In a free-wheeling interview with Rajat Sharma in ‘Aap Ki Adalat’, Bageshwar Dham chief priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri disclosed his desire “to study about ghost and paranormal activity in Oxford or Cambridge University”.

In the interview, telecast on August 23 and repeated next day on India TV, Bageshwar Baba also revealed how his mother blessed President Droupadi Murmu and saying, “May you achieve the highest posts” (aur oonchey pad par jao).

Pandit Dhirendra Shastri, according to a media statement from India TV, disclosed several hilarious anecdotes about his stay in London, his meeting with the New Zealand Prime Minister and his extended fortune-telling session with the Mauritius President.

Asked on which subject he wants to do his PhD, Shastri said: “My idea is to do some PhD work in either Cambridge or Oxford University on ghosts. I know all of you will laugh. In Oxford, Cambridge and several universities of the US, there is a study on paranormal subject. Paranormal means invisible forces (adrishya shaktiyan).  To know about ghosts. … My work is to dispel ghosts (bhoot bhagaana).

“In our country, some members of Andha Shraddha Nirmoolan Samiti of Maharashtra pointed fingers, and the same day I made up my mind (to study). I will bring my certificate and I will work on facts. Till now, whatever I am doing is due to the blessings of my Guru. By linking with science and doing Ph.D on paranormal activity, I will dispel negativism among people.”

Shastri recalled how he had told his mother not to put her hand on the head of President Murmu because she is the Head of State. In February this year, the President had visited Bageshwar Dham to bless the 251 couples whose marriage was arranged by him.

Shastri said, “My mother is not literate, she lives in a village. When Rashtrapati ji visited Bageshwar Dham on February 26 for darshan of Balaji, she attended the ‘havan’. She asked, where is your mom? I replied, my mom is in the village but because of protocol, she could not come because of the police. Rashtrapati Ji said, please call her here, I want to meet her.

“My mother met Rashtrapati Ji in the green room. I had told my mom in advance not to put her hand on her head, as she usually does. When the two met, Rashtrapati Ji told her, you are very fortunate to have such a son, who is helping so many daughters to marry. The two hugged each other, and suddenly, my mom forgot my advice. She put her hand on Rashtrapati Ji’s head and said, ‘Aur Oonchey Pad Par Jao’. I caught my mom’s hand and said, she is the First Lady of the nation and there is no other post above that. Rashtrapati Ji smiled and said, let her bless. It was a great moment (abhootpoorva kshan). Rashtrapati Ji was so humble. She did not take it amiss and smiled. She brought a saree for her and said, ‘Bahut Accha Hai’. “

On his meeting with the New Zealand Prime Minister in June this year, Bageshwar Baba said, “The New Zealand Prime Minister came to meet me. I was tense, and there was pressure on my mind on what to speak. As soon as we met, he said, ‘Welcome, Welcome, Bageshwar Baba’. I replied, ‘Thank you, Thank you, Thank you’. What more to say? I didn’t know English. At the end, I said, ‘Sorry, I cannot speak in English, but I understand’.

“I will only give this advice to our people: do not commit the mistake that I did. Let your children study. Whether you give clothes or not to your kids, but do give them education.  If you give education and good ‘sanskar‘ to your daughters, your work is done. It’s not that we can’t learn English. We can learn. We have the desire to learn, and at the same time, we should support Hindi and Hindutva.”

Asked by Sharma how he took out the ‘parcha‘(note) of the Mauritius President when he didn’t know English, Shastri replied: “In Mauritius, I met both the President and the Prime Minister. One of my disciples said, ‘Guruji, it’d be better if you give blessings’. I was in two minds about what to do. I prayed to Hanuman Ji to help me. My Guru Maharaj helped me. Earlier, the time was fixed for 15 minutes, then it was stretched to 30 minutes. A translator was there. I was asked whether I had the ‘parcha‘. I said, I will try to understand what is being said for the first 15 minutes. Then my engine will warm up within an hour.

“I prayed to Hanumanji, and he kept my ‘laaj‘. I told the translator, tell him that such and such ‘lafda‘ (problem) is there, and there is something which I cannot reveal before others. He sent away the security personnel, closed the door. He, the translator, and myself, three of us, sat for one and a half hour. I was served nice tea and water. I chanted Jai Bajrang Bali in my mind. The translator was happy. He later told me ‘I never knew, Hamare Sahab Ke Itna Raaz Hain’ (my Saheb has so many secrets).”

Asked why the Mukesh Ambani family sent a special plane to Australia to attend Anant Ambani’s wedding reception in July last year, Shastri replied: “I was called there (bulaye gaye). The manner in which they arranged their vivah parampara (wedding tradition), mangalik karya, and made the utsav a mahotsav with Sanatan sanskriti (culture) is amazing.

“There are many rich people in our country, but their ameeri (richness) should be such where you have sadhus, leaders, actors, sants, mahants, all getting due respect and honour. I loved it. When they said ‘you have to come’ and when he (Anant) said, ‘I won’t become a ‘dulha’ unless you come’…He calls me Dada….I told him, ‘I have my katha’ in Australia, I will lose my dakshina (donations)’, badi aafat ho jayega. He (Anant Amabani) replied, ‘Aap Tension Na Lo, Aapki Katha Pe Hum Plane Bhejenge’ So they sent this big Cheel-Gaadi (chartered plane). It was nice sleeping inside the plane. There was an arrangement to take a bath. Gaza Ki Hawai Jahaz Thi. Hum Toh Bhagwan Se Keh Rahe they Ki Aise Har Baar Bheje Jo Jo Humko Bula Rahe’.”

He told Sharma, “Ab Aapne Nahin Bheji (to attend Aap Ki Adalat), Woh Aapki Kami Hai.”

Whewn asked if the Ambanis sent a Rolls-Royce to the airport, Shastri replied, “The second time I went to Vantara, there was a small event. Sach Batayen Jitne Bhi Hain, Apne Baap Ki Kuch Bhi Nahin. For me and my life, Poori Duniya Mehmaan Hai, Aati Hai, Chali Jati Hai. …I sat in the Rolls-Royce car. Mazaa Le Liya. Ulta Gate Khulta Hai.”

When Sharma showed him pictures of him wearing branded glasses and a jacket, Shastri replied: “No, it was only one. Baaki Toh Bahut Low Quality Ke 60 Rupaye, 20 Rupaye Wale Bhi Hain. My disciples give them to me. They love me. They insist, saying, ‘Guruji, Aap Ek Baar Pehen Ke Dikha Do, Hamen Khushi Hogi. Hum Pehan Lete Hain’. I think, yeh Bura Nahin Hai. I have never taken sanyan, nor am I a sadhu. When I am not a sadhu, there is nothing wrong in wearing them.”

Shastri went on: “If rapists in our country can live in bungalows worth crores of rupees, if naachne wala can live in a bungalow worth billions, then what’s wrong if somebody gives a chashma to a sadhu. Woh Bhi Jee Sakta Hai, Yaar. Yeh Koi Burai Nahin Hai. But yes, I do not have aasakti (attachment), nor anasakti (non-attachment), I don’t have apeksha (expectation).

“Forget Rolls-Royce, did anybody show the news about how I travelled in a bullock cart in Maharashtra? Nobody showed that news. There was mud all around. I went in a bullock cart to attend a katha. We have done many good work but nobody showed that, but everybody discussed my glasses and my jacket.”