Mein Hoo Na -The Divine Assurance
By Nitin Acharya
Once Dr. Safaya sought Swami’s permission to discuss hospital matters in private (circa 2005). He wanted to convey to Swami some urgent and important administrative matters in the Super- speciality hospital. Dr. Safaya was summoned inside the interview room and he explained the whole scenario in the hospital in a dramatic manner by comparing the hospital to an aircraft.
He said, “Swami, the Hospital is like an aircraft that carries the patients as passengers and their treatment (hospitality) is entirely dependent not just on the doctors but other staff of the hospital as well. Medical staff like Doctors and nurses make up one wing and the Paramedical staff, technicians, dietitians etc. are like the other wing. Perfect harmony is required to have a proper balance and a safe journey”. Dr. Safaya spread his hands wide and explained through gestures by doing the balancing act imitating an airplane in turbulence. His actions conveyed the gravity of the problem he was facing. Swami was also very much engrossed in watching the hospital chief do his actions. In the end Swami smiled and I could barely control my laughter sitting by Swami’s side.
The hospital chief then described the issue and Swami listened intently and silently and then looked up towards the clock for some time. After a few moments of silence Swami gave courage to Dr. Safaya by giving him these words of Divine assurance.
“You are on the wing, But who is in the cockpit?” He continued, “I am the pilot. I will take care of the situation. Do not worry.” Swami gave him padanamaskar and filled his hands with packets of Vibhuti. Dr. Safaya continued his duty at the hospital for another 7 years. He was one of the chosen and most able instruments of Swami who occupied the chair of Director of the Super-speciality hospital for more than 20 years (1991-2011).
In the souvenir released on the 60th anniversary of the Sathya Sai General Hospital, I was delighted to come across almost similar words of assurance given by Swami to Dr. Sitaramaiah, the first Superintendent of the General Hospital who served Swami for almost a similar span of 20 years (1956-1975). The text in the souvenir read,
“Swami assured this blessed doctor that He Himself would work through him for the doctor was nothing but an instrument in the Divine plan and it was his great fortune to be the chosen one.
Truly, when the master comes, He comes with a master plan.”
The General Hospital, commonly referred to by its abbreviation ‘GH’, was the first of many such GHs i.e. the ‘Gift to Humanity’ by God in Human Form as a beacon of hope and shining example. It’s been 60 years since the inauguration of the 1st GH. There are many more such Sai ‘aircrafts’ in the sky – General Hospitals, Super-speciality Hospitals and Mobile Hospitals. Inspired by Swami’s example, countless more such hospitals, clinics and medical camps are being run by devotees and Sai alumni all over the world. In all of these, Sai is the Pilot doing the balancing act and guiding the aircrafts towards their destinations.
Aircrafts and their wings are many but the Pilot is the One and Only – Sri Sathya Sai. When there is a tempest in our lives and we need a steady hand to guide the ship of our life, let us pray to Swami to take over the controls even as He calmly assures us, “Mein Hoo Na” (am I not there), like he comforted Dr. Safaya. Bhagawan is always eager to respond to our call.
