Should Satyajit Salian have opened up on Narasimhamurthy and Madhusudhan Naidu, 5 months after the events instead of 50 months after the events?
In a recent Facebook post (Oct. 3, 2015), https://www.facebook.com/notes/vr-ganti/bnnms-offer-to-satyajit-video-clip-available-so-what-can-mhalli-be-stopped/10205272086266347, Mr. Vr Ganti writes, "The point to be noted is – what are we going to achieve by people like Satyajit opening up now after as many as 50 months from the time the events have taken place."
Ravi: My view is that one may feel today, that it would have been wonderful if Satyajit had said these words PUBLICLY 5 months after the events instead of around 50 months after the events. But those days, especially second half of 2011 and good part of 2012, were DARK DAYS INDEED for us in Puttaparthi. There was genuine concern that the govt. might take over Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSSCT).
Given the chaos that we saw later in Andhra Pradesh govt. & political sphere, I think we were and are far better off with SSSCT managing affairs than the government. Some details about AP govt. & political sphere matters after April 2011:
a) Telangana separation movement which created a lot of social unrest both in Telangana region as well as other parts of Andhra Pradesh including Rayalaseema (where Puttaparthi falls): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telangana_movement. The movement peak phase may be considered to be from 6th Jan. 2011 when Justice Srikrishna committee report was made public (most of it rather) to 18th to 20th February 2014 when the Bill for creation of Telangana was passed in both houses of the Indian Parliament. Telangana state was officially created on 2nd June 2014 leaving the residual part of erstwhile unified Andhra Pradesh as the (new) Andhra Pradesh.
b) Horrifying way in which separation legislation was passed in the lower house of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha), with pepper spray being used in Lok Sabha by a member of parliament from Andhra Pradesh to register his protest: "Telangana bill: Pepper spray in Parliament leaves Indian democracy in tears", http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Telangana-bill-Pepper-spray-in-Parliament-leaves-Indian-democracy-in-tears/articleshow/30358994.cms, dated 14th Feb. 2014
c) Financial CRISIS in residual Andhra Pradesh state: "AP’s financial position remains precarious post bifurcation", http://www.cmie.com/kommon/bin/sr.php?kall=wclrdhtm&nvdt=20150604194633186&nvpc=099000000000&nvtype=INSIGHTS, dated 4th June 2015
Govt. takeover of Prasanthi Nilayam ashram system may have been seen then (months following April 2011), like green grass on the other side of the fence to some, but I am convinced that if govt. had taken over then (in months following April 2011), Prasanthi Nilayam ashram would have gone from the frying pan RIGHT INTO THE FIRE!!! Even today, in my considered view, govt. takeover will be very negative for Prasanthi Nilayam ashram system.
It is my considered view, as a person who has been living in Puttaparthi from Oct. 2002 onwards (and was with the Sai university, Prasanthi Nilayam (Puttaparthi) campus as a teacher from Jan. 2003 to Mar. 2012), that, overall, the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSSCT) as well as Puttaparthi residents both inside and outside the ashram, did a wonderful job in slowly and steadily stabilizing Puttaparthi after the GREAT TRAUMA of the immediate post-Mahasamadhi period. The power vacuum and the spiritual vacuum in the immediate post-Mahasamadhi period in Puttaparthi was very great. I reiterate my earlier mentioned (on social media including this blog) genuine and sincere appreciation for SSSCT and other Prasanthi Nilayam ashram top management in showing leadership & resolve in helping both the ashram township and the outside ashram Puttaparthi town to recover.
Brother Satyajit Salian opening up on this matter over four years after the main events he narrated should be seen in this context. In all probability, he would have taken the advise and permission from ashram top leadership before he decided to go public on this matter. That too should be understood in the context of him seeking guidance from elders of the ashram regarding concerns about disturbance it will create in the Sathya Sai fraternity.
Ravi: My view is that one may feel today, that it would have been wonderful if Satyajit had said these words PUBLICLY 5 months after the events instead of around 50 months after the events. But those days, especially second half of 2011 and good part of 2012, were DARK DAYS INDEED for us in Puttaparthi. There was genuine concern that the govt. might take over Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSSCT).
Given the chaos that we saw later in Andhra Pradesh govt. & political sphere, I think we were and are far better off with SSSCT managing affairs than the government. Some details about AP govt. & political sphere matters after April 2011:
a) Telangana separation movement which created a lot of social unrest both in Telangana region as well as other parts of Andhra Pradesh including Rayalaseema (where Puttaparthi falls): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telangana_movement. The movement peak phase may be considered to be from 6th Jan. 2011 when Justice Srikrishna committee report was made public (most of it rather) to 18th to 20th February 2014 when the Bill for creation of Telangana was passed in both houses of the Indian Parliament. Telangana state was officially created on 2nd June 2014 leaving the residual part of erstwhile unified Andhra Pradesh as the (new) Andhra Pradesh.
b) Horrifying way in which separation legislation was passed in the lower house of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha), with pepper spray being used in Lok Sabha by a member of parliament from Andhra Pradesh to register his protest: "Telangana bill: Pepper spray in Parliament leaves Indian democracy in tears", http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Telangana-bill-Pepper-spray-in-Parliament-leaves-Indian-democracy-in-tears/articleshow/30358994.cms, dated 14th Feb. 2014
c) Financial CRISIS in residual Andhra Pradesh state: "AP’s financial position remains precarious post bifurcation", http://www.cmie.com/kommon/bin/sr.php?kall=wclrdhtm&nvdt=20150604194633186&nvpc=099000000000&nvtype=INSIGHTS, dated 4th June 2015
Govt. takeover of Prasanthi Nilayam ashram system may have been seen then (months following April 2011), like green grass on the other side of the fence to some, but I am convinced that if govt. had taken over then (in months following April 2011), Prasanthi Nilayam ashram would have gone from the frying pan RIGHT INTO THE FIRE!!! Even today, in my considered view, govt. takeover will be very negative for Prasanthi Nilayam ashram system.
It is my considered view, as a person who has been living in Puttaparthi from Oct. 2002 onwards (and was with the Sai university, Prasanthi Nilayam (Puttaparthi) campus as a teacher from Jan. 2003 to Mar. 2012), that, overall, the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSSCT) as well as Puttaparthi residents both inside and outside the ashram, did a wonderful job in slowly and steadily stabilizing Puttaparthi after the GREAT TRAUMA of the immediate post-Mahasamadhi period. The power vacuum and the spiritual vacuum in the immediate post-Mahasamadhi period in Puttaparthi was very great. I reiterate my earlier mentioned (on social media including this blog) genuine and sincere appreciation for SSSCT and other Prasanthi Nilayam ashram top management in showing leadership & resolve in helping both the ashram township and the outside ashram Puttaparthi town to recover.
Brother Satyajit Salian opening up on this matter over four years after the main events he narrated should be seen in this context. In all probability, he would have taken the advise and permission from ashram top leadership before he decided to go public on this matter. That too should be understood in the context of him seeking guidance from elders of the ashram regarding concerns about disturbance it will create in the Sathya Sai fraternity.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the inappropriate behaviour towards your relative who had a knee surgery. India does have VIP culture and the West is far, far more democratic and equal (though not fully equal) than India.
DeleteYou are right. Thanks for your concern but I feel that such things affect the minds of children not adults. I mean my parents might not have felt so bad but I felt bad for both my mothers. Sai Ram...
ReplyDelete