Munish Sood
MANDI
Gopal Kapoor, a retired engineer from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, has suddenly found himself at the centre of attention due to his uncanny predictions that seem to have come true time and again. Known for his eccentric ways and bizarre claims, he is now being talked about across social media.
For years, people in his hometown dismissed him as a “crazy man” — sometimes seen as a protestor, a Hindu hardliner, an astrologer, a whistleblower and even as a self-proclaimed scholar of the Vedas and Puranas. But now, with a series of natural disasters and incidents seemingly aligning with his warnings, Kapoor is being rebranded in the eyes of many as either a soothsayer or a dangerous eccentric.
Predictions that shocked everyone
Kapoor has openly mocked the police, administration, media and even weather scientists in his social media posts, claiming that their knowledge is worthless compared to his “Sanatan-based science”.
In the past few years, several of his predictions have shaken people:
- The cloudburst on Mandi’s Jail Road
- The flooding in Akhara area
- The cloudburst at Manimahesh that claimed several lives
- The series of cloudbursts in Shimla in 2023
- The disaster in Seraj valley
- Even the earthquake in Afghanistan
Each of these, he insists, had been foretold in his posts. His supporters claim that nearly 90 per cent of what he writes actually comes true.
Controversy follows him
As Kapoor’s popularity rises, so do controversies. He often connects natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh to the anger of deities, blaming societal and cultural decline for nature’s fury. When the state was declared disaster-hit, Kapoor claimed it was nothing but the wrath of gods.
At times, he sparks outrage with divisive comments on Hindu-Muslim issues. Critics accuse him of using religion to provoke people, while his followers see him as a fearless Hindu voice who dares to say what others won’t.
Social media phenomenon
Whatever one thinks of him, Kapoor has become impossible to ignore. His Facebook following grows by 1,500–2,000 people every single day. Many users admit that they begin their mornings by checking his posts to predict how their day will unfold.
Bharti Bahuguna Kalia, a follower, writes, “I read your posts first thing in the morning. They are so accurate that I can guess how the day will be. You deserve respect for speaking the truth so fearlessly.”
DS Thakur comments, “Your words are difficult to understand, but nature is clearly reacting. Electricity, water and networks are collapsing in many states.”
Prince Ravi says, “You are right. Devbhoomi Himachal is being polluted. Even cows are suffering. Sins have crossed all limits.”
Atul Rajput recalls, “During Mandi Shivratri, the administration treated our deities like vendors, selling peanuts at the bus stand. It was an insult.”
Madman or messenger?
To some, Kapoor is nothing more than an eccentric hungry for attention. To others, he is a fearless leader of Hindus, standing up for Sanatan Dharma. And to his rapidly growing army of social media followers, he is almost a saint.
His language is often confusing, sometimes offensive, but his predictions continue to unsettle people — forcing them to wonder whether they are dealing with an insane man shouting into the void or a knowledgeable visionary who truly sees what lies ahead.
Whatever he may be, Gopal Kapoor has become a man who cannot be ignored. His voice, once laughed off, now demands attention — right or wrong, sane or insane.
