Kerala: Row over Gopan Swami's 'divine' death hots up
Self-proclaimed spiritual leader Gopan Swami’s death has become the centre of a legal and communal storm in Kerala;
Kerala seer's 'Samadhi' claim sparks controversy as police and locals gather
Gopan Swami, a self-proclaimed seer from Kerala, has left behind more questions than answers after his mysterious death. His final resting place, a samadhi in Neyyattinkara, has become the epicentre of a raging controversy, with communal undertones.
Swami's family claims that he voluntarily entered samadhi on January 9, passing away peacefully. But suspicions arose when a missing person complaint led authorities to question the circumstances surrounding his death.
The district collector ordered an inspection of the tomb and even approved the exhumation of his body, but Swami’s family and supporters strongly opposed this move.
Family defends samadhi
Sanandan, one of Swami’s sons, defended his father’s spiritual legacy, accusing authorities of disrespecting his samadhi.
“Our father lived a spiritual life and has ashrams in other places too. You are disrespecting his samadhi. We won’t let you enter here while we are alive. Go and learn what samadhi means first,” Sanandan said.
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Despite the family’s protests, the situation escalated as questions about the legitimacy of Swami’s death and burial lingered.
Communal twist
The controversy took a communal turn when another son, Rajasenan, accused Muslim extremists of stirring unrest.
“Who else but the sons should perform a father’s last rites? This is being stirred up by Muslim extremists,” he claimed, adding fuel to the already sensitive situation.
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“A man claiming to be a lawyer is clearly making this a communal issue. There is no Hindu-Muslim divide here. They are resorting to open communalism. As neighbors, we just want the truth to come out,” said a local resident.
The questions surrounding Swami’s death remain unanswered. Was his passing truly a peaceful spiritual departure, or is there more to the story? As the investigation continues, the truth behind Swami’s mysterious death and the events surrounding his samadhi remain shrouded in uncertainty.
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