After the 1977 elections, the Shah Commission had found that this aircraft had flown to Rae Bareli 18 times. Which was the electoral constituency of Indira Gandhi.
All these planes used to fly from Safdarjung Airport in Delhi. The celibate had unrestricted freedom to use it. Apart from this, Palam had his own private hangar in Silkora. He had private helipads and private airstrips at Katra and Mantalai near Jammu. They were even allowed to build a private airstrip in Kashmir, which was built in violation of many security rules due to its proximity to the border. It is difficult to say whether all this was happening at the instigation of Indira, or in her name. But it was certain that during Indira’s rule, Dhirendra Brahmachari’s status had become somewhat like Rasputin.
The Parallel of Rasputin and Brahmachari
Rasputin is the name of a Russian occultist, who became very powerful in the early 20th century.Tsar Nicholas of Russia had become his puppet. If you want to know the complete story of Rasputin, then you can click on the I button, or go to the link given in the description Like Rasputin, Brahmachari’s personality was impressive. Former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh, who himself learned yoga from Brahmachari, writes at one place, “He (Dhirendra Brahmachari) was stunning in appearance. He was very fair skinned and had a charismatic presence. In India Today’s article, Dilip Bob writes, “His aura was absolutely messianic.” Height of 6 feet one inch, and scattered hair. “One could mistake him for Jesus Christ.”, Brahmachari had such an impact on Indira along with others.“I have started taking yoga seriously. A very beautiful yogi teaches me yoga. Her looks and attractive physique attract everyone but talking to her is a kind of punishment. He is a very superstitious person.” American Photographer. Katherine Frank mentioned that “Brahmachari was the only man who saw Indira alone in her room while teaching her yoga, and he was written in a letter from Indira Gandhi to Dorothy Norman, a famous the only man she could have had a relationship with during that time.” “Dhirendra Brahmachari was a tall, handsome man from Bihar who spent an hour with Indira behind closed doors every morning. Yoga lessons might have turned into lessons from the Kamasutra.” This was stated by Kushwant Singh, who was very close to the Nehru family and had also revealed Nehru’s relationship with Anandi Mata.
Doordarshan
In the 80s, a program on Brahmachari used to air on Doordarshan every Wednesday. In which he used to teach yoga to people. You might have remembered something after hearing this, but for now let’s stick to history. He is believed to have influenced Mrs. Gandhi’s vision and ideas. His political influence grew in 1975–77 when Mrs. Gandhi dissolved Parliament, declared a state of emergency, and suspended civil liberties. During the late 1970s, Dhirendra Brahmachari promoted the benefits of yoga through a weekly program called “Yogabhyaas” on Doordarshan, Brahmachari conducted a Yoga program on Doordarshan from 1978 to 1983. During the program, he guided Mukund through various asanas. Dolly, a female host, would ask questions from the audience, and Brahmachari would provide answers.
Incident During the Emergency and tantra mantra
There is an interesting incident related to a celibate during the Emergency. Which has been mentioned by the then joint director of IB, Malay Krishna in the book named ‘Open Secret’.
It is about 1974. Senior leader Yashpal Kapoor one day told Indira Gandhi that one of his enemies was doing tantra-mantra against him and Sanjay Gandhi. Malaykrishna writes, Brahmachari reached him and entrusted him with the responsibility of investigation. All spies were dispatched. The ashes of the cremation grounds of Delhi were searched throughout the night. But even Tantra-Mantra did not work. The matter was over but Brahmachari was not satisfied. At last a doctor was hurriedly arrested and brought. That poor guy was kept in jail for a few days and then released.
Dhirendra Brahmachari had a close relationship with Sanjay Gandhi, as they both shared a passion for flying. Despite this, Dhawan and Maneka Gandhi have chosen not to speak about Brahmachari. The tragic incident on June 23, 1980, where Sanjay Gandhi lost his life in a plane crash, further highlighted the connection between Brahmachari and the Gandhi family. After Sanjay’s death, Indira Gandhi was left vulnerable and without anyone to control the influential yoga teacher.
Relief from Emergency in 1977
In 1977, the country was relieved from the Emergency, and significant changes occurred in Dhirendra Brahmachari’s circumstances.
Shift to Mantalai Ashram
Until then, the Delhi Ashram was Brahmachari’s main base. With the resignation of Indira Gandhi’s government in 1977, he shifted to Mantalai Ashram near Jammu.
Allegations by the Justice Shah Commission
The Justice Shah Commission made several allegations against Brahmachari in its report. Many cases were opened against him for illegal land allotment and importing foreign goods without paying taxes. These cases continued until 1980.
Return of Indira Gandhi in 1980
With Indira Gandhi’s return to power in 1980, all charges against Brahmachari were withdrawn.
Sanjay Gandhi’s Death in 1980
Sanjay Gandhi died in a plane crash in 1980. Brahmachari remarked, “Sanjay was a very good pilot, but I had forbidden him to show more acrobatics in the air.” During Sanjay’s funeral, Brahmachari, without any government position, was in charge of the entire event.
Role in Maneka Gandhi’s Departure
After Sanjay’s death, when Maneka Gandhi left Indira’s house, Brahmachari played an important role in this development.Khushwant Singh tells in his autobiography that Dhirendra Brahmachari went to Maneka’s room and told her that Indira had asked him to leave the house. According to Khushwant Singh, Indira wanted Dhirendra Brahmachari to be present during this entire episode and be a witness to it. Khushwant Singh further wrote, “When the matter went too far, Indira started crying loudly and Brahmachari himself took her out of the room”.
Raid on gun factory and departure from Delhi
Brahmachari’s influence continued for some time after Sanjay’s death, but then as Rajiv Gandhi’s presence became stronger,
Television and Gun Factory Controversy in 1983
Brahmachari started going into the background. First started with TV. Till 1982, Brahmachari’s yoga program was telecast on Doordarshan. This program used to come just before Chitrahaar. Which was the most hit program of Doordarshan. In Chitrahar, one got Rs. 4 thousand for every second advertisement.
The problem was that many times Brahmachari’s program would impact Chitrahaar’s slot. This thing troubled Doordarshan officials. He gave Brahmachari the option to either shorten his program or shift it to some other slot. Brahmachari was not at all ready for this. The result was that his program disappeared from TV.
The next mess happened in the year 1983. Dhirendra Brahmachari had a gun factory named Shiva in Jammu. In 1983, CM Dr. Farooq Abdullah raided this factory. He himself was present there at the time of the raid. During this period, 500 Spanish guns were found from the factory. Whereas the license was given only to make indigenous weapons. However, Dhirendra Brahmachari escaped in this case also and no legal action was taken against him. Luck favored us but not for long.
The Decline of Dhirendra Brahmachari after death oF Indira
With the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, Brahmachari was deeply affected by the assassination of Indira Gandhi on. He supervised her final rites, just as he had managed the funeral arrangements of Sanjay Gandhi. Following Indira’s demise, his popularity waned, and he secluded himself at home, seldom venturing out. His Doordarshan program, which had brought him national acclaim, was discontinued by Rajiv Gandhi.the state-owned television network. He also introduced yoga as a subject of study in Delhi administered schools, which was a significant innovation. Brahmachari’s fortunes began to turn. As soon as Rajiv assumed power, both the doors of the Prime Minister’s residence and office were closed for him. The day Indira died, Brahmachari was also removed from the platform on which Indira’s body was kept. Brahmachari thought of returning to Mantalai. The dream was to make Mantalai Singapore. Five thousand feet long lake, parking with thousands of cars, mono rail, schools and colleges, all these were part of the dream.
Death and ashram ruin
A tunnel was to be built for meditation. Outside which, according to Brahmachari, two bears would guard. Bear cubs were also adopted. The bear had grown up but by then the dream had plunged into reality. One day in June 1994, exactly 14 years after Sanjay Gandhi’s death, Dhirendra Brahmachari boarded his plane. So that he can get the details of his land. The plane dived and crashed into the ground. Dhirendra Brahmachari died.
Time turned his ashram at Mantalai into ruins. His ashram in Delhi was named Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga.
source: wikipedia,youtube,