It was 1976. I was a 14-year-old, only 4’7″ tall, very mischievous lad when I joined as a student in Brindavan. I was given a place in the dormitories which was the hostel of that time.  Swami was in Parthi. I was initially feeling out of place but very soon started following my senior brothers there. 

The first time I got to see Bhagawan as a student was when we were taken to Parthi by busses arranged by Swami for Gurupoornima in June 1976. We were all assembled in Poorna Chandra auditorium and Swami entered from behind the stage. That Darshan is still vivid in my memories. Swami walked amongst us talking to the new and old boys. He also distributed Sevadal scarves and badges to all the students. As he came near me, He talked to me, pinched my cheeks, put the scarf around my neck,  and pinned the badge to the scarf. I can never forget the proximity and that expression of Love.  I was bowled over. Not only did Swami pin the badge; He also pinned the tag of “small boy” to me on that day. From that day onwards, about five of us became the privileged small boys, like the little ones in a home. 

Swami came to Brindavan after we returned. Each and every day used to be a blessed day with a lot of opportunities. What to speak of the everyday pats, pinches, opportunities, conversations, jokes with unimaginable Love pouring out on us. Every day, we used to have Bhajans in the old bungalow and we were only 160 students in the first year.  But as small boys, we always got the place around His footrest during those daily sessions spending at least an hour at His feet. We took the liberty of leaving only just as much space for His lotus feet…not a millimetre more so that swami would place His feet on our hands whenever He tried to move His feet. When His feet touched our hands, He used to look at our face and shake His head, smiling. But we would not budge. 

It was just Love pouring out every day and I was so naive that I took all those blessings for granted.  I was so sure that Swami would talk to me, pat my cheeks or have something to tell me, whenever I put my face out in front of Him. Then came the time for the ‘treatment’.  As we stood in line, He would pass and talk to another person standing somewhere behind looking through me. Once, twice and a number of times and for days together.  I was totally lost. I did not know what I had done but the treatment continued. I prayed and prayed, putting out my face right in front of Him as He walked past. I cried sitting alone under those trees of Brindavan not knowing what to do. 

The next day I stood near the Bungalow gate but not in the front this time, without any expectation. Swami came out for Darshan and He came near the gate with His eyes on the devotees in the Sairam Shed. Suddenly He turned back, came near me and said “CHESKO.” Tears in my eyes, I held on to His Lotus feet till there was a pat on my back. 

During my PUC II, I got a pair of Roller Skates from a visiting relative. I did not know skating. I took the skates to the college and started trying them out in the present Library block. As I struggled with the Skates, senior brother Anup Jhelani came to my rescue and taught me the art of skating. Once I got a hold of it,  it was only skating whenever time permitted, even in the college corridors.  One day, I ventured out with the skates on the road early in the morning beyond Belthur till a landmark bridge there. I slipped and fell there. I had a severe ankle sprain and reached the hostel with much difficulty.  Swami was in Prasanthi Nilayam at that time.  The pain aggravated and did not subside even after many many days. 

My letter brought the same relative, my maternal uncle, who had got me the skates, to Brindavan. He took me to Bangalore to show me to a specialist. In the meantime, Swami returned to Brindavan. The specialist at a Bangalore nursing home took Xray and prescribed certain tablets and medicines. But he also stated that there was a bone cyst found in my leg which needed investigation by way of a biopsy. I knew not what a cyst was nor the consequences. The doctor asked my uncle to decide on a date for the surgery. I told my uncle that I needed to get back to the hostel as Swami was already there and reached Brindavan carrying the X-ray and reports with me.

We had Bhajans with Swami in the old bungalow and I could not take the coveted place near Swami’s lotus feet due to my problem.  Carrying the reports with me,  I stood near the staircase where swami would go up after Bhajans. There were about 10-15 boys in that small place and amidst them, I would hardly be visible due to my height. 

Swami walked towards us slowly, looked at me and asked, “emira adi?” 

I said, “Swami X-Ray” and handed over the cover with the XRay and reports to Him. Swami opened the XRay and had a look at it. 

I said “Swami, bone cyst anta. Operation cheyalanta.”  

Swami laughed and said, “Cut cheseyamanu”

Then He moved His hand on the X-ray and said, “emi oddu. aantha poyindi po.”  He gave back the Xray and retired upstairs. The cyst was gone. No cyst was ever found later on, in the leg. My leg pain also vanished in a day or two.

Nagraj KR B.Com, 1976 – 1981, Brindavan. He worked in Indian Overseas Bank till 2010 and is presently into own business.