Hounded by the media, Abhay Singh, famously known as IIT Baba, has abruptly left the Maha Kumbh and the Shri Panchdashnam Juna Akhara in Prayagraj. His departure on Thursday night has left both the ashram sadhus and his family in a state of concern, as his current whereabouts remain unknown.
Abhay’s parents, including his father Karan Singh—an advocate and former head of the Jhajjar Bar Association—arrived at the Ashram the same night searching for him, only to discover he had already departed.
According to ashram sadhus, Abhay was struggling with increasing mental stress caused by continuous media interactions and controversies over some of his statements. Unable to cope, he decided to leave the ashram, switching off his phone and cutting contact with devotees and media personnel.
Abhay Singh, a resident of Jhajjar, Haryana, is an aerospace engineering graduate from IIT Bombay. After a stint working at an airplane manufacturing company in Canada, he returned to India and subsequently disappeared from his family’s sight. His family first learned of his spiritual journey through viral videos from the Maha Kumbh, where he was seen explaining spiritual concepts with the help of pictures and diagrams. Despite gaining popularity as Engineer Baba, the media spotlight and associated pressures ultimately led to his departure.
Abhay Singh, nicknamed Engineer Baba, gained attention at the Maha Kumbh for his unique approach to spirituality. An alumnus of IIT Bombay, he earned a degree in aerospace engineering and later became a sanyasin associated with the Juna Akhara. Known for simplifying complex spiritual concepts for devotees, he used visual aids to communicate his insights. However, his journey highlights the challenges of adapting to a spiritual life while under intense public scrutiny.
Abhay Singh’s sudden exit from the Maha Kumbh has added to ongoing discussions about the mental and emotional challenges faced by individuals transitioning into spiritual roles. His story underscores the impact of media attention on the sanctity and personal struggles of modern-day ascetics, raising questions about the pressures associated with public expectations in deeply traditional spiritual settings.