A close encounter with Raëlians

These 20-odd Mumbaikars believe that human beings were created by a superior alien race — the Elohim

While Bharat Panchal was on his way to work, he bumped into a South Korean lady distributing pamphlets at Churchgate Station. And even though he had a long day ahead, something made him read that pamphlet and it changed his life — forever. The lady was Jin Hee Kim (Yaho), and she had come to Mumbai to spread the word — on aliens.

“I was hooked after reading the pamphlet, and went back to meet Yaho again," recalls Panchal. This time, Yaho gave him a book, The Message Given By Extraterrestrials, which he read “through the night".  That was four years ago, and since then, Panchal has became a firm believer in the Raëlian philosophy.

Raëlians are members of the international Raëlian Church, who believe that human beings have been created by a superior alien species — the Elohim. It may sound as far-fetched as the Thetans of Scientology, but it’s something Panchal and his fellow Mumbaikar Raëlians swear by.

The stereotypical image of an alien-loving human being is a nerd with soda-bottle glasses sprouting conspiracy theories and sordid kidnapping tales. But one look at Mumbai’s Raëlians shatters these stereotypes. They are working professionals, who happen to believe that the human race was created by the Elohim — an extraterrestrial race —  from the Planet of Eternals. And while the Vatican has yet to discuss the issue of the Elohim, it’s recent edict that “it’s now ok to believe in aliens” has pleased this group no end. The sect was founded in France in 1973 by a former journalist who worked for a racing car magazine, Claude Vorilhon.

“ I was always fascinated by the idea of life beyond Earth and I am a great believer in UFOs," says Panchal. So meeting and believing a woman distributing pamphlets was destiny. Swati Sarkar, a new member to the Mumbai chapter, concurs. “I have always been a big fan of science fiction. Then, I heard about the Raëlians through a friend. I liked what I saw and became a member." The Mumbai chapter of the Raëlian movement started in the year 2000. Today, it has 20-odd members.

It’s not just a love for aliens and UFOs that have got people interested. Amit Negandhi, a second year student of pharmacy, “refused to accept that the human body, which functions in perfect harmony, is a product of random evolution". He talks about how he studied various religious texts and found unconnected pieces like a jigsaw puzzle. “Luckily, I found out about Raëlism and everything fell into place," he says.

The sect has a transmission ceremony or an initiation rite, which members undergo only when they are fully convinced about the Raëlian philosophy. Negandhi sees the ceremony as a “scientific approach” where the “genetic frequency” — they believe that every human being has a unique genetic frequency — of the believer is transmitted to the Planet of Eternals and recorded. “Spiritually, it made me feel as if I have become a part of the Raëlians," says Negandhi.

The problem is getting acceptance. Says Panchal: “My son is not happy with the faith I have chosen, but my wife who is a very religious lady, has accepted my decision.” Sarkar, too, hasn’t informed her parents. “They are very traditional, and I am yet to make a commitment to the philosophy,” she says.  But public disbelief does not seem to bother this group too much. “Our motto is to inform and not to convince," says Panchal. 

The Raëlians believe that the Elohim send prophets like Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha to help the human race advance. The Elohim will only reveal their presence when the number of believers reaches 144,000. Currently, there are around 40,000 members in 84 countries around the world. And so the Raëlians wait patiently — they only need a lakh more to go before the final revelation.

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