Who would have thought that Nemi Chand Jain, born in a sleepy, dusty hamlet in a remote part of north India, would in a few decades and a new avatar, be one of the world’s most well connected power peddlers, wielding his influence like a conductor’s baton and orchestrating a series of global back room deals like a seasoned conductor?
When I heard news of Chandraswami passing away recently, it brought back memories of the documentary film that I had been assigned to during my tenure at a prominent European TV network.
The project was shelved just a few days before going into production due to mysterious ‘orders from above’. Apparently our team had unearthed sensitive information that could embarrass a lot of powerful people if made public.
At the peak of his influence, Chandraswami had within his inner circle powerful acolytes like VP Singh, Chandrashekhar, Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao, Romesh Bhandari, Adnan Khashoggi, the Sultan of Brunei, Mohammed Al Fayed (owner of Harrods and father of Dodi who was killed along with Princess Diana), Kenneth Kaunda, Mobutu (both powerful African potentates), high ranking officials in the CIA and Mossad, among others.
The list reads like a who’s who of some of the world’s most powerful and nefarious personalities of the time – and Chandraswami was the conduit that linked them all.
It is indeed fascinating to consider the abilities that made it possible for a godman to dabble at the highest levels of global political intrigue and power mongering, and as it is whispered, even facilitate the assassination of the Gandhi scion to settle a vendetta.
His web of influence stretched all the way from India, Africa and Latin America to the inner corridors of power in North America and Europe.
It boggles the mind to think that this man had a major hand in the Iran-Contra ‘arms for drugs’ scandal and was the link between Oliver North (through CIA operative Larry J Kolb who was also the brother-in-law of Khashoggi) and Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega.
Without Chandraswami, it would not have been possible for Al Fayed to acquire the exclusive Harrods superstore, virtually from under the nose of powerful magnate Tiny Rowland.
Chandraswami, however, maintained his innocence right until the end.
I have been created and hyped by the media. Do I look harmful? I’m a man of God. I serve my people. I have never done anything wrong. I have many missions, ask the poor people whom I help.Chandraswami
Rise to Power
Nemi Chand Jain was born in 1950 in Bahrod, Rajasthan to a moneylender father.
I had always been interested in religion. I left home to become a disciple of Upadhyay Amar Muni and Tantra Pandit Gopinath Kaviraj. After that, I lived in the jungles of Bihar, meditating and obtaining Siddhi for four years.Chandraswami
He later christened himself as Chandraswami and began giving discourses in religion. The expansion of his sphere of influence can be mainly credited to his astrology skills and powers of prediction. He had the rare ability to win over hardened rationalists through his uncanny displays of astrological prowess.
Former diplomat Natwar Singh revealed details of private meetings between Chandraswami and Margaret Thatcher in 1975 when she was a rising star in the opposition.
It is claimed that the 20-something Guru asked her to visit him in a bright red dress, wearing a talisman he had gifted her, and informed the young politician that she would ascend to premiership in four years, would remain in power for over a decade, and transform the face of British politics.
His golden period came between 1991 and 1996 when Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister of India. He was said to be the spiritual advisor to Rao and had an unprecedented access to the inner corridors of power. But his activities, as revealed later from various investigative agencies, spanned across the world.
Chandraswami came to be involved with international political fiascos like the Iran-Contra affair due to his close association with arms dealer Khashoggi. He operated as an international broker in many arms and funds transfer transactions and emerged as a powerful figure during this period.
He was indicted in about nine FERA cases by the Enforcement Directorate. In submissions before the Jain commission, the Congress accused him of playing a key role in the conspiracy to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi. The Jain commission dedicated a whole volume looking closely at his involvement in the case.
Narasimha Rao lost power in 1996 and the Indian political scene went through a period of instability for about three years before Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to power again from 1999 to 2004.
Chandraswami's golden run came to an end and he was confined to his ashram in New Delhi and prohibited from travelling abroad. He remained unapologetic about his right to be a kingmaker and influence political affairs.
The tradition of this country is that kingship and religion are inextricably interwoven. The relation between the raja and the rishi and the relation between rajneeti and dharma are like the relation of the soul and body.Chandraswami
The truth of this is apparent with Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s closeness to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the many favours granted and scams overlooked due to that relationship.
It’s probably time to revisit that shelved film now that the godman is no more and most of his powerful acolytes have faded into the mists of time. It is a fascinating and unique story like few others. And many questions still remain unanswered to this day.
(Vikram Zutshi is an LA-based filmmaker, consultant and public speaker. He can be reached on @Getafix2012)
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