To get hubbies out of liquor addiction, women flock to Jai Gurudev meeting

SHAHJAHANPUR: Bouyed by the belief in the teachings of their spiritual leader Jai Gurudev, thousands of women along with their husbands and children in toe gathered here on Monday to listen to Guru Umakant Maharaaj, considered to be his successor. The women pinned their hopes on Umakant‘s “power” to persuade their husbands give up alcohol and non vegetarian food.
More than 50,000 people from the district and elsewhere converged at the Jai Gurudev camp to promote vegetarianism here.Taking no chances after the Varanasi stampede, most of Shahjahanpur’s traffic police were deployed around the venue near Delhi- Lucknow national highway. Both superintendent of police, rural, RK Bhartiya and ADM, JK Sharma, were present to supervise the security arrangements.
When TOI spoke with several families, many people said they had quit drinking and now were staunch followers of Jai Gurudev.
Ramdevi, a follower, had come from Jigania village in Powayan block, said there was time when her husband made her life miserable because of his drinking habit and she even thought of committing suicide. But after she attended a meeting with Guru Umakant who shared the preachings of Jai Gurudev, her life took a positive turn. Her husband has reformed.
Gendan Devi and her daughter-in-law Pushpa who were at the camp also claimed that listening to Jai Gurudev’s teachings had helped improve their husbands’ habits but mend their personal relations.
Pushpa, another follower, said her mother-in-law Gendan Devi used to scold her often and her husband used to beat her frequently. Now, all this has changed. “Guruji has changed their mind. We all understand what is evil and what is good and we strongly follow this, which is why we can face any trouble without any fear. This is the main reason that we are happy now.”
Many Muslims were among the followers. Nabi Rasool, 73, from Bihar said, “I am with Guruji for the last 11 years. Guruji asked us to follow what is mentioned in the Holy Quran.”