Author: Che Kurrien
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: February 7, 2004
URL: http://cities.expressindia.com/archivefullstory.php?newsid=75295&creation_date=2004-02-07
Introduction: Seafood tycoon Gul
Kripalani is the point man for the largest event in Mumbai's recent memory
On his direct line at his plush
Colaba Causeway office, he has former police chief P S Pasricha. On his
cellphone it's a client from France looking to close a mega deal.
Later, in his gold Sonata, shrimp
exporter Gul Kripalani gets a call from a Benny Hinn in Dallas, asking
if it will rain in Mumbai next weekend.
Could be another frenetic day in
a high-society businessman's life.
But Kripalani, chairman of the Indian
Merchants Chamber, has a little- known facet: he's the brain behind American
evangelist Hinn's upcoming prayer festival, Mumbai's largest event in recent
memory.
Ten times bigger than the recent
World Social Forum, the American preacher's show at the Bandra-Kurla complex
on February 13-15 will dwarf anything that Sonia Gandhi and Bal Thackeray
have whipped up.
''Praying for India,'' declare the
posters that have taken over railway stations and walls. Over a million
are expected at the Bandra-Kurla Complex MHADA grounds between February
13 and 15 for Dallas- based Benny Hinn's 'Festival of Blessings.'
That includes Governor Mohammed
Fazal, who's confirmed attendance, cream of Mumbai's high society-there
are 1.7 lakh seats in the VIP gallery-and lakhs of poor and middle-class
faithful.
''Benny Hinn has a piercing personality
and I'm fascinated by him,'' says style guru Sabeera Merchant who plans
to attend all three days. ''I'm looking forward to meeting an individual
who commands so much power, and gives peace to so many people.''
Hinn's dramatic crusades have attracted
millions around the world, who credit him with with unleashing the Holy
Spirit on the audience, causing entire sections to swoon under the power
of God.
The opposition comes not from the
Hindu or Muslim fringe but from the Catholic church. Cardinal Ivan Dias,
the archbishop of Mumbai.
While preparations are underway
for the mega-event, another giant in the global Christian movement will
descend on Mumbai this week. And Kripalani is involved in this as well.
But while Hinn caters to the masses,
Atlanta-based philosopher Ravi Zacharias will deliver a provocative lecture
in a downtown five-star hotel to the classes: a 100-strong group of select
civic leaders and businessmen. Municipal Commissioner Karun Srivastava
confirmed his attendance today.
''Benny Hinn handles the heart;
Ravi Zacharias tackles the mind,'' says D S Soholkar, Zacharias' representative
in the city.
There is much solace, muses Kriplani,
that Mumbai's party set needs.
''My heart goes out to the people
of Page 3 because they're my friends,'' says Kripalani. ''Just because
we're physically comfortable doesn't mean we have peace of mind.''
1.5 lakh
chairs, coming in from Pune as
well; Mumbai doesn't have enough
10 lakh
visitors expected to attend the
three-day event
60,000
parking spaces
1.2 km
distance between the stage and
the last row
