Flood in Kerala transformed into flood of Sai love
By Prof E. Mukundan
Member, Sri Sathya Sai National Council and Former Kerala State President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations
Once Swami had asked a question –“What is the rarest of the rare?”
Many present in the gathering offered answers to the question posed by Swami. But none of them seemed to satisfy Swami. Finally, Swami Himself gave the answer – “Having a human birth is rarest of the rare. Still rare is to be a contemporary of an Avatar. Rarer than this, is to come to know of and believe in the Avatar. Still more rare is to be a part of the Avataric Mission. All these are rare, but to be a Sai student is the rarest and the greatest opportunity.”
Working with the alumni is an amazing experience. Swami often reminds us that any challenging situation can be converted into an opportunity. This proved true during the 2018 floods in Kerala. Devotees from SSSSO, Kerala had a very memorable opportunity to do seva alongside the alumni of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The alumni came in batches from different parts of the country. They stayed at the SSS Centre and helped organize the relief operations with total perfection. Tons of relief materials were pouring in from different states and the alumni took full control of the distribution of these materials in different parts of Kerala. Many had taken days off from work and were participating in this amazing saga of Sai Love.
Sai students are unique. Swami has Himself molded them to be that way. Swami has trained them as the roots of the future. They worked day and night at the seva. They paid meticulous attention to even minute details. Everyone could see why Swami considered them as His real property.
Their discipline, spirit of sacrifice, eagerness to make Swami happy and proud by conducting seva with silence and a smile – these were great lessons for all.
This experience transformed the floods in 2018 into a flood of Sai Love. We will cherish those beautiful lessons and loving memories forever. We miss them to this day.
Swami would often tell His students that He does not want anything from them. The only offering that He would like is for them to always be good and bring a good name to the Institute. The alumni have lived up to Swami’s expectation and the Divine command admirably in their daily lives. They are truly diamonds polished by Swami through His dedicated team of teachers. No wonder that the University Grants Commission has described Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning as the “Crest Jewel” among the universities in India.
Most of the alumni are well placed in their respective firms. And yet they exemplify the Divine lessons of simple living and high thinking.
We express our deep gratitude to Our Beloved Swami for giving us this golden opportunity to serve along with His students.
Jai Sai Ram
