Published in The Times of India on Saturday 13 March 1999
By M P K Kutty, The Times of India News Service 

NEW DELHI: Visiting Delhi after a gap of 17 years, the Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi has this good news for his devotees: he will now be coming to the national capital every year.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Sathya Sai International Centre and School on Lodhi Road on Friday morning, he compared Delhi to the stomach of Bharat. Diseases arise when the stomach does not function properly. "If the stomach is in good condition, the body will be healthy. If Delhi is good, the country will be good,'' he added.

The Swami, adored by millions, had a good word for Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, who also addressed the meeting for ten minutes. "I have known Mr Vajpayee for 17 years.'' He commended the 'spiritual leadership' of Mr Vajpayee "who has continued with the same party.'' He also wished the Prime Minister success in his efforts to promote good relations with neighbouring countries.

"I have not come here as Prime Minister,'' Mr Vajpayee said, recalling that he was foreign minister when the Baba first visited Delhi 17 years ago. "Today I am something different. I still need his grace.'' He commended the Baba for demonstrating through his multifarious projects and activities that service of the people constituted service to God. Union home minister L K Advani, human resource development minister Murli Manohar Joshi, former President Shanker Dayal Sharma and other prominent politicians and senior officials were present at the function.

In his more than 30-minute address, the Baba recalled the greatness of India, known for eminent men like Valmiki, Veda Vyasa, Rama and Buddha. Indian culture and tradition emphasised charity, the spirit of sacrifice, truth and non-violence.

"But what have we achieved in 50 years of freedom? Murders, hijackings, kidnappings...the human mind is polluted by kama and krodha. We are afraid to travel by road, rail or by plane. The world is full of fear. We speak of peace. But where is peace? We have only 'pieces.' There must be peace within first. And there will be peace outside when people relate to one another in love.''

"Today, there is a lot of hatred. Only the mean-minded people hate. So long as there is hatred, there will not be any peace...While we love our motherland, we should not criticise other countries.'' And he added his slogan: 'Help ever; hurt never.'

In his speech, the Baba repeatedly stressed the greatness of Indian culture and bemoaned the lack of unity which had led to foreign rule in the past. The country could achieve freedom but not unity. He was also critical of the tendency among the young and the educated to imitate other cultures. "Our culture is as vast as the Himalayas and as deep as the ocean. No other culture is as great as India's,'' he declared, amid loud applause.

Spirituality means morality. Of all the sacred rituals, there is nothing greater than adherence to truth. Is any ritual more important than feelings towards one's mother? Love your motherland. "God is in you, He is around you. There is no place where God is not,'' he said, adding: "Love is God. Live in love.''

Earlier, Kulwant Rai, president of the Delhi unit of the Sai seva organisation, said the international centre would promote the five values of truth, righteousness, peace, love and non-violence. He also gave an account of the water supply project, the super-speciality hospital and other projects set up by Sathya Sai Baba.

Devotees continue to throng darshan venues

Sri Sathya Sai Baba continued to attract thousands of devotees today in the third day of his stay in the Capital. As the news of the visit of the spiritual leader spread in the neighbouring states, a large number of devotees from there turned up at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium to have a darshan of the Baba. A large number of vehicles from the neighbouring states were seen parked at the venue.

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PM attends Sai Baba function
New Delhi March 12 (HT Correspondent)

Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the saint of Puttaparthy, who is in the Capital after a gap of seventeen years, today inaugurated the Sai International Centre at Lodhi Road in South Delhi this morning.

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Brief darshan of heat, hope and vibhuti
(Extract from Times of India Sat 13 Mar 99) By Jug Suraiya (Times of India) - Saturday 13 March 1999

Hundreds thronged the leafy lane lined with purple banners quoting Baba: Service to humanity is service to divinity. White-garbed volunteers with blue scarves kept the queues in line, manned a counter dispensing first aid against the growing afternoon heat. With the others, I passed through three metal detectors and was comprehensively and repeatedly frisked (For mobile? Binoculars? Camera? Snacks?) by volunteers sibilating Sia Ram.

Largely from Delhi, the throng had a cosmopolitan leaven: greek, American, Kannada, Telugu punctuated local Punglish. ``There's Amjad Ali Khan!'' someone exclaimed. ``And Justice Bhagwati, no?'' added another. Inside, the commons squatted on a wide lawn covered with green carpets; protocol provided white plastic chairs for the privilegentsia. On the verandah of the white bungalow stood a purple-draped jhoola with a wrought iron Om. Amplified bhajans and tangible awe stilled the birdsong.

The verandah doors opened and a slight, diminutive figure emerged in a saffron robe crowned with the unmistakable aureole of jet black hair. A thousand breaths waiting to exhale went ``Ah!'' in hushed reverence.

Baba appeared to glide rather than walk as he moved among his flock, a gentle smile on his lips. The fingers of his upturned right palm seemed to ask an eloquent question of the faces turned up to him in adoration: What is it that you seek from me, my child, that is not already there within yourself?

The faces were rapt with Baba's presence, beyond question or answer. Several bore a look of concentrated piety, not unfamiliar in the Capital's anterooms of ministerial power and patronage. The look seemed to say: Will my submission - for a daughter's marriage, a government contract, relief from physical or mental pain - be accorded tatkal status in the general Scheme of Things?

Now and then, Baba paused to touch a devotee lightly on head or shoulder in benediction. Those around the favoured one touched him or her in turn, in ardent hope of relayed grace. Several got up and in a worshipful half crouch edged forward to proffer envelopes containing petitions for boons to Baba. Shuffling back in reverse gear, eyes fixed on Baba, a substantial devotee stumbled and almost landed on the lap of another, who deferentially eased him to a safe landing.

``There, there! Did you see? Baba produced vibhuti, put it in the handkerchief that young man gave him!'', someone murmured ecstatically. I tried to see but the dazzle of sun and palpable faith proved too blinding. ``Three times I came from America to see him, but never got a darshan. Today, I touched his feet; my prayers have been answered,'' whispered a devotee, face radiant with joyous tears.

Then, as quietly as he had made his entrance, Baba was gone. Arti was performed before the empty swing, the tremulous flame an after-image of a saffron robe. The bhajans were switched off. Silence swirled in the heat. A tentative bird chirped. The darshan was over.

``I've been a follower for over 25 years. First because my husband believed in him, now because I believe myself,'' confided a devotee on the way out. The volunteers didn't frisk us this time but said Sia Ram just the same. Despite the heat, I felt a lightness of step: You don't have to believe yourself to have faith in the faith of others.

As I stepped off the kerb, a lorry thundered down at me. I waved benignly at the driver, Sia Ram, bete! The fellow screeched on his brakes. Even a Delhi lorry driver knows better than to try conclusions with one just coming from an audience with the best connected PA in town.