All well with this world

[Guest guest]

All well with this world

N. Bhanutej

 

Traversing rocky mountains and never-ending plains to

reach Puttaparthi, one does not expect gigantic film

set-like buildings in this back of beyond. Bordering

on the gaudy, the buildings—the hospital, the music

academy, the university, etc.—painted mostly in pink,

have a stamp of Sathya Sai institutions on them. Even

the police station and the bus stand have temple

architecture.

 

Puttaparthi's economy is booming. Crises like drought

or stock melt-downs don't seem to affect this

over-grown village. Puttaparthi comes to a halt only

when Baba moves to his ashram in Bangalore.

 

Every business establishment here displays a picture

of Baba prominently. Every establishment has 'Sai' in

its name. Even to get a waiter's attention in a

restaurant, one has to shout 'Sai Ram'. Beggars on the

street call out 'Sai Ram' to passers-by.

 

On the main streets, there is a significant number of

foreigners. The economy revolves around these

dollar-rich visitors. There are also several

Kashmiris, who sell carpets and other handicrafts to

foreigners.

 

Some shops exclusively sell pictures of Sai Baba. Said

one shopkeeper: " Ash could start falling from one of

these pictures if you are lucky. "

 

Puttaparthi is completely vegetarian. Though not

official, there is a ban on liquor. Young boys in

white are a common sight here. They are students of

one of the many colleges run by the Sathya Sai Central

Trust. When asked what he wanted to become, a boy, who

is doing B.Com., said: " I want to do MBA from our

institution. Swami will guide me on what to become. "

 

Would he join a new-age company as an executive? " I am

blessed if Swami asks me to manage one of his

institutions, " he replied. Students of institutions

managed by the trust are forbidden from speaking to

the media, he said.