Tsunami Relief Work undertaken by
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
There are times in
our lives when all hope is lost, there is no one to turn to and
nothing to live for. And then God comes into our lives, like the
first raindrop on the desert sands, like fresh air to one
gasping for breath. The tsunami tides that struck the Indian
coast was a disaster that washed away hopes more than it washed
away houses, that ruined as many lives as it took. But we have
the living and loving God, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the
lighthouse to minds lost in the wild seas of sorrow.
A village in Nagapattinam
District after being ravaged by the tidal waves
The tsunami waves
that struck South Asia on 26th December 2004 affected thousands
and created enormous damage to life and property. Soon after the
disaster, as the survivors struggled to recover from the blow
Nature had dealt them, Bhagawan's limitless compassion flowed to
them in the form of dedicated service by the volunteers of the
Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization, Tamil Nadu. Hundreds of
volunteers organized themselves into teams and fanned out into
the different areas where damage had been caused. The top
priority was to extricate the corpses tangled in the rubble and
suitably dispose them so that epidemics could be prevented. Food
and basic amenities too had to be arranged for the survivors.
Relief materials arranged
to be sent to survivors
Of all the
affected areas in Tamil Nadu, Nagapattinam District bore the
maximum brunt of the tsunami. The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust,
under the Divine guidance of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
rushed relief to the villages of Serudhoor, Akkaraipettai,
Keechankuppam, Kallar, Olakottaimedu and Thoduvai that were the
worst affected in Nagapattinam District. Provisions, utensils,
stoves, clothes and other basic items required to restore life
back to normalcy, were procured and packed into cartons. Seva
Dal volunteers worked day and night procuring, packing and
transporting these materials. The cartons were transported from
Chennai to the relief operations base camp near Nagapattinam.
Simultaneously, another group of volunteers were engaged in the
distribution of these cartons to more than 5000 families in
Nagapattinam District and Pondicherry. Needless to say, the Seva
Dal volunteers performed the entire task in a spirit of selfless
love and dedication. They consoled the distressed, reassured
them and gave them the courage and hope to start their lives
afresh putting the tragedy behind them.
Trucks arriving from
Chennai with the relief material
In one of the
villages, as the supplies were getting exhausted at the end of
the day, a villager was heard assuring his fellowmen that there
was no need to worry as the Sai volunteers would definitely
bring more supplies the next day and continue the relief work.
Instances like these are a testimony to the confidence that
these volunteers inspired in the hearts of these people by the
dedication and commitment with which they served. The district
administration also commended the well-organized and orderly way
in which the materials were distributed.
Relief operations being
conducted by Sai volunteers
It was a touching
experience for the volunteers as they saw the affected people
help each other rebuild their lives, cutting across barriers of
caste, creed and socio-economic status. In a village, one of the
villagers requested that the materials be distributed in the
neighboring village too as no relief had yet reached that
village. At a time when one would expect them to be anxious
about their own welfare, it was moving to see the feelings of
love and concern they had for their brethren in distress. Truly,
Bhagawan's cardinal teaching of ?Brotherhood of Man and
Fatherhood of God' was being translated into action by these
innocent village folk.
Receiving Bhagawans gifts
of Grace
It was not the
villagers alone who benefited from the exercise, but also the
volunteers who found the experience an inspiring one. The
villagers were often heard to say that God is their sole refuge
and He would definitely take care of their lives. To encounter
such strong faith in God among these rural folk was a reminder
of the deep spiritual moorings of the people of this country.
They did not consider it as mere relief material but as
consecrated gifts of Grace from God Himself who had come to
their aid in their time of distress. One is reminded of the
words of a song that is often sung in Bhagawan's presence:
"There is someone above to comfort me
There is someone above to show me the way
There is Swami to guide me
There is someone above to care
And it's Love, Love all the way..."
Jai Sai Ram!
Source:
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/pages/Tsunami_Report.htm
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