Late Brother Sri Dev Banshlal Ramnauth

[Guest guest]

AUM SAI RAM

 

 

 Dear Sai Family,

 

  

 

  Our beloved brother, Sri Dev Banshlal Ramnauth, who was among the first devotees of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Mauritius, merged with Swami and entered the Kingdom of Supreme Peace on Friday 21 August 2009.

 

  Allow me to share with you an excerpt from 'Sai Baba – The Mauritian Experience' authored by Sri Leckram Gunnasaya in memory of our dear ‘Bhai Dev’ as he is lovingly remembered by the Sai Family in Mauritius and abroad:-

 

“While Pandit Jassodanand was busy spreading the message of Sai Baba another no less enthusiastic and zealous devotee made his entry on the Mauritian scene. Who was this man who was going to give an extraordinary boost to kirtan singing in the country? He was Barlen Parapen whom most devotees preferred to address as Guru. At that time there were but a handful of centres that were affiliated directly to the Central Sai Council in Puttaparthi and were conducting their activities independently of one another. Around 1979, brother Indulal Shah, the International Chairman of the Sai Organisation outside India organized the first Sai Conference at Tulsi Sham Mandir hall in lower Beau Bassin. Delegates from South Africa, Kenya and Zambia attended the conference. At that meeting, the decision to group together the Centres of Mauriritus into what was called a “Coordinating Committee” was taken.  A Chairman had to be chosen between two candidates, Mr Dev Ramnauth and Mr Bala Sunassee. How the choice was made between the two was an innovative approach for those present. The name of each candidate was written on a piece of paper, folded and then placed at the charan of Sai Baba. A child was then asked to pick up one of the papers. When it was unfolded, it was the name of Bala Sunassee that was on it. So, he became the first official chairman of the Organisation.  Messrs Sookdeo Ramchurn and Chacha Lutchmeeparsad Ramful were also present at the meeting.

 

 Though not elected, Dr. Dev Ramnauth, an indefatigable devotee of Swami continued propagating the teachings of Sai Baba by virtue of his function as Lecturer of Philosophy in Education at the MIE, as Advisor in Human Values to the Ministry of Education and also through his numerous writings and lectures across the country in schools, colleges and Sai Centres. His talks on radio, in spite of being short, were no less enlightening. His oratory skills and his versatility helped him express himself with great ease in English, French and Hindi. Through his Mauritius Academy of Education in Human Values, Dr. Dev Ramnauth has had the opportunity of training many teachers and social workers in the task of building a better Mauritian Society in line with the teachings of his guru, Sai Baba.”

 

  

 

At the Lotus Feet of SAI

 

Anita