Title: Investigating the Sai Baba Movement: A Clarification of Misrepresented Saints and Opportunism
Author: Kevin R.D. Shepherd
Publisher: Citizen Initiative, Dorchester, Dorset, United Kingdom
Book Release: 2005-10
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 0952508931
Anti-Sai Activists alleged:
“According to Kevin Shepherd, the former national leader of the Sathya Sai movement in Norway Robert Priddy expressed the opinion that Sathya Sai Baba was an accomplice to the 1993 murders, among others based on information given to him by his friend V.K. Narasimhan.”
First of all, V.K. Narasimhan was a staunch Sai Devotee to his death and exclusively referred to Sathya Sai Baba as “Bhagavan” (i.e., “God”) and “Lord”. As a matter of fact, V.K. Narasimhan wrote about Sathya Sai Baba (in Sanathana Sarathi, Special Issue, November 1999) about 3 months before he died and this is how he introduced his article:
“There are certain periods in the history of mankind when the mortal beings of this earth witness epoch-making divine events with their own eyes. By far the most astounding event of this century is the Advent of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.” (Reference)
V.K. Narasimhan wrote the following two books favorable to Sathya Sai Baba and not only referred to him as “Lord”, he also compared him with Mahatma Ghandi:
- “From Bapu to Baba” V.K. Narasimhan, Kalakshetra Publications, Madras 1985. Republished by Sai Towers Publishing, Puttaparthi, 1990. ISBN-10: 8186822186 - ISBN-13: 978-8186822180
- “Devoted to the Lord. Beloved of the Lord” V.K. Narasimhan, 1992, 80th birth anniversary offering to VKN, edited by his son, V.N. Narayanan. Contains a letter from the President of India, R. Venkataraman and from the Governor of Maharashtra, C. Subramaniam.
Therefore, Robert Priddy’s claims about Sri V.K.N. are highly suspect and wholly unbelievable.
Secondly, there are absolutely no online references about Kevin R.D. Shepherd’s qualifications, notability, personal information, credentials or schooling. There are also no media articles or University references to Kevin Shepherd although his books have been published as far back as 1983. The reason for this is probably because all of Kevin R.D. Shepherd’s books are self-published.
Kevin Shepherd’s books were published by the publisher “Citizen Initiative” (Dorchester, Dorset, United Kingdom), which is not listed on booktrust’s UK publishers. The only books published by “Citizen Initiative” (utilizing an advanced search on Google for “citizen initiative” + “publisher(s)” / “publishing” / “publication(s)”) are those belonging to Shepherd, Kevin. No other books have been published by “Citizen Initiative”.
I contacted the University of Sheffield UK (regarding “Citizen Initiative” and Kevin Shepherd) by email and Mrs. Barringer said:
“Sorry - have never heard of them and can find no trace in any lists of publishers.”
I also contacted booktrust.org (regarding “Citizen Initiative” and Kevin Shepherd) by email and Mr. Smith said:
“I have never heard of Citizen Initiative, but their titles – almost exclusively written by Kevin Shepherd – are listed on the Nielsen BookData database of books in print. CI also appears to act as a distributor for titles published by Anthropographia Publications (again, these books are all by Mr Shepherd), Philosophical Press and New Media Books Ltd.”
“Anthropographia” and “Philosophical” publications are other publishers that are in exclusive association with Kevin Shepherd (publishing no other books by no other authors).
Publications By “Citizen Initiative”, all by Kevin Shephard:
Therefore, Kevin Shepherd’s books are self-published and his reference to Robert Priddy’s Anti-Sai Propaganda is highly suspect, non-credible and obviously poorly researched.
