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A birthday gift from Anantapur
Source:
Radio Sai E-Magazine,
January 1, 2004
http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_02/01Jan01/08_WINDOW_TO_SAI_SEVA/sai_seva.htm
To
commemorate the 78th Birthday of our Beloved Lord, Bhagawan Sri
Sathya Sai Baba, the teachers and students of the Sri Sathya Sai
Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus, organised a social
service project in which 78 physically challenged persons were
selected from various villages in the mandals of Anantapur
District such as Anantapur, Dharmavaram, Hindupur, Pamidi,
Kothacheruvu, Madakasira, Kadiri, and Bommanahal, to be the
recipients of tricycles, crutches, callipers, artificial limbs,
wheel chairs, walking sticks, etc.
With the permission
of Bhagawan, the beneficiaries were called to Prashanti Nilayam
where they had the good fortune of receiving these different props
from the Divine Hands of Beloved Bhagawan Himself.
As
12th November, 2003, (the date fixed by Bhagawan for the
distribution ceremony) happened to be Bhagawan's Birthday
according to the Indian Calender (Bahula Tadiya Karthika Maasam),
the function at the Sai Kulwant Hall began with Bhagawan lighting
the Lamp, and then cutting the Birthday Cake. Beloved Bhagawan,
the Compassionate Lord, blessed each and every patient. It was a
moving sight as each one of them came forward, assisted by one of
the teachers, and received a pair of new clothes from the Divine
Hands of Bhagawan.
After the
formalities were completed, Bhagawan graciously sat for a time and
listened to some songs sung by the girls of the Anantapur Campus.
Throughout
the function, Bhagawan's Love seemed to flow to the handicapped
patients. He called Prof. Jayalakshmi Gopinath, Warden and Head of
the Dept. of English, and asked her to speak to them. When she
started to speak in English, Bhagawan turned towards her, and said
that she should speak in Telugu so that they would understand what
she spoke. Prof. Gopinath reminded the beneficiaries of their
great good fortune in being the recipients of Divine Grace, and
advised them not to disregard the value of what they had received.
To the surprise and
delight of all the people gathered in the hall,
Bhagawan
expressed a desire to speak, too! Bhagawan spoke for nearly twenty
minutes, without any translation! Bhagawan's loving and soothing
words to the handicapped were like balm to a depressed heart. They
brought tears to the eyes of all who were present there. Bhagawan
comforted the patients by saying that they should not feel unhappy
because they are deprived of the full and proper use of their
limbs. Those who have all their limbs intact do not use their body
for the good of others, nor for the service of others, Bhagawan
said. He exhorted the handicapped patients to develop confidence,
and to work with such commitment that they put to shame the
full-bodied. Bhagawan promised them every possible help, and asked
them not to hesitate in expressing any of their problems to Him. Bhagawan said that if any of
them were interested
in
further studies, He would provide them admission in one of His
institutions. He asked them to give courage to their depressed
parents who were already grieved that they had children with
handicaps. Bhagawan advised the Anantapur teachers not to leave
the good work they were doing at this point, but to follow up on
the steps they had already taken. He asked them to keep in touch
with the beneficiaries and see to it that any repairs to the
equipment or any help that was needed was given to the needy from
time to time. Bhagawan said that it is the duty of the educated to
serve the society, and not lead selfish lives. Bhagawan graciously
promised Rs. 10 lakhs for this service project.
After the mangal
arati, Bhagawan announced that all the patients should go to the
Canteen and, after a sumptuous meal, happily return to their
hometowns. He once again blessed everyone with abhayahasta.
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