What’s wrong or right about a professional godwoman’s USP?

In Satyajit Ray’s film ‘Mahapurush’ (The Great Man), based on Rajshekhar Basu’s short story ‘Birinchi Baba’, a character planning to expose a godman peddling his supernatural powers readily admits, “The man is talented. He’s a top-class actor, understands mass psychology, is knowledgeable, has an amazing memory, has imagination, has the presence of mind, and has guts. What else does one need?” The same holds for Sukhvinder Kaur, a.k.a. Radhe Maa. Her critics are of two kinds: one, those who rail against her ‘duping’ people; two, those who find her violating ‘acceptable’ godperson behaviour. They should both, to use a spiritual word, chill.

Innumerable people are happy to accept godpersons for what they claim to be. Where there is a demand, there will be supply, and Radhe Maa is a successful brand in this market. As for her posing in hot pants, whoever decided a particular dress or behavioural code for godpersons? The most popular godfolks have stood out from the regular Baba on the ghats because they brought their own uniqueness to the stage. Radhe Maa’s followers seem quite content to accept her in all her ‘clashing’ duality. Among a different crowd and displaying a different talent, Ms Kaur could very well have been our Lady Gaga. The truth is, she actually is. Spirituality is in our pop culture. And Radhe Maa is a pop star.