In spite of being born and raised in the remote Fiji Islands of the South Pacific Ocean, the land of palm trees and natural beaches, the influence of my devoted parents had a tremendous impact on me in formulating a religious bent of mind right from childhood. This strong foundation laid early in my life is what drew us first to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Mr. S B Desai and his family, who were also living in Fiji, and his sister from Surat, India, first introduced Swami to us in this alien land. Shortly after that we made our first visit in mid-1972 during the first Summer Course, when Swami, while giving permission to take leave from Him, blessed both my wife and me. Little did we realize that this Blessing would bring us again and again to Him and finally to live at His Divine Lotus Feet.
Later when we had moved to Sydney, Australia, we were introduced to Mr. Howard Murphet’s talks and also his book “Man of Miracles” in 1974. That was our real exposure to Swami, and needless to say, the impact was so profound that we went back eagerly month after month to the bhajan and satsang sessions held in our neighbouring suburb.
On one occasion, Mr. Murphet took a group photograph of our little Australian group to show Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It was a red-letter day in our lives, to be presented to Swami, though in print. Though the only two Indians in the group Swami spotted us in the photo and exclaimed “Oh, Indians!”
Our next visit was not until 1979 when we came as guests to attend the Summer Course. It was during our third visit to Whitefield in 1981 when along with a group we were called in for our second interview. In the interview, Swami reassured us saying, “I am always in your mind, I am always in your heart, I am always with you and around you.” A whole cascade of events took place that eventually culminated in Swami asking me to leave Australia and come to Puttaparthi in two years, that is in 1983.
God has a Master Plan. We are but pawns in His game of chess. The Administrative Building was to start functioning in 1983 for Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. I was to be one of the innumerable instruments in His divine plan for which I am ever grateful to our Swami. We sold our home unit and belongings, wound up our household in Australia and landed with bag and baggage at Prasanthi Nilayam as planned by Bhagavan.
Earlier the Chairman of the World Council of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation had happened to attend the first Australian Conference in Sydney. So I had a golden opportunity to send a personal letter to Baba that would be delivered to Him directly. Baba immediately asked him to inform Sri Chakravarthi, the then Registrar of the Institute and I was right away given an assignment on my arrival.
Since then, in these 23 years, Swami, our Divine Chancellor, has given me an opportunity to serve under seven Vice Chancellors, the first being Prof. V K Gokak to the present Vice Chancellor, Sri Anil V Gokak, his illustrious son.
Learning the ropes at work spot is one thing, but adjusting to the new environment and people and different work culture is another ball game altogether. Towards making us feel at home in such a situation, Swami is a Master Handler. Many a time through the course of these years, whenever I felt helpless, never once did Swami let me down. He always came rushing to me at the time of dire need and straightened out a myriad of my problems. When I first came, there was absolutely no help and all accounting was done manually. It was only Swami’s Grace that allowed us to cope with those conditions, adjusting with our colleagues, our juniors and superiors and learn to work in unity and harmony, learn patience and above all learn to understand each other.
Slowly, the Institute grew and so did the number of accounting staff which in turn facilitated the handling of growing financial and accounting responsibilities. But at the inception of the Institute, those treasured moments with Swami who would frequently visit the Administrative Office, allowing us the staff to have His close proximity, especially by showing great personal interest in our work and woes is irreplaceable.
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| Sri Sathya Sai in the Chancellor's Room of the SSSIHL Admin Block with staff members; Sri Pala is standing in the last row on the right |
It was a stupendous learning experience to follow Swami’s contribution to the economy and financial development of the Institute. Swami’s philosophy of “waste no money, time, food and energy” is rightly applicable in the management of Institute’s finances, irrespective of the source of funds. Furthermore, Baba insists on proper after-care and immediate maintenance of the assets procured by the Institute. Swami also emphasizes on absolute avoidance of misuse of money in areas prone to wastage.
Swami has shown how the concept of totally free education works, which is an important and distinctive feature of this Institute. However, for the welfare of students Swami always goes to great lengths to facilitate their lives. The poor and the needy students especially are given scholarship to pay for their hostel charges. Fundamentally, Baba says that education is “Charity With Love”.
An important point to be highlighted is Swami’s divine intuition in matters of the Institute’s finances. A striking example that comes to mind is about the Institute’s investment of large sums of money in UTI. When its US64 scheme collapsed, the depositors of the country were rapidly withdrawing their monies, while Swami advised the authorities not to be in a hurry to withdraw our funds, because that would physically hurt the Company. This was done purely on humanitarian grounds, with the premise that UTI had paid very high returns, up to 20%, in its heyday. So, our small act of holding the money there was in a way a characteristic deed of kindness by Bhagavan.
Finally, Swami oversees the various authorities of the Institute under His divine guidance - (a) the Finance Committee, (b) the Governing Body and (c) the Trust – with overflowing love. The Institute’s budget and accounts are therefore, meticulously and carefully prepared such that every rupee is judiciously spent and accounted for. Donations to the Institute are carefully invested under the guidance of the Divine Chancellor. Thus, with Swami’s Divine Grace, His invisible hands are behind everything. Our Swami is not only the founder and the revered Chancellor of the Institute; He is also the greatest Financial Advisor instructing and guiding the authorities in all aspects of the day-to-day academic, administrative and financial matters.
The most precious occasion in my life time is the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations of 2001 when prior to the function, Swami sent for me a couple of times and indicated with a loving smile that He had something in the works for me on this festival day. I waited with great anticipation and anxiety, not knowing what exactly was in store for me. When at last the moment arrived, I was overwhelmed seeing how Swami showered His immense love on us about 49 staff members who have served various Sai establishments in different capacities for 15 years and more. Each of us was given besides clothes and a cash award, an exquisite memento from the Divine hands as a token of “Love”. But the culmination was when, in recognition of our services, Swami honoured and “blessed us profusely”. Out of His magnanimity, in the Divine Discourse that Bhagavan delivered on that auspicious day, Swami exhorted saying, “these are not ordinary people, if you see their Bio-data you will find them very special in their fields of work. They have sacrificed their lucrative careers and material comforts to serve Swami unmindful of obstacles and difficulties.” The entire audience was so charged with emotion that a drop of a pin would have broken the dam and let out the flood of tears. That is not only our “Divine Chancellor” but “the Lord of the Universe.”
On a personal note, for some years I had suffered from stomach ache, sometimes unbearable. Swami advised through the then Vice Chancellor that I should go to the Super Specialty Hospital to be examined by Dr. Bhat; there they diagnosed “gall stones” and recommended immediate surgery. On reporting back to Swami, the “Doctor of Doctors” reassured that there was nothing to worry about. He said “wait”. His words, mere glance and touch are sufficient to eradicate any problem and alleviate any sickness. It was no different in my case when in 1998 during an interview, Swami while rubbing my stomach said, “No gall stones, only gastric.” Gradually the pain disappeared without any medical treatment, leaving no room for complications. That is our Sai Eashwara, the Antharyami.
Ultimately, however insignificant it may seem when the thought of seva is in the forefront, mandatory requirement, such as paper work and visa issue updates are of great importance. In these matters too when the Superintendent of Police, Passport and Foreign Office officials were causing difficulties for us, Swami as usual in His characteristic way intervened and facilitated the procurement of the necessary permits smoothly. In a nutshell my life with Swami for these 23 years has been a true blessing. Not one day passes when I do not thank our Swami for giving this unique opportunity to serve God in His immediate presence. Here is a beautiful prayer that Swami has taught us and which has been my sincere prayer to Him.
“Oh Lord! Take my love and let it
flow in fullness of devotion to Thee.
Oh Lord! Take my hands and let them
work incessantly for Thee.
Oh Lord! Take my soul and let it be
merged in one with Thee.
Oh Lord! Take my mind and thoughts
and let them be in tune with Thee.
Oh Lord! Take my everything and let
me be an instrument of Thee.”
- Ratilal Pala
Controller of Finances (1983 – 2018)
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
Prasanthi Nilayam
Source: Divine Vision 2006
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