Comprehensive Collection of India News, Articles, Columns, Analysis and Research Papers. Facts about India, Indian History, Culture, Business, Politics, and Terrorism. Religions of India, Mystery and Diversity of India.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Puttaparthi Baba - Comment

Visit out Collection of Articles, Analysis & Newsletters Library

iVarta.com:
All about India News, Views and Analysis | Business, Social and Community Networking | Free Classifieds, Yellow Pages and more...

 Feedback

(The author is vice-president in an international management consulting company and is an avid student of Sanatana Dharma.)

This is a comment on the article by Dr. Gopal Alankar:
Puttaparthi Baba (Sri Sathya Sai Baba) dabbles in politics

I was present at the January 21, 2007 meeting that Dr. Gopal Alankar is referring to. The point that Sri Sathya Sai Baba made was plain and simple, - that we must live united among ourselves.

The "U" word (Unity) sounds strange and almost threatening to us nowadays. Politicians do not manipulate democracy as Dr.Alankar says but rather they use the democratic system and manipulate the receipt of votes to stay in power. One clear approach in "unison" that all politicians seem to employ, in this manipulating process, is to divide the people on the basis of petty, artificially created entities, instill and nourish base emotions among people, promote mistrust in society and turn fine, innocent, gullible human beings into believing they are worthless. The divisive approach that politicians are employing is harming everyone but themselves, and helping no one but themselves. Every ordinary human being"s happiness and welfare is sacrificed to keep a few politicians in power and wealth. If dividing people and society to achieve one"s selfish end, regardless of what happens to ordinary man"s happiness and welfare, is not sinful, then what is?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba called this as "maha papam" - because that is what it is, a great sin! Someone needs to speak up for societal unity and harmony - someone with distilled moral courage and a real care for the welfare of the people. No politician is campaigning on the basis of unity; no journalist - freelance writers such as Dr. Alankar included - is making an issue of the lack of unity in the society and the politicians" approach of "divide and rule". May be Dr. Alankar, who "is retired and enjoys writing about societal issues", should consider educating the people and politicians , through his writings, on the exalted adminsitrative systems and practices employed by the likes of Parikshit, Rama and Dasaratha and other great kings and rulers from our past.

The fact that millions of people visit Sri Sathya Sai Baba and the fact this includes politicians from India and around the world is not a sinister thing. It is said in the Mahabharatha that Dhuryodhana could not find a single good person in the world and Yudhishtra could not find a single bad person in the world! The one world appeared radically different to them! The world reflects what you are. It is perfectly alright if Dr. Alankar doesn"t like Sri Sathya Sai Baba. But he should be honest in what he writes. He should not portray his personal dislikes as journalistic truths.

Why am I saying this? Because the facts tell a different story than what Dr. Alankar says. It is a well-demonstrated scientific fact in the medical field that cure results only where there is faith. You"ll never go to a doctor you don"t have faith in, for example. You believe "crocin" will cure your headahce - so you take it. etc. In the same way, Sri Sathya Sai Baba cures the people who go to Him with full faith. For people who are ailing and who have faith in the "allopathic" medicinial system, He has built the hospitals. By the way, here is an important fact Dr. Alankar omitted to mention. These hospitals, that Dr. Alankar disparagingly dismisses, have provided medical care for more than 5 million people so far, about half of them earning less than Rs 10,000 per year and about 85 % earning less than Rs 30,000 per year; more than 120,000 people have been given super-specialty surgical care - all these at absolutely no cost to the patient. The caring atmosphere that pervades these hospitals is something to be personally seen to be believed. I have travelled extensively around the world and I"m quite familiar with the advanced medical care provided in developed countries. I can categorically state that there is no other place on earth where such an exemplary quality medical care is available to the needy, absolutely free of cost, in an environemnt of love and unity among people (doctors, nurses, volunteers, staff and others). In fact, this sytem is an exemplary solution to the medical care malaise prevalent in the world!

If Dr. Alankar really wanted to make a case for a separate Telengana, then he should have done so. If he believes "divide and rule" is where it is at, then he should stste that and also tell the reader why he says that - not based on some personal likes and dislkes but on the basis of what is enduringly good for the society. He should say how a divisive society is not a "maha papam".

I would urge Dr. Gopal Alankar to refrain from writing such scandalous, worthless pieces in the future. He has a readable writing style however and I respectfully request him to consider if his future pieces are in consonance with his conscience before he hits the "send" button on the keyboard.

Sundara Krishnaswami

       Send your views to author

Previous articles by:
Sundara Krishnaswami

Sethu Project: Good Thing Done Badly!

All articles by:
Sundara Krishnaswami