On the 29th February 2024, Prof. Anil Kumar visited the Department of Biosciences in the Prasanthi Nilayam campus and spent over two hours with the faculty, research scholars and students. We lost track of time as Prof. Anil Kumar kept us enthralled with anecdotes from the time he was a non-believer in Swami’s divinity to the precious moments spent in Swami’s proximity.

It was a surreal experience to listen to many of those experiences highlighting Bhagawan’s boundless love for a devotee who had unconditionally surrendered to His will. At one point the topic veered towards Botany and the students were wonderstruck at the ease with which Prof. Anil Kumar was rattling out scientific names of plants and botanical terms. On that day the scholar was like a child among children. As we relished those moments, none of us had an inkling this would be the final opportunity we had to spend time with him.

The poem on Abou Ben Adhem notes that the pious saint was absent in a list of devotees who loved God, but was prominently listed among those whom God loved. If a similar list were to be made for our beloved Bhagawan, Prof. Anil Kumar would be listed prominently in both the lists; those who loved Bhagawan and those whom Bhagawan in turn held most dear. We are eternally grateful to Bhagawan for blessing us with the proximity of a devotee whose life’s mission was to tirelessly broadcast the message and teachings of Sai.

Dr A. S. Vishwanathan M.Sc. (Biosciences) – 2006, Prasanthi Nilayam