New Delhi: Controversial spiritual guru Asaram Bapu was born as Asumal on April 17, 1941, in Sindh province, now in Pakistan, and migrated to Ahmedabad after Partition.
The godman has reportedly studied till Class III, entered the spiritual life at the age of 15 when he first ran away to an ashram, apparently eight days before his scheduled wedding.
From a mechanic in a cycle shop at Ahmedabad, Asaram has become the guru of reportedly two crore followers, with an empire said to be worth Rs 5,000 crore.
He assumed the name Sant Shri Asaramji Maharaj in 1964.