One day, all of a sudden, Swami asked me to call my sister to attend the 1979 Summer Course, along with my mother. During those days one had to book tickets 4 – 5 months ahead of the journey to get a confirmed seat. Besides, there were no direct trains running from Bhubaneswar to Bangalore at that time. One had to change trains at Secunderabad. Usually, there would be a heavy rush during the summer months, and now the rush had increased as a Sevadal conference too had been organised in Brindavan.

My mother and sister didn’t get any reservation but as Sevadal and Organisation Leaders were coming in the same train, they felt that it would be safe enough for them to reach Bangalore/ White field. They had no problem in the first leg of the journey, but, in the second, between Secunderabad and Bangalore, the TTE asked them to get down the train in the evening. 

My mother pleaded with him as much as she could, but in vain. She prayed to Swami from the bottom of her heart and both of them got down. As soon as they were on the platform, an old fakir called my mother and told her to get into the compartment along with my sister. Space was immediately provided to them. They slept that night praying to Swami to be with them. On getting up early the next morning, they found the old fakir missing and on enquiring, they understood that he had got down at night. 

Finally, my mother and sister reached Whitefield. During darshan, Swami came to my mother and in a very mischievous way asked her if they faced any problems during the journey. My mother broke down. Swami, giving His assurance, told her not to worry as Swami was always there with her. He then gave her the Guest Badge and went away. I was standing near the bungalow door to inform Swami about my mother’s and sister’s arrival but instead He asked me in Hindi, “Behen aaee hai”, and I answered “sister has come”. He asked me the same question 2 – 3 times in Hindi, and I replied in English. At the end, He jokingly told late Mr Chopra and Col Sridharan, “See I’m asking him in Hindi and he is answering in English.” Everyone started laughing. He then went inside and gave me a student badge to hand over to my sister, and told Mr Chopra and Col Sridharan about how my mother was in trouble. He said it is the duty of people to help fellow beings, particularly when one is a part of the Sai Organisation, and spoke about this while addressing the Sevadals in the evening. 

Many years later, in 2000 I was then living in Bangalore with my family. It was two years since my daughter had been born and she hadn’t yet started walking. Children usually start walking by the time they are 9 to 18 months old. None knew about this except for my family members. With full faith, trust and conviction in Swami, my mother and wife prayed to Him – day after day – for a miracle. Finally, the red – letter day arrived. 

One Thursday morning, my mother, my wife and my daughter had gone for darshan to Sai Ramesh Hall, Brindavan. They were seated in the second row. My daughter was sitting on my wife’s lap. Swami arrived for darshan in all His splendour. He stopped in front of my family, and cast His merciful look on them. He said, “This child will walk soon.” True to His word, my daughter took her first steps that very evening. And today, that girl who wasn’t able to walk at the age of two years, performs Odissi, a classical dance. 

मूकं करोति वाचालं , पुङ्गं लङ्घयते गिरिम् ॥
यत्कृपा तमहं वन्दे परमानन्द माधवम् ॥

The divine grace of Bhagawan can make the dumb speak with eloquence and the lame cross high mountains. I thus remember and extol that grace which flows from the Supreme manifestation of Madhava… Om Sri Sai Aparoopa Sakthine Namah

Dr. Swagat  Kumar  Gunanidhi  Routray  studied in Brindavan (1976 – 80). Currently Regional Manager of the Apparel Training & Design Centre (ATDC), based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, under the aegis of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). He is a Member of Council of Management (COM), Sri Sathya Sai Trust, Odisha.