Rajesh Dhuddu
During our childhood we were advised by our mother to pray before going to bed. Our prayers were very simple with no Slokas or Sanskrit hymns. We referred to God as ‘Swami’ and generally prayed for everyone’s wellbeing including ours. We prayed every day without fail, not knowing who ‘Swami’ was.
During my graduation days, I had recurrent dreams of receiving a gold medal from a person in a white robe with great effulgence, but I never could see the face clearly. After graduation, I appeared for the MBA entrance exams in several prestigious business schools. Post exams, I travelled to my native place (near Tirupati) where a cousin suggested that I apply to the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning – an institution that I wasn’t aware of. His maternal grandparents were ardent devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and also had the good fortune of making Padukas for Swami. I agreed to appear for the exam and travelled to Puttaparthi to give the entrance exam. In my undergraduate days, I participated in intercollegiate competitions, won prizes in elocution, essay writing and quiz and used to wear a tie. That tie was a sort of lucky charm and I wore it to the interview. I was selected for the Master in Financial Management (Finance) program.
I joined the Summer Course at Brindavan Campus. The hostel was a completely different experience. Ten to twelve boys in a small room, mandatory white dress, strict timings, etc. On the day of admission, I was told the classes started the next day and would be taught by Baba Himself. On the opening day, when Baba entered the auditorium, I heard everyone addressing Baba as Swami. When I saw Him, in person, for the first time, I was completely spellbound and wondered, “Is this the Swami to whom we were praying every night during our entire childhood?
The Summer Course continued. Hostel life became busy and I saw several students doing various Seva activities. Once when I was in the hostel quadrangle, a sudden murmur began “Swami is coming! Swami is coming!” and some students ran towards the anticipated entrance. One student grasped me, “Either you go to see Swami or come with me to do some Seva. Swami doesn’t like to see boys sitting idle”. Willy nilly, I followed that student to the wash area for used plates, glasses and utensils. I felt like offering that Seva. So I approached the wash area and reached out to pick up the soiled tableware. I felt shivers down my back, hands refusing to pick them up. When I overcame the inertia, picked up those utensils and washed them, a great joy coursed through that I never experienced before.
A few days later, Swami visited the hostel to a place close to the wash area. All the boys, washing utensils rushed towards Swami, washing aprons on! I too ran with them. Swami blessed us with a photo opportunity; My first photo with Swami was with a washing apron on! I felt He was rewarding me for overcoming my repulsion to wash utensils and take undiluted plunge into Seva. Being part of Prashanti Seva continues to be blessing He has been showering on me.
After the Summer Course, we moved to Puttaparthi, and became busy with hostel activities, college and Darshan. Days passed quickly. One day during evening Darshan, Swami walked directly to me… My blank mind and tear blurred eyes remembered only two directives from that most wonderful conversation. First, He said that He saw me wearing a ‘colourful tie’ to the interview during the entrance exam. Second, He said I needed to increase ‘bank balance’. I was buffeted between the bliss of His proximity and confused by His cryptic words.
Later Prof. H.J. Bhagya, suggested that Swami’s words may have the following meaning.:
- The colourful tie alluded to bondage, comforts and pleasures. Swami wanted me to reduce them.
- The bank balance meant doing more good deeds, the records which He always maintains.
These two messages have been the guideposts of my life. The conversation in 1995 is the only one I ever had with Swami. But, I always felt His presence and companionship wherever I travelled in the world.
My dream of receiving a gold medal from Him became a reality and proved that He was taking care, even before I ‘recognized’ Him.
‘Swa’ in Sanskrit means being prepared, ready and being on one’s guard and ‘Mi’ is ‘You’. He is always ready to guard you and me. That is Swami’s unimaginable love for all ardent devotees.
Rajesh Dhuddu MBA Finance, 1995 – 1997, Prasanthi Nilayam. Currently the VP and Practice Lead for Blockchain and CyberSecurity at Tech Mahindra. He is part of the Lattice80 Top 100 and the Thinkers360 Top 5. He is in the IIM-A Blockchain Advisory. He is a Tedx Speaker and a Mentor.
