Supermen of Dayalbagh: A Glimpse into Their Unique World

This week our post is by Dr. Bani Dayal Dhir, Assistant Professor at the Department of English Studies, Dayalbagh Educational Institute. Recipient of the Institute’s prestigious Director’s medal throughout her studies, her primary research interests include Literature and Systems Theory and Consciousness studies, exploring the application of Generalized Physical Systems Theory Modelling, Interpretive Structural Modelling, Quantum Theory and Science of Consciousness in the study of literature.

This is a story of the 

“Superman Evolutionary Scheme” of Dayalbagh

and its first enlistment, Sant Su, the beautiful and angelic son of Dr. Bani Dayal Dhir and Software Professional turned Entrepreneur Arsh Dhir.

Dr. Bani writes…

Thou, whose exterior semblance doth belie,

Thy Soul's immensity; 

Thou best Philosopher, who yet dost keep 

Thy heritage, thou Eye among the blind, 

That, deaf and silent, read'st the eternal deep, 

Haunted for ever by the eternal mind,— 

Mighty Prophet! Seer blest! 

On whom those truths do rest, 

Which we are toiling all our lives to find, 

In darkness lost, the darkness of the grave; 

Thou, over whom thy Immortality 

Broods like the Day, a Master o'er a Slave, 

A Presence which is not to be put by; 

Thou little Child, yet glorious in the might 

Of heaven-born freedom on thy being's height.

William Wordsworth’s celebration of childhood innocence, glory, delight and might is impeccable. His visualization of the “little child glorious in the might” and “an eye among the blind” is no more a figment of his imagination because Dayalbagh has willed to evolve and craft the race of supermen in this age of super-intelligent machines. Apparelled in celestial light, in Dayalbagh, the Garden of the Merciful, under the “Superman Evolutionary Scheme of Satsang” the budding little Supermen in the age group of 3 months to 3 years “read the eternal deep” under the Guidance of the Adept. In common parlance, the scheme has become popular as “Sant Su scheme”.

Revered Sir Anand Sarup, the August Founder of Dayalbagh stated, “The childhood is the most impressionable period of life, cannot be denied. The impressions received during this period, imperceptibly enter into our nature and influence our ‘feeling’ and ‘willing’ in later life considerably.”

The concept of Superman has found a direct or an indirect mention in the philosophical texts since the time of Plato. Even as we move towards Indian civilization and explore the philosophical thought of Vedic culture or Upanishads, we may find references to Superman. But the ‘Superman of Satsang’, growing in the ambrosial environment of Dayalbagh is unique. Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi emphatically states, “Our concept of superman is a new one - unique, incomparable and unparalleled.”

For instance, Aristotle’s Superman or “magnanimous man”, despite possessing several good qualities, is not away from egotism. Aristotle’s Superman does not expose himself needlessly to danger, since there are few things for which he cares sufficiently. But he is willing, in great crisis, to give even his life, knowing that under certain conditions it is not worthwhile to live. Aristotle considers conferring kindness as a mark of superiority, but receiving as a mark of subordination. Explaining this as a deficiency in the character of Aristotle’s Superman, Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi elucidates, “One may not like to be shown mercy by anyone else but one should beg for mercy from the Lord Almighty. Accordingly, if one is free from egotism, one would not be shy to beg for the mercy of Radhasoami Dayal (The Supreme Being). Whatever our Superman may be, he would behave in an extremely humble manner.”

The term “Superman” has been significantly used by Friedrich Nietzsche, particularly in “Also sprach Zarathustra” (1883–85), although it had been employed by J.W. von Goethe and others. Nietzsche is not a system builder, but he aims at provoking thought. From his point of view man is in continuous movement towards actualization. The English playwright George Bernard Shaw propounded his theory of Superman in his famous play “Man and Superman”. Both Friedrich Nietzsche and George Bernard Shaw express somewhat similar belief about the genetic forces that drive mankind forward influenced by Charles Darwin’s “Natural Selections” including the theory of Survival of the Fittest. Shaw believes in “creative evolution” which can be made possible by deliberate breeding and careful nurture, than the hazards of natural selection.

Explaining how the concept of Superman in Dayalbagh differs from Nietzschean and Shavian concepts, Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi writes, “But in Satsang we believe that as far as the spirit entities are concerned, all of them came into existence at the beginning of the creation itself. They were allotted abodes in accordance with the initial load of their karmas in Brahmand and Pind. Those spirit forces that were retained in the “Nirmal Chetan Desh” became blissful forever. There was no evolution in spirit forces. If at all there was any evolution it was in the physical or mental bodies or covers that the spirit forces assumed. That evolution is continuing.”

Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi further defines the new Superman of Dayalbagh in the following words, “A complete man with balanced development of body, mind and spirit is called a Superman. He will not come into existence in a day; he will evolve gradually as the human body evolved gradually according to Darwinian principle. As is the case of the body, mind and spirit will also evolve gradually, and the spirit and mind will become so pure that a Superman will come into existence.”

It needs to be mentioned that along with the good qualities endorsed by all philosophers and thinkers, the New Superman of Dayalbagh will adopt new method of devotion and new polity of Satsang to achieve the Supreme goal of life. The Supermen of Dayalbagh will enjoy inner peace and harmony and strive continuously to spread the message of “Fatherhood of God” and “Brotherhood of Man”.

The budding little Supermen of Dayalbagh outshine even the adults with their 24x7 schedule. Away from the early morning slumber, lethargy, the innocent little supermen wake up even before we hear the cock’s shrill clarion. They leap up in the mother’s arms indicating in their lexicon that ‘their day has begun’. Experiencing Bliss in service in proximity to Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi, they march ahead with humility and devotion getting soaked in the Godly Grace showered on them. Neither the heat of summer; nor the chill of winter; nor the lashing rain can deter them. Whether it is early morning and evening prayer or working in fields or rendering security duties in the Dayalbagh colony in the scorching heat of May and June or participating in cultural activities or recitation of devotional lyrics, their smiling faces, twinkling eyes, loud musical shouts of joy, swaying hands leave even their parents speechless.

The New Supermen have been defined as Complete men, therefore these tiny tots, evolving as Supermen, are taught to pray regularly with devotion for the purification of the body, mind and spirit. Working in the fields in the early morning under loving watch of Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi, engenders the spirit of brotherhood of mankind, societal commitment, discipline, ability for hard work, selfless service to society, humility, co-operative spirit and dignity of labour. Participation in musical and other cultural activities humanizes them. As Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi states that such supermen do not come into existence in a day, rather they evolve gradually; stress is laid on consistent participation in activities to make them mentally agile, physically swift and spiritually blissful. 

In the last one year, my journey as the mother of a budding Superman has been amazing. My life has found a new meaning, relevance and purpose. As I recall the moments spent with my little son Sant Su, I feel even I am evolving every moment along with the evolving Superman, thus heading towards the Supreme goal of life. Can God’s bounty be clad in words?  I can only bow in humility before the Supreme Lord Almighty, My Saviour and my Gracious Father saying,

O Lord! Thou are my creator, my maker and my redeemer! 

And if I had but one prayer, 

That prayer would be  

O Lord keep me ever at Thy Lotus Feet.