Navin Patel
1974 Brindavan

In 1968 Bhagawan visited East Africa – Uganda in particular. While Bhagawan was residing in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, I happened to one of the young volunteers aged about 17-18 serving at Swami’s residence. I had chosen to do round-the-clock Seva and hence one of the duties allocated to me was to decorate a length of path leading from Swami’s residence to a large marquee outside for devotees.

One particular day at about 3:30am, I was pondering over the theme of the path’s decoration. I then decided that I would decorate the path with the five symbols of the world’s religions – symbols that represent our Swami’s Sarva Dharma symbol. I was on my knees with my head on the floor and decorating the path with beautiful flower petals. I must have completed about three out of five symbols and suddenly felt as though Swami was standing behind me, but I did not look up and carried on my task. Suddenly, I felt a kick on my backside, and I turned and saw that Swami was standing next to me. I was completely bewildered and obviously lost for words. When one tries to greet Swami, what do you say? Swami, Sai Ram? Here is God Himself standing in front of you – what words would you utter? Eventually, Swami asks me my name and I, in a timid little voice say, “Navin”. And as if He had not heard me, He asked again. And just then the host, Dr. C G Patel, realized that Swami was outside and rushed where we were and interrupted, but when Swami wants to converse with you only He will not tolerate any interruption from anyone. He asked me what I was doing and I told Swami that I was decorating the path with the five religious symbols. Swami then asked if I was expecting Him to walk over the symbols to which I proudly gave an affirmative answer. Swami then looked at me and said, “No divinity will walk over religious symbols, I will walk on the edge of the path”. The edge of the path had lovely roses, but full of thorns. We could not let Swami walk over thorns. I had to come up with alternate pattern.

This was my first direct lesson from Swami – I learn that day that religious symbols including photos, etc. must be treated with reverence.

Swami then asked me what I studying to which I replied that I was completing my ‘O’ level exams and that I was going to UK for further studies. He looked at me and then suddenly said, “Come to my college. I’ll give you admission now.” He then returned to His room. The irony of this statement was that Swami did not have a men’s college or ‘plans’ of it either. Perhaps this was one of the turning points in my life and made my life full of Sai fragrance.

Brindavan campus was started in a very small way in 1969. After a few months of turmoil and ‘constant reminders’ from Swami for me to join His divine institute, I decided to take up Swami’s offer and join the Brindavan campus in 1970.

The Love story with Sai continues ever since.

Brother Navin Patel is based in Leicester UK. A biochemist by profession, He was guided by Swami to work for the Sai Organisation in UK. He was instrumental in starting the service wing of the organization in UK in the 1970s.