A

Life in
Se|vice

The Silver Tsunami

by bhuvana santhanam
 T
he famous poet Khalil Gibran said, I slept
and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke, and I
saw that life is all service. I served, and I saw
that service is joy! The only thought which comes
to my mind, as I read and re-read this quote - how
fortunate are we all to be playing a squirrels role
in the Grand Mission of the Avatar of Bhagawan Sri
Sathya Sai Baba! And almost instantly, probably the
only face which seems to appear in front of my
eyes is that of a person, who dedicated his life and
himself, along with his devout wife, at the Lotus
Feet of Bhagawan. Sri Indulal Shah, the grandsire of
the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations!

I have been truly blessed and touched by his

association for almost a year now. Exactly one year,
but the learning and the precious moments spent
with him, will be etched in my memory, forever.
Today, as I look back at the year gone by, it seems
like I knew him forever! To me, Selfless service is
the one prime take-away, amongst scores of others,
of course.

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 W
hen Bhagawan commanded me to write
the biography of Sri Indulal ji and late
Smt Sarla ma, sometime in January 2015,
in the form of a coffee table book, it was a moment
of mixed emotions. Yes, indeed a moment to cherish
as the Lord Himself wanted a book to be written
about His greatest devotee. But, at the same
time, it was also a moment of self-enquiry, Will I be
able to do justice, even remotely, to embark on this
attempt? As a Sai student, I had always admired A
and observed Sri Indulal ji and his relationship Life in
with Swami, with respectful awe, for more than Se|vice
two decades. So, this question bothered me; but
Thus spake Sai, and Thy will be done! Bhagawan
christened the book, A Life in Service Indulal Shah
and Sarla Shah.

I made a trip to Mumbai almost immediately to meet

him at Sai Darsan, the Shah household in Khar, named Indulal Shah Sa|la Shah
by Bhagawan Himself. That first meeting struck a
chord somewhere, deep within. It was a moment of a

personal triumph, as I finally got to sit down with

the man, face-to-face. I had always admired his
courage, which was infused with only one thought,
What next can we do for Swami, which can help
further His mission? One does get to hear some of
the inside stories while at Prasanthi Nilayam!

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 As I dug deep inside the World of Indulal Shah, it was
like an ocean. I certainly couldnt fathom the depth, for
it seemed almost like a endless bedrock! Many of us call
ourselves devotees of Bhagawan for many decades,
but do we know who was behind the inception of the
Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, way back in 1965?
Or rather, who prayerfully insisted to Swami that a
structured Seva Organisation should commence? Do

I
we know who was entrusted with the responsibility,
sat down, and nervousness overcame the
by Bhagawan Himself, of giving a real shape to the Sai
best of me. And why not? It was The Indulal
Organisation? Do we know who was the first Chairman
Shah. When I told him about the book, almost
of the First World Council of the Sai Organisation?
instantly he said, A book on me, but why? What
have I done to deserve it? And I thought to myself,
Ah ha, this was going to be an interesting journey!
No doubt, it has been! He made me feel at home in
a moment, and exuded much warmth and kindness.
I thought to myself, Does working with, and for
God, transform a person this way? Then, probably
I was in right company. I knew straightaway that
powerful lessons and words of wisdom, almost like
a crash course, were on their way.

His frail health and age was no bar to his clarity

in thinking, when he would sit down to reminisce
wonderful instances and experiences with
Bhagawan. It certainly did amaze me! It seemed
like a silver tsunami, as the grey haired man would
first think hard about a particular incident, remind
his daughter Darshana or son-in-law Atul, and then
it would rush like a wave train. Age does naturally
slow down much of our internal processes, but it
makes me wonder where will we be, when we reach
his age (wellwould we ever reach his age)!

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 D
o we know who was the towering pillar
of strength behind Smt Sarla, the driving
force behind the Bal Vikas movement? Do
we know who was responsible for furthering EHV or
Education in Human Values? Do we know, in Swamis
words from the July 2003 Guru Purnima discourse
- who was responsible for the construction of
Dharmakshetra in Mumbai?

Do we know how was given the responsibility

by Bhagawan to execute from start to finish,
the Sanathana Samskruti Museum or the Eternal
Heritage Museum at Prasanthi Nilayam? Do we know
who conceptualised and executed the Chaitanya
Jyothi Museum in Prasanthi Nilayam?

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 D
o we know who traveled around the
world, unmindful of his health and other
discomforts, only to motivate fellow Sai
brothers and sisters to further the mission of the
Avatar, and to strengthen the Sai Organisation? Do
we know who guided and coached devotees from
around the world, and helped them set up Sai centers
in their respective countries, the primary reason for
the noticeable expansion of the Organisation?

The questions are actually endlessbut there is only

answer, simple and straight forward - Sri Indulal
Shah!

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 An official meeting in progress with the Lord
Sri Indulal ji and Col Joga Rao.

S
o, the next time we see the blue or yellow
Seva dal scarf in any part of the world, or are
being served by the dedicated and disciplined
group of Seva dal volunteers, let us remember that
we have a great debt to pay to the vision and the
relentless dedication and sacrifice of one man, Sri
Indulal Shah, who built the Sai Organisation that is
today, the backbone of the Sai mission!

The next time we go to drop off our child at a

Bal Vikas class at the nearby samithi, with the
satisfaction that the child has a great platform to
be groomed in human values and Indian culture, let
us remember it was the initiative and hard work of
Sarla ma, that is moulding the future of the nation
by imparting value based lessons to these children.

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 T
he next time we walk into the magnificent
edifice of the Chaitanya Jyoti museum at
Prasanthi Nilayam, which has captured the
life and teaching of the Sai avatar for posterity,
and to remind future generations of the time when
the Lord walked amidst us and the transformation
He brought forth, let us remember the selfless
character of Indulal ji, through whose efforts, the
project came to fruition.

And endless reasons to remember the sacrifice, and

a life in service!

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 I
spent many wonderful, precious days, simply
soaking in everything like a sponge. We would
crack up so much sometimes, tears of joy would
flow down his cheeks. This was a man who ONLY
lived as Swami often says, Jesus First; Others Next,
Yourself Last! He always said, All good work is Gods
work. When it comes to doing any good work, never
rest! Rest will lead to rust! I would look at him, and
say to myself that this learning was going to take
me far! Truly, as Swami has always said, the purpose
of all that we do is self-transformation. And, with
utmost certainty, I can say, this journey has indeed
sanctified me with a renewed vigour to serve, and
only SERVE!

A few days ago, while sitting with him, he fondly

told me, You better come and sit with me in the
coming weeks. I have to tell you how you can serve
and utilise yourself in a better way, doing Gods
work! And I eagerly wait to begin yet another
crash course!

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 O
n January 1, 2016, it was absolutely
endearing to see Sri Indulal ji on stage at
the magnificent auditorium, Sri Sathya Sai
Premamrutham in Muddenahalli, persuading us to
do, or rather be, for what we are truly born! With
the same spirit of love and service, he gave his New
Year message to one and all gathered. He spoke quite
emphatically into the mic and echoed Bhagawans
timeless message, Love All. Serve All.

Much of mental fortitude simply comes with

attitude! Having crossed and seen insurmountable
odds and challenges in his life, while at the helm of
the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Sri Indulal jis
philosophy at the end of it all, a result of his single-
minded focus on service, has been quite simple.
Devoted tenacity, dotted with determination, to
feed the rash hunger of we must constantly do
something to improve the lives of others! At this
age of 95, everytime I meet him, and ask if he
needed anything, his only answer is, Give me some
work that I can do for Swami!

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W
hile in youth he served with his tana
(body), now he serves with his mana
(mind), said Swami recently. Like
parents, like children, an ideal family indeed! Swami
Himself puts it so lovingly, If I ask Indulal what do
you want, pat comes the reply, Swami, what do you
want from me?

Wish we could ask this, and this alone to Swami,

every single time! A warm divine smile, so childlike,
innocent and pure, plays upon his lips. And there is
a sparkle in his tender eyes, reflecting the Lord who
resides in his heart, and reminding us of divinity,
that is born out of purity!

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