Bhagawan Writes from Africa

Camp: Kampala

East Africa 

Child! Blessings to you. While thousands and thousands of bhaktas were raising cries of ‘Jai Jai’, we left Bombay on the 30th by ‘Garudavahana’ and reached Nairobi at 12 noon. As the plane was landing, cries of “Jai Jai to Bhagawan”, “Jai Jai to Sathya Sai Baba”, etc. rent the skies. In the meantime, a beautiful car decorated with flowers as a palanquin came very near the plane and I got into it. From there the vehicle moved in a big procession with bugles, music bands and dances with thousands and thousands of people on either side of the road presenting arthis and showering flowers. Such scenes offered a feast to the eyes and pleasure to the mind. While officials were dancing in front of the moving car, it appeared as though Jayadeva and Gouranga were before us. When the highly inspired officers were dancing with joy, it appeared as though even the by—standers were flying above the ground. In this way, we reached an extensive open space where bhaktas assembled in such a number that it was an ocean of humanity, with only their heads rising above water. As our vehicle approached the specially erected platform, the commander-in-chief garlanded me. Afterwards, the high commission, its ministers, the inspector general of police and the high officials followed the commander-in-chief in offering garlands. Subsequently, the ministers began to talk to me. As I started to address the audience, Kasturi was missing. He had to translate my speech into English. He could not be located in the huge ocean of humanity; he was called for on the mike and the police also started the search. Even after an hour’s search, he could not be traced.

Finally, it was found that there was an Air Force Officer there, who knew Tamil and so I started lecturing in Tamil and the Air Force Officer started translating it into English. After a search of two hours by the police, Kasturi and company were located. Being unable to pass through the crowd and being stunned by the devotion and the love of the lakhs and lakhs of people that had assembled there, Kasturi and company, it seems, were standing at some corner shedding tears of joy. Such crowds they had not seen before, no wonder! Even in India such joy and grandeur had not been seen anywhere.

After taking food we reached Kampala in a special plane. There the ‘Jai Jai’ welcome was far more intense that even at Nairobi. Wherever we saw, there were welcome arches. It was a sight to see the police bandobust, with police cars both behind and in front of our car, and the Inspector General of Police’s escorts car sounding the siren in front. That grandeur is not of importance to me, but the joy and happiness of the people moved me considerably. For the next three days consecutively, meetings were held. Again, yesterday, a visit was arranged in a special helicopter to the game park at the distance of 600 miles, where wild life abounds.

There we spent the night in the wooden houses over the trees. In that area, very big lions, tigers, cheetahs, zebras, bisons, giraffes and many other kinds of wild animals were freely moving in thousands. The way in which these various animals were moving about with mutual cooperation and adjustability that appeared to suggest that they were better than the human beings in the present-day world, where humanism and humanness are altogether dying out. The scenes where these animals were mixing together, eating together, drinking together and licking each other with friendly feelings appeared to me to teach a lesson even to human beings.

In all of them, Godliness was clearly visible. Thinking about this strange but holy and wonderful friendship and mutual cooperation, we reached back Kampala. Today, the Lions Club, the Doctors’ Association, the Lawyers’ Association, the Headmasters’ Association, all met together and I presided over the function. It went on very joyfully. After learning the new way of life and the principles of service, they decided to open a Sathya Sai Association (Satsang) which will be the central association for entire Africa. They also decided that Swami should inaugurate the association on the Guru Poornima day and made elaborate arrangements for the whole function to be broadcast through television throughout Africa. Therefore, I had to remain here on the 10th also. There are several other invitations, but for want of time, I cannot oblige them all and consequently, they are feeling dispirited. Bangaru, no one ever imagined that the spreads of Dharma will be done in this way in foreign lands. Even Kasturi, Indulal Shah etc. are getting stunned at this. They are not getting opportunity even to see me. Only at the time of dinner am I able to see them. Please convey this happy news to all My Bhaktas there. I hope to reach India soon. My blessings to your family members.

With blessings, 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba
07.07.68