Baba Ramdev and his second-in-command Balkrishna may be the public faces of the Ramlila agitation. But, the duo has three backroom boys — all around 40 years — who are behind this massive show against corruption.
Besides them, there are Hindutva ideologue Govindacharya, journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik and writer, and researcher on food and trade policy Devendra Sharma, who are considered the brain behind the movement.
Ramdev has the perfect mix of professionals and activists around him. One of his three chief national coordinators, Rakesh Mittal, is a diploma holder in mechanical engineering; Dr Jaideep Arya is a qualified ayurvedic doctor and Acharya Behen Suman has done her Ph.D in Vedas from Gurukul Kangri University.
Suman is also the in-charge of the yoga guru's women wing. Baba's aides said out of about one crore Ramdev's supporters, 40%-50% are women.
"We all joined him about five years ago and are staying at his ashram in Hardwar. I came in contact with him after my marriage. It was the same with Aryaji. Perhaps, we wouldn't have got married, had we met him early in life," said Rakesh, who hails from Haryana's Bhiwani. Now, he stays with his wife and child in Ramdev's ashram.
Before Rakesh came in contact with the anti-graft crusader, he used to work with a stainless steel manufacturing major as an assistant manager.
Arya was an ayurveda doctor, who has since then appropriated the role of Ramdev's official spokesperson. Both Arya and Rakesh have been his constant companions in the past five years, having covered more than 100 districts with him.
Insiders said Suman also plays a key role in the organization that has swelled in the recent years. Though she is a scholar in Vedic studies, she is now busy managing his empire.
Ramdev's close aides had been working for more than a month to make the Satyagraha a big success. "I came here four days ago. But, we were also involved in various works for the past one year," said Trilok Sharma, a Gurgaon resident.
He is one of the around two dozen men, who have got a walkie-talkie to keep track of the proceedings.
Besides his core team, all the regional heads of Ramdev's anti-corruption outfit have been camping here to look after the elaborate arrangement.
Besides them, there are Hindutva ideologue Govindacharya, journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik and writer, and researcher on food and trade policy Devendra Sharma, who are considered the brain behind the movement.
Ramdev has the perfect mix of professionals and activists around him. One of his three chief national coordinators, Rakesh Mittal, is a diploma holder in mechanical engineering; Dr Jaideep Arya is a qualified ayurvedic doctor and Acharya Behen Suman has done her Ph.D in Vedas from Gurukul Kangri University.
Suman is also the in-charge of the yoga guru's women wing. Baba's aides said out of about one crore Ramdev's supporters, 40%-50% are women.
"We all joined him about five years ago and are staying at his ashram in Hardwar. I came in contact with him after my marriage. It was the same with Aryaji. Perhaps, we wouldn't have got married, had we met him early in life," said Rakesh, who hails from Haryana's Bhiwani. Now, he stays with his wife and child in Ramdev's ashram.
Before Rakesh came in contact with the anti-graft crusader, he used to work with a stainless steel manufacturing major as an assistant manager.
Arya was an ayurveda doctor, who has since then appropriated the role of Ramdev's official spokesperson. Both Arya and Rakesh have been his constant companions in the past five years, having covered more than 100 districts with him.
Insiders said Suman also plays a key role in the organization that has swelled in the recent years. Though she is a scholar in Vedic studies, she is now busy managing his empire.
Ramdev's close aides had been working for more than a month to make the Satyagraha a big success. "I came here four days ago. But, we were also involved in various works for the past one year," said Trilok Sharma, a Gurgaon resident.
He is one of the around two dozen men, who have got a walkie-talkie to keep track of the proceedings.
Besides his core team, all the regional heads of Ramdev's anti-corruption outfit have been camping here to look after the elaborate arrangement.
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