Water, the Elixir of Life

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Monday, December 8, 2003

Source: http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/07Dec01/02_COVER_STORY/mainstory.htm

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WATER, THE ELIXIR OF LIFE

>From My earliest years, I have been concerned about providing three primary

requisites for our people. Free education, free medical aid, and free basic

amenities like drinking water. Education is for the head; medical care is for

the heart; and pure water is for the body. These three cover the main

requirements of life. To provide these three gives one the greatest

gratification.

- Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Eighty percent of the human body is nothing but water. A human being can survive

without food for many days but without water, no one can survive for more than a

few hours. Water is one of the greatest gifts of God, given by Him out of

compassion not merely for mankind but to all beings. God not only created water

but also set up an elaborate system to bring throughout the year, trillions of

tons of water from the sea to inland areas. As if this was not enough, He

created lakes for storing water, and rivers for transporting it. In addition,

He has arranged also for underground storage, including in huge aquifers.

Man hardly bothers to appreciate all this. Even if he does appreciate the

physical nuances of the water cycle, he is not prepared to see the Divine Hand

behind. Instead, driven by greed and selfishness, he constantly misuses and

mismanages the Divine gift called water. Thus, many regions of the earth are

parched and dry, though they do not have to be so.

The western part of peninsular India receives heavy rains during the monsoon

season but vast tracts of land in the rain shadow region regularly suffer from

water shortage. During some years, the water shortage escalates into a

heart-rending drought. Foremost among the drought-prone districts of South

India are Bellary, Anantapur, Cuddapah, and Kurnool. Because they are also

economically backward, they are known as backward districts. Swami jocularly

says that 'back' in backward means Bellary, Anantapur, Cuddapah, and Kurnool!

This drought-prone region is collectively known as Rayalaseema. People here

depend almost

entirely on well water. Unfortunately, there is a serious problem with the

ground water [if it is available!] - it has too much fluoride. This causes

serious physical disabilities, like bone deformation, for example. [in the

state of West Bengal and in neighbouring Bangladesh, the ground water is

heavily contaminated with arsenic; over a million people have been affected by

this problem.] For over a hundred years, right from the British days, the

people of the Rayalaseema region have been clamouring for drinking water but

their plea always fell on deaf ears. Even in Independent India, this remained

the situation for nearly half a century, until Baba stepped in.

It all happened this way: On the morning of 22nd November, 1994, there was a

special function in the Poornachandra Auditorium to honour the distinguished

surgeon Dr. Venugopal, who, besides winning many laurels for his surgical

achievements, had helped the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical

Sciences [super Speciality Hospital in Puttaparthi] in numerous ways. He it was

who had performed the first cardiac surgery there on the day of its inauguration

on 22nd November, 1991. Present in the Poornachandra Auditorium was Mr.

P.V.Narasimha Rao, the then Prime Minister of India, who, incidentally, had

inaugurated the Super Speciality Hospital three years earlier. In His Divine

Discourse, Swami made a direct reference to the perennial drinking water

problem in Rayalaseema. No one knew at that time that this would mark the

beginning of a new mega project of stunning proportions. Swami threw a direct

challenge to the Indian Government to do something about the drinking

water problem, offering all possible help from His side, if the Government

embarked on such a project.

I wish to draw the attention of the Prime Minister to the age-old drinking water

problem that is affecting most parts of Rayalaseema, especially the remote

villages, where people have to walk several miles to get a pot of drinking

water. This needs immediate reversal. Rivers are gifts of God. In rivers like

the Krishna and the Godavari, a lot of water is allowed to flow into the sea.

There is no point in every State claiming rights over the river waters and

quarrelling with each other over riparian rights. The waters of the Krishna and

the Tungabhadra rivers can be harnessed to supply much-needed water to

Rayalaseema. If there is constraint of finance, Swami is ready to help, in

fulfilling this dire need of the Rayalaseema people.

Mountains may move easily but Governments do not. Swami was well aware of this

but for His own reasons He chose to first remind the Government of its

obligations. A few months passed, and nothing happened from the Government's

side - no surprise in that. Baba then quietly told the Sri Sathya Sai Central

Trust, "Let us do the project;" and then set what seemed an impossible

timetable. The Trust Members were all stunned. They wondered: "It is one thing

to build a hospital, or even an airport. But to provide drinking water to the

entire District of Anantapur with a population of over a million and having so

many hundreds of villages scattered over hundreds of square kilometres? And

that too in such a short time? Where was the money for all this? Where was the

manpower, expertise, …, etc.?" This is the way humans tend to look at issues

and problems. With Bhagavan, it is quite different. He simply said, "Where

there is a will, there is a way. Haven't you heard that

faith can move mountains? I will demonstrate that good work combined with Total

Purity would always find fruition. "

Plans immediately began to be drawn, and miraculously, things started rolling.

The devotees were all amazed but there was no shortage of sceptics. In the

Government, it takes years to consider taking up a project, more years to study

it, still more years to plan it, then more years to find funds, and dozens of

years for execution. So, how is Baba going to do such a giant project and that

too in such a short time, as He had promised?

It was the 9th of July 1995, and the Gurupoornima festival was being celebrated

in the Sai Kulwant Hall in Prasanti Nilayam. Barely a few months had passed

after all the Poornachandra Hall function just described and already, a

function was being held to mark the token beginning of the supply of drinking

water to the people of Rayalaseema. Fluoride-free drinking water was being

provided to the neighbouring village of Bukkapatnam, and Baba was to remotely

inaugurate the water supply from the Sai Kulwant Hall, using the instruments of

modern telecommunications. After the usual speech making by the concerned

officials, Swami pressed a button. By remote control, the pump in Bukkapatnam

started working and drinking water began to flow out of a tap there. A

microphone placed near the spot picked up the loud cheers of the villagers

present, and soon village elders spoke words of thanks into the microphone. All

this was heard by the thousands assembled in the Divine presence

in Prasanti Nilayam. One of those who spoke on that occasion was Mr. Kondal Rao,

then Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and

Technical Advisor for the Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Project. Mr. Rao

informed devotees that all this was just a curtain raiser, and great things

would follow soon. Legend has it that Lord Siva sent down the Ganges in

response to the prayers of Bhageeratha. Now in the Twentieth Century, one was

witnessing such a miracle happen right before one's eyes. The people of

Rayalaseema were all the time praying to the Government but nothing happened.

God heard the prayers and decided to answer them, though they were not

addressed

to Him.

The tempo now quickened and things happened with amazing rapidity, with Swami

taking direct charge and monitoring progress literally on a day-to-day basis.

The going was not always smooth. Many devotees wondered why this was so. Was

not God in charge? Yes He was, and if He so willed things could have happened

with a mere wave of His hand. But this was not the way He wanted things done.

The project was being done partly to teach man many lessons. One lesson of

course is that man must do his best to help others. Another lesson is that he

must not mind obstacles that come on the way, but march resolutely forward

towards the goal. The impossible becomes possible if one has firm

determination.

For a brief period, there was money crunch. He who is known to create gold and

even cash now borrowed money from a bank! All a part of the never-ending Divine

Drama! There were a host of other problems too. But nothing bothered Him. He was

always calm and His usual self - ever a perfect demonstration of equanimity. It

was not so much His management of the difficulties as the magic of His Prema

that amazed everybody. The Government of a State where Marxists were in power,

did not hesitate to waive taxes on pipes and other products procured from their

State. The Railways gave priority in moving various items, especially steel and

cement, to the work spot. So on it went. In between, Swami made several aerial

surveys over the entire District. So considerate was He that He squeezed these

surveys between the morning and evening Darshans, and the devotees in Prasanti

Nilayam never even knew that Baba was out touring

during the day while they were having their siesta. In more ways than one, Swami

showed how projects must be executed, with constant direct personal supervision

from the top, and incessant attention to the minutest of details.

Months quickly rolled by and soon it was November. On 18th November, 1995, there

was a meeting in the Poornachandra Auditorium. Once again, Mr. P.V.Narasimha

Rao, the Prime Minister of India was present. And he was going to inaugurate

the Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Project! Exactly one year earlier, he had

been asked in this very hall to do something, and now, not only had he been

spared the chore but actually asked to cut the ribbon so to say, and make a

speech in the usual manner! Mr. Rao was naturally stunned and totally

overwhelmed. He said that 'Anantapur' had become 'Anandapur' or a 'city of

bliss'. Most appropriately,

he quoted from the Bhagawatham that describes the story of Krishna. One day when

Krishna was a small boy, His foster mother Yasodha was told that Krishna had

been eating mud. Yasodha ran to Krishna and asked Him, "Krishna did You eat

mud?" Krishna just smiled, rolled His beautiful eyes, and shook His head to

signal no. Not believing what Krishna was saying, Yasodha asked Him to open His

mouth. He did, and what did she see? The whole Universe, including herself

looking into the mouth of Krishna! Yasodha then exclaimed, "Is this an illusion

that I am seeing or a part of the Lord's mysterious Creation?" The once remote

hamlet of Puttaparthi already had a number of things to boast of - several

schools, a Bus Stand, a University, a Stadium, a Planetarium, an Airport, and a

couple of Hospitals, including a Super Speciality Hospital. No village in India,

especially one located in a dry and backward District, could claim even a

fraction of what Puttaparthi had.

What was more significant, both education and medical treatment were available

completely free to all that came, irrespective of caste, creed, and status in

life. As if all this was not enough, Swami had provided pure drinking water to

almost an entire district! No wonder the Prime Minister had to dip into His

Story itself, for the right words for the occasion. In His Divine Discourse

delivered on the occasion, Swami mentioned that though the Project had been

completed in a substantial measure [within the incredibly short period of just

one year], there were many things that had to be wrapped up. He assured the

people that all these would be attended to shortly :

All the natural resources of the country must be enjoyed equally by all the

people, regardless of caste or community. There are many rivers in the country

that flow across State boundaries. Bharat is not lacking in water or other

resources. We have perennial rives and vast areas of fertile land. But these

resources are not being fully used. The Nation's great rivers like Kaveri,

Ganga, and Krishna should be treated as National property. There will then be

no room for inter-State disputes. The waters of all rivers should be used for

the benefit of all people. It is because of lack of unity and the assertion of

separatist claims, that a lot of the river water is going waste. If if the

Prime Minister endeavours to promote a national approach to the harnessing of

river waters, the Nation will prosper. The States too are prone to promote

their claims over that of others. They all should adopt a co-operative and

fraternal attitude towards each other

and behave as good neighbours. If this is done, there will be no shortage of

food or water in the country. People should develop this co-operative attitude.

……

With regard to the water project, it should be noted that much was accomplished

in a short period. In the execution of the project, changes had to be made in

response to the appeals of people in different villages. Because of this, the

entire project has not yet been completed. Some villages are yet to get water.

This should not cause disappointment. Whatever may happen, all villages will

get water and the project would be fully carried out !

Such was the uniqueness of the Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Project, that the

then President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, an ardent devotee of Baba,

also wanted, in some manner, to be associated with the inauguration ceremonies.

And so, on Swami's Birthday that followed a few days later, the President

symbolically signalled the achievements of the Water Project by opening a tap

[specially set up on the stage in the Hill View Stadium], and collecting the

water that flowed out. The Lord had granted water, even without the people

praying for it directly to Him.

Meanwhile, seeing the miracle, many villages and even towns that originally had

not been included in the scope of the Project began to clamour for Sai Water!

Swami never says no, and all these late entrants also were duly accommodated.

At last, safe and assured supply of drinking water was no longer a mirage or a

dream for over seven hundred parched villages [and a few towns as well] that

had suffered for over a century. The statistics of the Project are most

impressive. For example, the record books said that the Sri Sathya Sai Drinking

Water Project was the largest social benefit project undertaken anywhere in the

world by a private charitable organisation. However, records are no so

important as Baba's Love. It is His Love from which the Project was born, and

it is His Love again that saw the project to its completion. His Love came to

hundreds of thousands in life-giving liquid form. And it was available to one

all without distinction, including those who had

never seen Him.

Swami's attention to details is legendary. The question arose: "After the

Project is completed, who would operate and maintain this large system?" Swami

was quite clear about what had to be done in this respect. He said, "The

Central Trust will operate the Project and maintain it for about a year or a

little more, till things settle down completely. After that, the entire water

works would be handed over to the people of the State. In between, people who

were to take over would be trained properly."

October, 1997. After a break of a few years, Swami had arranged for the

performance of a Yagna [a holy Vedic ritual] in the Poornachandra Hall, at the

time of the Navarathri Festival. On 11th October the concluding day, after the

religious ceremonies were over, a special function was arranged in the Sai

Kulwant Hall, to mark the formal transfer of the Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water

Supply System, to the people of Andhra Pradesh. The person receiving on behalf

of the people was the Chief Minister of the State, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu.

The function was simple. The speeches were few but the praise for Baba was

lavish - naturally. There was also an expression of deep-felt gratitude, and

the water works now formally became a property of the people. In His Discourse,

Swami said: "You all are praising Me, but what have I done? Whose money has been

spent? Who has given the money for the project? It is all people's money.

People's money has been spent for people's welfare. What is there in My hands?"

At this point, Bhagavan raised His hands high and showed they were empty. Then

He softly whispered, "Everything is in these hands!"

The curtain had come down on the historic Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Project,

or so people thought. Not quite, for it set a new and continuing trend. People

now began to realise that providing drinking water is an essential social

service. Spurred by Baba's inspiring example, many began to organise efforts on

scales affordable by them. For example, one devotee hailing from Chittoor

District started mobilising people in various villages to tackle the problem

there. Another devotee spearheaded a similar drive in Kolar District in the

State of Karnataka [Kolar is close to Whitefield]. There are many other such

local efforts. One presumes that in the years to come, such schemes would

multiply both in number and in magnitude.

Meanwhile, Baba has mounted a major thrust in the northern Districts of Andhra

Pradesh, particularly Medak and Mahboobnagar, Phase II, one might say.

The Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Project must be viewed in its entirety and not

merely in terms of statistics, impressive as they are. It is not merely an

illustration of how the drinking water problem, present in many parts of the

world, must be addressed. Nor is it just an example of how projects must be

boldly pushed with dynamism and energy. There are a number of things the

project represents. Above all, it is a touching symbol of God's Love for His

children. Equally, it is a stirring lesson for man how not to run away from

society's problems but face them squarely and head-on. As Swami often says,

"Good work is always God's work." If man takes a small step in doing good to

his fellow beings, then God will shower His Grace and magnify that small step

into a giant leap. All it takes for man is firm faith in God, strong

determination, and one small step of Pure Love.

The Sai water projects constitute a major milestone in the history of the Sai

Avatar. While Divinity is the common aspect of all the Avatars, each

Incarnation is unique in its own respect. Where the Sathya Sai Avatar is

concerned, Selfless Service to humanity at large, born of Infinite Love and

Infinite Compassion are the unmatched Hallmarks. Swami constantly tells us:

"Love All, Serve All". He is doing precisely that all the time, and every

second of His life is His Message.

 

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