Baba kehte hain!

The entry is theatrical. A well-modulated voice intones 'Om' as he strides in his wooden padarakshas and seats himself on a makeshift asan.
Amidst hushed whispers, people stand up to greet the saffron-clad swami with a flowing mane and glowing skin. His stature may be big, but he's not tall at all.
Like most Indians, Swami Ramdev Maharaj aka Baba Ramdev too believes in Indian Standard Time.At the venue, was a mother who came with her differently abled child, and there were many who were there clutching medical reports, waiting for a miracle to happen. But over the years, some Baba bhakts have begun to complain that he is more interested in raising issues with a political agenda than lending his famous 'healing touch'. But all said and done, his huge following, including celebs, is a force to reckon with.
Sitting at the meet being presided over by him, one somehow felt one was at a satsang. People were going ecstatic over his dialogues, some were moved to tears and almost all had hope. Playing to the gallery, he launched into a soliloquy on why a liquor baron was appointed as chairman of the revered Tirupathi Tirumala Devasthanam and how upset he and people were over the appointment! It was hard to figure out why he was gunning for Vijay Mallaya.
The Baba loves a good debate, that is, as long as it is going in his favour. He intermittently unleashed quotes in shuddh Hindi on "mother India" and brashtachar and crossed and uncrossed his legs for impact. And before you know, he's talking on the evils of drinking, smoking and the Mangalore pub incident. No one should take the law into their hands, he says and reiterates that the government should take steps to discourage the pub culture and stop the erosion of "family values". It's difficult to agree with all he says but you hear him nonetheless.
He almost sounds hostile when quizzed on 'yog' (yes, that's the correct way to pronounce it, he corrects).When someone asked if he had really found a cure for AIDS, he said, "People who received medication, have shown great improvement." And adds, "AIDS has not been completely understood still so how can a cure be found?"
When asked if he was associating with a city hospital to teach pranayam as the treatment for asthma, the Baba broke into a sudden spasm, "Aap kyo chintha kar rahe hai?" Then, he abruptly gets up, gathers his angavastram making it clear that it's curtains down for the day.
In the parking lot, a journo was heard saying, "The attendance at the city meet is poor. Maybe, a newsflash will help!"