A Devotee’s Story
At the onset, let me thank our dear beloved Swami for giving me the opportunity to write about such a noble soul as Mr. Sundaram Srinivasan, affectionately known as Srini. It was with great pleasure, with questions planned out and with a tape recorder in hand, that I proceeded to Goldwater hospital in New York to interview Srini. As I walked down the hospital corridor, I could recognize Srini proceeding toward me from the far end. How did I recognize him among so many others, some walking slowly, some in wheelchairs, some in stretchers? Srini’s wheelchair is special. He has flags from all countries plugged prominently at the side of his wheelchair, distinguishing him from all others, and a reflection of his beliefs, his personality, and his inner self—a true devotee of Swami.
Srini welcomed me with a warm gentle smile and ushered me into his office. I had informed him of the purpose of my visit. He slowly got up from his chair and leaning against the table started speaking into the tape recorder, clear in thought, enunciation, and speech! I need not have thought out questions to ask. He spoke so eloquently; with such beautiful expressions. But before I let you read excerpts from his recording, let me introduce you to this fine gentleman.
Srini was born in Bangalore, India, one of nine children and the only one to be affected by childhood polio. His mother, Jayalaxmi, his grandmother Janaki, and all his family members were staunch devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba. “Whenever I was pushed into a corner, there was always a divine power that helped me to overcome difficulties. All over the world there is a loss of human values, and reasoning is taken over by greed. The great scholars taught us the meaning of peace. The great rulers like Ashoka the Great taught us non-violence. Then came the traders and the colonists where power and man were in conflict for superiority. Today there is the silent war of human values where humanity is struggling for survival of existence,” says Srini.
With Baba’s blessings, Srini overcame the physical challenges to pursue a career as a journalist. His goal and dream was to obtain a Masters in Mass Communications from a college in USA. However, he came to USA for a different reason and he has achieved far more than that. How his journey started is a mystery to him, but he is glad that he is serving humanity in the Goldwater Hospital, as Baba would like him to.
In 1975, he joined, the renowned Indian newspaper, Indian Express and covered various topics including health, education, and stories of human interest. He moved to the Sultanate of Oman, Muscat, in 1980.
In 1983, when he was serving in the Persian Gulf, he had a major setback in his life. He came to the United States and the doctors told him that he would have to undergo a [critical] surgery. However, his family advised him to return to India and seek medical help there. After four months he returned to Bombay. The doctors said that they could not help him and that he should return to USA for medical help.
In 1984, along with his brother Srini visited Prasanthi Nilayam. He says, “We didn’t plan that. It just happened.” He had hoped that Swami would give him some relief from pain. However, Swami just gave him a glimpse of darshan [sight of a holy man]; leaving Srini wondering why Swami had not helped him when he had come all the way to seek His help. Little did he know then, what Swami had planned for him.
After his return from Parthi he left for the States. From 1985 through 1989 Srini was having great difficulty in carrying out his daily activities. He was struggling constantly to find a doctor who could provide him some relief. Then the worst happened. He fractured his collarbone and was admitted to the Franklin General Hospital. As he was in a critical state, the doctors did a tracheotomy. After a month he went to his brother’s house, but he had to visit the doctor every two months for check-ups.
On February 13th, 1990, Srini was admitted to the Queens Hospital Intensive Care Unit because his lungs had collapsed. The doctors had given up hope and told his family that his days were numbered. He was told that he would never be able to speak again and that he could not live without a respirator. Srini felt that there was no use living in that condition.
During that time, Srini says, he could see Swami’s smiling face as he saw it in Puttaparthi, saying, ‘Child, don’t worry, I am with you.’ He prayed to Swami to give him the strength. I said “Mother, if you want your child to say your prayers, then give me the strength. Within six months I walked out of that unit and I not only could speak but also could say my prayers.”
Three days before he was discharged, Srini took the decision that he would not go home. Srini says, ‘The experience of my dark days prepared me for a new journey in an unknown world at Goldwater.’ On November 7th 1990, Goldwater Memorial Hospital, a long-term care facility became his home. For the last 17 years, Srini has been an inspiring figure and has touched people from several walks of life giving them hope through the service of love.
“One early morning in February, a Sai devotee came to me in my unit and introduced herself to me and that was the new world for me.” He says, “Swami not only gave me a place to live but also gave me a mission to love and serve others.”
What started as a friendly visit by a Sai devotee has become one of the most important seva [service] projects for many of the devotees in New York City. Who could ever expect Akhanda bhajans [24 hour non-stop bhajan] to be held in a public hospital like Goldwater? Or celebrating festivals like Mahashivaratri? Sai Baba’s birthday is also celebrated very lovingly in the hospital. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Swami has designed this especially for Srini.
Srini says, “My day begins with ‘Sairam’ and ends with ‘Sairam.’ With that I meet all the challenges, comforts, pain, and joy with equanimity. Thus Swami is brought to several people who are not even aware of Him. There are many service activities in NY, but how many of them personally welcome a new patient to the facility or give a birthday card on the special occasion.” He continues, “Life has both a bright and a dark side. Look at the bright side and beyond the darkness at the gift that can be shared and served.”
Now Goldwater Memorial Hospital, which is a long-term Public Health Care facility, has become one of the most sought-after Sai seva project. Members of all the New York Sai centers participate in this seva and look forward to sharing their love with the patients of the hospital. It all began several years ago when a Sai devotee met Srini and enquired about his welfare. When she heard Srini’s life history, she just exclaimed “Sairam!”
~Raji Iyer
New York, USA
