Trends in The Number of Prem Rawat's Followers
In the World of Knowledge, Prem Rawat is a great success with gazillions of people listening to his speeches, using his meditation techniques, life advice and educational courses and being part of the movement acclaiming him as an Internationally Respected Master of Peace who is affecting the course of world events. A large part of his career has been trying to gain new true believers and much time, effort and money has been put into this endeavour.
Rawat and his organisations do not publish actual membership statistics though they have sophisticated methods of counting his followers' activities (see "smart cards".) The number has halved from it's height and his strict policy only to print positive things about himself and his activities. One way we can gauge the success or failure of these atttempts is by examining legally required reports published by some of his organisations.
The number of devotees attending the annual 5-day "extraordinary gathering" is published in the Annual Reports of the Ivory's Rock Foundation.
:
YearsTotal RevenuesAttendance20224,000,000??3,00020211,187,857020201,199,883020191,000,706020182,757,7283,50020173,308,6693,80020165,949,4084,30020155,728,2224,00020141,428,2453,900
During the years 2019 to 2021 there were no annual 5-day September events which have been the highpoint of the year for followers of Prem Rawat. Therefore we cannot tell if there has been asignificant drop in numbers attending since 2016 or if it caused by the Covid disruption. We can see tht there is no increase in numbers and this tallies with the other indicators that we use to judge Prem Rawat's success in growing his cult or not. All indicators agree that there is no growth but no obvious lessening though only 3,000 coming in 2022 after 3 years without the possibility of being 5 days in Prem Rawat's vicinity could be a bad sign for Rawat. we'll have to wait and see.
The money being donated to the Prem Rawat Foundation for use in promoting Prem Rawat. In the graph Year 1 is 2002 and year 19 is 2021.
US $YearRevenueAidExpenses%20202225605561098160298425.21%20192042986356309150517317.44%20181731187213085165834012.31%20171896054308145151474316.25%20161704067217134144993712.74%20151986653469100198093623.61%2014226950219200013758798.46%20131592759394805125804224.79%20121737639501796154488128.88%20111464265775346158184852.95%201014647531045492170298271.38%
The donations over the 10 years have fluctuated around an average of $2million pa. 2005 was the peak year for TPRF donations and despite a few lean years after 2010 revenue has stabilised. Its possible that the excitement caused by the creation of WOPG and calls for financing it helped donations to TPRF. Charitable donations tend to follow revenue fluctuations but average less than 25% of the annual income.
Donations to Words of Peace Global which is the main organisation administering Rawat's promotional activities.
Donations in the first 2 years were about 4 million euros pa. This level quickly fell to half that in 2016 and has stabilised around 1 million euros since. I presume requests for donations for the creation of Words of Peace Global painted a picture of a quantum leap in presenting Prem Rawat to the world and a resultant influx of inspiraion, excitement and new younger aspirants - devotees-to-be. This was not the first time Rawat and his minions attempted to try a new path to success, a success Rawat was sure would eventuate if he wasn't being held back by his followers lackluster efforts.
€
YearsTotal RevenuesTotal Expenses20211187857114712420201567645132094320191338983123200020181021741101100020171285201946000201624787302588660201541111203894800201441655004964500Total1440127514636960
In the past five years (2017-2021) annual donations have remained around $1.5million pa. It seems WOPG is operating at a static level but does not seem to have increased the number of new people intersted in and aspiring to practise Prem Rawat's Knowledge.
HDSK (Human Development through Self Knowledge) is a phony national educational charity which exists to promote the message of Prem Rawat in the UK and around the world. It is the main English organisation promoting Prem Rawat.
Financial summary
Year EndingIncomeSpending31 Dec 2021£546,884£561,39331 Dec 2020£346,841£339,95331 Dec 2019£482,060£472,46631 Dec 2018£400,843£416,46031 Dec 2017£537,348£529,15531 Dec 2016£414,228£469,98631 Dec 2015£202,214£196,058
Donations to HDSK have remained around the £500,000pa level and this also tends to demonstrate no growth in membership or inspiration and dedication.
- Ordinarily Prem Rawat travels a lot and this travel is very costly and environmentally unsound because he insists on travelling in a personal jet and as a technophile with a serious short, fat man inferiority complex he demands the best and most expensive. This is a large cost borne by Prem Rawat's followers and there have always been extra separate financial requests made to the devotees for this burden. Prem Rawat achieved his ultimate dream in 2014 when he was able to start flying in his personal GA650.
Alas. Prem's ultimate humiliation came shortly thereafter. His most sincere and richest worshippers could not afford to pay the operating costs of a G650. Back to a G550.