Commemorative Postage Stamp on Sathya Sai Baba released by Minister of State for C&IT, Dr. Kruparani
It was very satisfying for me to see the recognition provided by the Govt. of India of Swami's outstanding contribution to India of motivating people to pursue spirituality though loving service to the poor and the needy on a very large scale suitable to modern times, by releasing a postage stamp in his honour.
Here's a Telugu news video clip of it, 0 min: 55 secs.
Here's a pic of the stamp, and here's a pic of the "First day cover".
https://postalinspectors.blogspot.com/2013/11/commemorative-postage-stamp-on-sathya.html gives a pic of the release itself. I have copy-pasted the accompanying text below:
Sri Sathya Sai Baba (born as Sathyanarayana Raju; 23 November 1926 – death 24 April 2011) was a highly revered spiritual leader and world teacher, whose life and message are inspiring millions of people throughout the world. He claimed to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi. The Sathya Sai Organisation, founded by Sathya Sai Baba "to enable its members to undertake service activities as a means to spiritual advancement" has over 1,200 Sathya Sai Centers in more than 100 countries. Through this organisation, Sathya Sai Baba established a network of free hospitals, clinics, drinking water projects and schools. Sathya Sai's devotees are spread across the world.
Union Minister of State for Communication & Information Technology (IT) Killi Krupa Rani released a commemorative stamp on Sathya Sai Baba on the occasion of his 88th birth anniversary celebrations held at Puttaparthi (Anantapur district) on 23rd November 2013.
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I think the crux is the platform created worldwide for persons who want to "undertake service activities as a means to spiritual advancement" and are comfortable with teachings of Sathya Sai Baba whose essence perhaps can be captured as the eternal (Sanathana) values of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema. The platform is stable and has leading lights like retired supreme court judges as trustees (http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/97_apmisra.htm - Justice Misra is seen with Dr. Kruparani, MoS, in the pic mentioned above, of the stamp release) or holding top positions like Chancellor of the Sai university (Justice Venkatachaliah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manepalli_Narayana_Rao_Venkatachaliah). [After Swami's Mahasamadhi former Supreme Court Judge P.N. Bhagwati, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._N._Bhagwati, was appointed the Sai university Chancellor but he perhaps faced some health issues and so was not seen at important events like the convocation.]
Over the past couple of years as I have been doing rather intensive reading of major events in India (and abroad) I have come to understand the value that a retired supreme court judge can bring to institutional governance at the very top levels. The honourable supreme court judges must be having tremendous experience of dealing with disputes of various kinds some of which involve the high and mighty of the land (both at supreme court level and lower courts). I guess almost any dispute under the sun could come up to the Supreme court (and lower courts) - corruption, murder, constitutional impropriety, divorce, sexual molestation, tax matters etc.! I think such experience would be making them very wise about human beings and institutions. Further, accountability is something they would be very well versed with. So, if anything is amiss in an institution where they serve at the top, and that is big enough to come to their notice, they have the clout and the wisdom to haul up people and set things right. The government, I think, gives a lot of value to the opinions and views of retired supreme court judges.
It is very satisfying and reassuring for me to see that the key Sathya Sai institutions have such eminent and wise people like retired supreme court judges in top positions.
BTW Sam Pitroda, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Pitroda, was the chief guest for the convocation of the Sai university this year (held one day prior to Swami's birthday i.e. on 22nd Nov.). The wiki states that Pitroda is adviser to the Prime Minister of India on public information infrastructure and innovations and the chairman of National Innovation Council. He does not seem to be a Sai devotee - perhaps he was attracted by the educational model of the Sai university. Here's a report of the convocation which has Sam Pitroda's picture at the convocation towards the bottom of the report, http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2013/11/32nd-annual-convocation-of-sssihl/. And here's The Hindu report on the convocation.
The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust also released its annual report, http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/Pdf/Annual%20Report%20_SSSCT%202012-13.pdf (Note the pdf file is around 12 MB and so the download may take some time).
So around two and a half years after Swami's Mahasamadhi, I think the transition to a stable post-Mahasamadhi phase has been achieved. Govt. recognition, retired supreme court judges taking up key positions (after Swami's Mahasamadhi), annual financial reports being made available for free download, decent media reports on Sai institution events ... The chaotic months with attendant scary media coverage and government oversight/inquiry that followed the Mahasamadhi are a distant memory now! Not that the institutions may not face challenges now and then - that perhaps would happen to any institution. But now the institutions have shown the ability to run in the absence of Swami's physical form. (Of course, Swami's Grace is beyond His physical form and that is the vital factor for the running of the institutions).
IMHO, now the Puttaparthi setup is a shining beacon of loving service to fellow human beings in a modern setup involving sophisticated medical care, education, some village service as well as loving adoration of God through means like bhajan, chanting, satsang and reading scripture and Sai literature.
Here's a Telugu news video clip of it, 0 min: 55 secs.
Here's a pic of the stamp, and here's a pic of the "First day cover".
https://postalinspectors.blogspot.com/2013/11/commemorative-postage-stamp-on-sathya.html gives a pic of the release itself. I have copy-pasted the accompanying text below:
Sri Sathya Sai Baba (born as Sathyanarayana Raju; 23 November 1926 – death 24 April 2011) was a highly revered spiritual leader and world teacher, whose life and message are inspiring millions of people throughout the world. He claimed to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi. The Sathya Sai Organisation, founded by Sathya Sai Baba "to enable its members to undertake service activities as a means to spiritual advancement" has over 1,200 Sathya Sai Centers in more than 100 countries. Through this organisation, Sathya Sai Baba established a network of free hospitals, clinics, drinking water projects and schools. Sathya Sai's devotees are spread across the world.
Union Minister of State for Communication & Information Technology (IT) Killi Krupa Rani released a commemorative stamp on Sathya Sai Baba on the occasion of his 88th birth anniversary celebrations held at Puttaparthi (Anantapur district) on 23rd November 2013.
--- end extract ---
I think the crux is the platform created worldwide for persons who want to "undertake service activities as a means to spiritual advancement" and are comfortable with teachings of Sathya Sai Baba whose essence perhaps can be captured as the eternal (Sanathana) values of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema. The platform is stable and has leading lights like retired supreme court judges as trustees (http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/97_apmisra.htm - Justice Misra is seen with Dr. Kruparani, MoS, in the pic mentioned above, of the stamp release) or holding top positions like Chancellor of the Sai university (Justice Venkatachaliah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manepalli_Narayana_Rao_Venkatachaliah). [After Swami's Mahasamadhi former Supreme Court Judge P.N. Bhagwati, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._N._Bhagwati, was appointed the Sai university Chancellor but he perhaps faced some health issues and so was not seen at important events like the convocation.]
Over the past couple of years as I have been doing rather intensive reading of major events in India (and abroad) I have come to understand the value that a retired supreme court judge can bring to institutional governance at the very top levels. The honourable supreme court judges must be having tremendous experience of dealing with disputes of various kinds some of which involve the high and mighty of the land (both at supreme court level and lower courts). I guess almost any dispute under the sun could come up to the Supreme court (and lower courts) - corruption, murder, constitutional impropriety, divorce, sexual molestation, tax matters etc.! I think such experience would be making them very wise about human beings and institutions. Further, accountability is something they would be very well versed with. So, if anything is amiss in an institution where they serve at the top, and that is big enough to come to their notice, they have the clout and the wisdom to haul up people and set things right. The government, I think, gives a lot of value to the opinions and views of retired supreme court judges.
It is very satisfying and reassuring for me to see that the key Sathya Sai institutions have such eminent and wise people like retired supreme court judges in top positions.
BTW Sam Pitroda, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Pitroda, was the chief guest for the convocation of the Sai university this year (held one day prior to Swami's birthday i.e. on 22nd Nov.). The wiki states that Pitroda is adviser to the Prime Minister of India on public information infrastructure and innovations and the chairman of National Innovation Council. He does not seem to be a Sai devotee - perhaps he was attracted by the educational model of the Sai university. Here's a report of the convocation which has Sam Pitroda's picture at the convocation towards the bottom of the report, http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2013/11/32nd-annual-convocation-of-sssihl/. And here's The Hindu report on the convocation.
The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust also released its annual report, http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/Pdf/Annual%20Report%20_SSSCT%202012-13.pdf (Note the pdf file is around 12 MB and so the download may take some time).
So around two and a half years after Swami's Mahasamadhi, I think the transition to a stable post-Mahasamadhi phase has been achieved. Govt. recognition, retired supreme court judges taking up key positions (after Swami's Mahasamadhi), annual financial reports being made available for free download, decent media reports on Sai institution events ... The chaotic months with attendant scary media coverage and government oversight/inquiry that followed the Mahasamadhi are a distant memory now! Not that the institutions may not face challenges now and then - that perhaps would happen to any institution. But now the institutions have shown the ability to run in the absence of Swami's physical form. (Of course, Swami's Grace is beyond His physical form and that is the vital factor for the running of the institutions).
IMHO, now the Puttaparthi setup is a shining beacon of loving service to fellow human beings in a modern setup involving sophisticated medical care, education, some village service as well as loving adoration of God through means like bhajan, chanting, satsang and reading scripture and Sai literature.
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