Bhagawan’s Birthday celebrations are the most important days on Prasanthi Nilayam’s calendar. His Birthday is preceded by the Convocation Ceremony of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning on November 22. The highlight of this day is the Convocation drama enacted in the Poornachandra Auditorium by the college students. In the year 1997, I was part of the backstage team helping with the props for the drama. On the day of the Convocation, a classmate and I were working in the orchestra pit in front of the stage, known as the ‘D area’ due to its shape. Since the beginning of the day we had been setting up and testing props and lighting without a break. It was around 2pm and the work was nearly done. We were tired, hungry and more importantly worried whether we could finish the work, return to the hostel, freshen up and be back before the programme began in the evening.

Apart from the two of us there were around four professional electricians who were working on the overhead lights of the auditorium. All of us, electricians included, were dressed in Whites, as per Mandir norms.  Bhagawan suddenly came onto the stage accompanied by a few boys. He walked to the front edge of the stage and stood appraising the work above and around the stage. From where we sat in the pit, He looked unusually tall. Had we stood up and stretched a bit, we could easily have touched His feet and gained a Padanamaskar. But that was neither the time nor the place to attempt stealing such a blessing. It was evident that Bhagawan had come there with a purpose. We placed our tools on the floor, folded our hands and knelt in our places enjoying this private Darshan.

Bhagawan waved to the electricians indicating them to come closer. He signaled to the students who had come with him. They immediately ran backstage and returned with sets of shirt and trousers material which Swami intended to distribute to the electricians. While my eyes were enjoying the beautiful loving form, I said to myself, “It is so nice that Bhagawan celebrates His birthday by giving clothes to everyone and, in particular, to those who work inhouse.” Naturally, I added, “Would He give us too? But then, aren’t we His students, part of the house, and not workers.”

At that instant, He turned sharply, pointed at us and asked, “Mana pillale kada?” (you are our boys, right?)

“Yes Swami!” I replied.

He turned, completed the distribution and left the stage. These were just three words, but they meant so many things to me simultaneously. The fact that He had acknowledged us as ‘His boys’ made me feel ecstatic. He had often said that in public, but the same statement made in private had a deeper impact. The immediate effect was that it worked like a booster shot to help us continue our set up forgetting hunger, weariness and worry. But more importantly, during the low periods of my life, these words have given me the confidence that He will take care because we are ‘His boys’. 

Also, those words reflected exactly what I had been thinking. I was aware that He knew every thought, but this was His way of placing an indelible emphasis on that awareness. It makes Him almost a partner, an accomplice and even a coconspirator in every thought.

What struck me the most was that those words revealed His immense empathy. We boys and the electricians were doing similar work at the same place and same time and all of us were wearing whites. He made it explicit that there was a reason for the different treatment He was giving us in distributing the clothes.

Those three words were almost like an explanation to us, “You are our boys, right? These clothes are for the guests to our house. You are part of our house and these gifts are not for you, hope you understand”. Even at a human level, He can choose whom to gift and whom not to. Being in His presence for six years until then, I was very much aware that every glance, word or action of His was measured. I wasn’t expecting an explanation from Him as to why He did not give us the white dress material, nor was there a need for Him to do so. But the very fact that He read my mind and chose to empathize, made me immensely happy. I realized what empathy can do for people – for people not to them! This is a great lesson that I am still trying to implement in my life. I also realized that it is not only important to be impartial, but it is equally important if not more vital to explain why we are impartial. These three words from Bhagawan are a lesson for lifetimes!

BVS Prathap High school Grade 11 & 12, B.Sc Physics (Hons), MBA, 1991 – 1998, Prasanthi Nilayam. Currently a Consultant in the Governance, Risk and Compliance space, in Manama, Bahrain.