The self-proclaimed United States of Kailasa, a sovereign nation for Hindus with its own passports and currency, has recently faced backlash and arrests in Bolivia. The leader, Swami Nithyananda, a fugitive holy man, is accused of rape, torture, and child abuse in India. He claimed to have the power to guide reincarnation for billionaires who use his services, ensuring they won’t be paupers in the next life. Nithyananda fled India and resurfaced in South America or the Caribbean, announcing the establishment of Kailasa as the revival of past Hindu kingdoms.
Kailasa’s representatives have engaged in diplomatic events, posing with global statesmen, American congressmen, and the mayor of Newark. Despite claims of official recognition, Bolivia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Kailasa. The Kailasans were accused of land trafficking after negotiating 1,000-year leases with Indigenous groups in the Amazon. The agreements were deemed void, and the Kailasans were deported to their home countries, including India, the United States, Sweden, and China. Kailasa’s press office did not respond to requests for comment.
Nithyananda, also known as His Divine Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism, built an empire of ashrams and followers around the world. He claimed miraculous powers and endorsed the idea of an inter-life reincarnation trust management, ensuring billionaires like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett would receive their wealth in the next life. When accusations of rape and sexual abuse arose in India, Nithyananda dismissed them as an anti-Hindu conspiracy to grab his land. Reports have placed him in South America or the Caribbean.
The Kailasa website offers free e-citizenship and claims sovereign lands in the Andean region. Nithyananda stated that founding Kailasa provided him with immunity and made him non-prosecutable as the head of his own state. Kailasa has created embarrassment for politicians globally, with incidents in Paraguay and Newark leading to resignations and rescinded agreements. In Bolivia, the Kailasa followers managed a photo with the country’s president, Luis Arce, but there is no evidence that Nithyananda was present.
A scandal erupted in Bolivia after it was revealed that the Kailasans had signed leases with Indigenous groups in the Amazon under false pretenses. The Baure group, one of the Indigenous communities involved, signed a 1,000-year lease for land three times the size of New Delhi, including the use of air space and extraction of natural resources. The agreement promised nearly $200,000 annually to the Baure group, but they now feel betrayed and regret listening to the Kailasa emissaries. The incident has shed light on the questionable practices and claims of the United States of Kailasa as a fictitious nation.
The saga of Kailasa and Swami Nithyananda illustrates the challenges of dealing with individuals and organizations that operate in the murky realm between reality and fiction. Despite their grandiose claims and attempts at establishing diplomatic relations, the fallout in Bolivia highlights the consequences of their actions. As authorities crack down on their alleged land trafficking and deceitful practices, the future of Kailasa and its leader remains uncertain. The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the potential exploitation of vulnerable communities for personal gain.
