A TRIBUTE TO COLONEL JOGA RAO

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A TRIBUTE TO COLONEL JOGA RAO

Kudos From Swami

“All of you know him as Colonel Joga Rao, but I know him as Karma Yogi Joga Rao!”

These were the words with which Swami decorated Col. Joga Rao after presenting

him ceremonial kankanams (gold bracelets) and a silver salver, in front of the

vast concourse of devotees assembled in the Hill View stadium to celebrate

Bhagavan’s 65th Birthday celebrations.

Some people live with such courage, verve and an endearing joy of life that it

is an inspiration to all around them. Colonel S.P. Joga Rao was one such

person. His high-spirited personality and openhanded nature endeared him to

everyone. His brilliance, commitment and integrity at work earned him plaudits

from the mighty and the scholarly.

An eminent and vastly experienced engineer, Sri Joga Rao, will best be

remembered for his yeoman contribution to the development of the Prashanti

Nilayam and Brindavan ashram campuses and his close involvement in several of

Bhagavan’s service projects.

He was instrumental in the establishment of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, a

charitable trust under the guidance of Bhagavan, which has executed several

mammoth welfare projects.

 

How Col. Joga Rao Came to Swami

S P Joga Rao enjoyed a successful tenure as Chief Engineer of Hindustan

Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), where he was responsible for much of its construction

and commissioning. He also served in the armed forces where he rose to the rank

of Colonel, and had been posted at many places all over India. Later he started

a Civil Engineering and Consultancy Company along with a host of experts drawn

from various fields of engineering, construction and management which was quite

a successful venture.

But, all this was just a training ground for the stupendous tasks he was to

accomplish under the guidance of the ‘Architect of the Universe’. Destiny was

to crown his life with a long and sweet association with the Lord come in human

form.

The divine call came in 1969. One day, Bhagavan visited the house of Sri

Ramaswamy, a neighbour of Col. Joga Rao who was closely associated with service

activities in Brindavan, Bhagavan’s ashram at Whitefield, Bangalore. Joga Rao,

though a devotee of Lord Krishna from his childhood, had his reservations about

men in ochre robes.

So, although his wife and he received an invitation to Sri Ramaswamy’s house to

have Darshan of Bhagavan he was reluctant to go. He had already been annoyed

when a few days prior to this, he found a photo of Bhagavan Baba in the altar

of his house, which his wife had received from Smt. Ramaswamy. But, his wife

persisted and so he went there.

Bhagavan spoke very lovingly to him and invited him to Brindavan. Baba's gentle

and warm demeanour touched Joga Rao's heart and he was drawn to Brindavan soon

after that. The devotional ambience of the ashram and the discipline there had

a profound impact on him. Bhagavan received him very affectionately. During the

conversation, He casually mentioned to Joga Rao to associate himself with the

construction work of the college building at Anantapur. The passionate

engineering professional in Joga Rao responded positively and that marked the

beginning of a new chapter in his life.

 

An Intimate Relationship…

In the Nava Vida Bhakti (Nine stages of devotion) outlined in the ‘Narada Bhakti

Sutra’, the stage of Sakhya Bhakti is the penultimate stage before the final

merger of the individual self with the Absolute. In this stage, the devotee

experiences the relationship of an intimate friend with the Lord, sporting with

Him and losing oneself in the bond of love with the Lord. Sri B N Narasimha

Murty in Sathyam Shivam Sundaram V says, Col. Joga Rao was privileged, to enjoy

such a relationship with Swami.

Recalling this unique relationship Sri Joga Rao had with Swami, Sri V.

Srinivasan, President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations, India, recalls,

“Col. Joga Rao would intercede, to the extent that it was possible to do so, on

behalf of many devotees with Bhagavan, which sometimes earned him reprimands

from the Lord. He took them with a smile and would say to Bhagavan that He

should extend his mercy to these people who were pining for His Grace. Bhagavan

was also tolerant because He knew that Joga Rao was not asking anything for

himself but only for others.”

He was a man with a fondness for eating and more prominently, for feeding

others. Dr. Voleti Choudhary, a cardiac surgeon in Swami’s hospital, in an

interview with Swami was witness to the Swami-Joga Rao relationship and this is

what he narrates,

“In our later interview, Swami’s attention slowly shifted to playfully teasing

the colonel, especially about his eating habits. Joga Rao mildly protested that

he eats so much only because Bhagavan feeds him so much. I was very fascinated

by the dynamics between Bhagavan and Joga Rao. Though he was 85 years old, Joga

Rao responded to Bhagavan like a child being overwhelmed by the attention he

gets from his loving parents .”

“Joga Rao, They Are Not Coming!”

Sri Joga Rao was quite often at the receiving end of many of Bhagavan’s

“practical jokes”. Sri B N Narasimha Murthy, currently the Warden of the

Brindavan hostel, and who has been associated with Swami for more than four

decades recalls an amusing incident,

“When the document of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust was to be registered at

Hyderabad in 1972, Bhagavan asked Joga Rao to coordinate all the related work

apart from organising His visit to the city. It was obligatory that the members

of the Trust be present at the time of registration. Therefore Joga Rao called

up the Rajamata of Nawanagar who was at Bombay, to come to Hyderabad along with

Sri Nani Palkhiwala and Sri Indulal Shah. The Rajamata conveyed to Joga Rao the

same evening by telephone that she would be coming to Hyderabad with Sri

Indulal Shah. She also informed him that Palkhiwala who had gone out of station

would not be able to make it to Hyderabad. Since Bhagavan had had already

retired by that time, Joga Rao could not convey the message to Him.

When Joga Rao went to the post office next morning along with Sri Prasada Rao,

then the State President of Sri Sathya Sai Organisations of Andhra Pradesh, he

found a telegram sent by the Rajamata to Bhagavan confirming her arrival. When

they met Swami and handed over the telegram to Him, He read it and said, “Joga

Rao, they are not coming!” Puzzled and bewildered, Joga Rao read the telegram

again and again. According to the telegram, what Baba had said was right! Joga

Rao showed the telegram to Prasada Rao; they looked at each other in wonder and

stood speechless. But during their lunch with Swami, He laughed and gave them

the telegram again. It bore the same words they had read at the post office!”

That was Baba's way of playing a joke on them! Yes, of course, the Rajamata

arrived at Hyderabad with Indulal Shah on time and the registration of the

Trust was completed.

Selfless Service – Joga Rao’s Passport to Swami

Col. Joga Rao once said to Swami, “I do not know how to do meditation or sing

bhajans or do penance, but I can only do selfless service.”

Swami promptly told him, “That is why you are so dear to me; whereas everyone

chants 'Sai Ram' 'Sai Ram' , I call 'Joga Rao', 'Joga Rao' so often.”

It was this selfless service and uncompromising zeal for excellence in work that

earned him the confidence of Bhagavan. With Swami’s guidance, he set about

improving the amenities for devotees in Prashanti Nilayam and Brindavan. He

plunged with enthusiasm into the task of planning and constructing the campuses

of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning at Prashanti Nilayam,

Anantapur and Whitefield.

At the age of 85, when most people would rather spend their time in quietude

reminiscing about the sunny days they had spent, Joga Rao dedicated himself to

fulfilling the declaration Bhagavan made on the eve of His 70th birthday in His

discourse on the 22nd November 1990, that in a year’s time a massive hospital

would be constructed near Prasanthi Nilayam, that would bring top notch medical

care to the poorest of the poor.

Courage, Capability, Efficiency and Joga Rao

Dr. Safaya, Director of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences

since its inception, recalls:

“I remember when in April 1991, he showed me the stretch of land, which the

Trust had acquired for building the hospital and its campus, I felt utterly

frustrated because before me was a completely desolate, uneven and even a bit

hilly, semi-arid land of nearly100 acres. To clear this area and to flatten it

would take several years! We had very little time and Bhagavan had declared

that the Hospital would be built and be functional by 22 nd November, 1991. I

had a strong urge to run away and go back to Delhi. It was Col. Joga Rao, who

convinced me that all would be done on schedule and he did it. It stands before

all of us now as a living testimonial to his courage, capabilities, and

efficiency.”

But, there were times when Joga Rao himself was racked with doubts about the

completion of the Hospital project. In the summer of 1991, Bhagavan was at ‘Sai

Sruti’, the beautiful mandir overlooking the scenic lake at Kodaikanal. In fact,

the foundation work for the building was just commencing at the time Bhagavan

left Prashanti Nilayam for Kodaikanal. Joga Rao came to Kodaikanal after a

three day stay at Chennai for some work in connection with the Hospital

project. Sri B.N. Narasimha Murthy, Warden of the boys hostel at the Brindavan

campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, who was sharing the room

with him at ‘Sai Sruti’ says,

“He looked very tired and went to bed quite early that evening after dinner.

When I woke up around two in the morning, one of the lights was on, and I found

Joga Rao sitting on his cot with his hands clutching the forehead, and eyes

closed. I could make out that he was very uncomfortable. I sat up and asked

him, “Sir, can I help you? You seem to have a bad headache.”

“Yes, I have a headache; but it is a different kind of headache!” replied Joga Rao.

“Can I be of any help, sir?” I persisted.

“None except Swami can do anything to cure me of this headache!” Joga Rao

sounded very categorical. More out of sympathy for me than anything else, he

continued,

“How will the hospital building be completed before November? There are so many problems.”

That was his headache! There was nothing I could do about it, but I felt

overawed by his concern and anxiety over the work that was very dear to Swami’s

heart. He was working very hard to meet the deadline set by Bhagavan’s

declaration about the hospital on His previous birthday. With these thoughts

hovering in my mind, I lay down and slept.

Next morning during the breakfast, Swami asked Joga Rao, “Joga Rao, you didn’t

have good sleep last night. Isn’t it so?”

“Swami, You know everything,” submitted Joga Rao.

“Why are you losing sleep over what I have promised?”

“Swami, sometimes I get worried.”

“Joga Rao, you have no reason to worry. Rest assured that the project will be

completed on time. The land of Bharath is Yoga Bhoomi, Thyaga Bhoomi and Punya

Bhoomi. Anyone undertaking any work in this great land with selfless intention

will be successful without any doubt. Men, money and materials which are

required for the completion of the work, will come by themselves. It is not

only in the case of Swami, but it is so with anyone who is completely

selfless!” declared Bhagavan. Those words of assurance cleared the clouds of

worry and doubt from the mind of Joga Rao. Those who were witnesses to the

divine scene in the dining hall in Sai Sruti felt truly blessed.’

A Revelation In the End…

In the end, as we all know, the Divine Will prevailed over all obstacles, and

the magnificent edifice of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical

Sciences that stands at Prasanthi Gram, about five kilometers from Prashanti

Nilayam was inaugurated exactly a year after Bhagavan’s declaration, on 22nd

November 1991, with four operations being conducted successfully on the very

first day. Col. Joga Rao was to say later,

“Baba plans each construction work as a simple project and gradually develops it

after careful scrutiny. If He wants a project to be completed by a particular

date, it will be completed by that time. That is the power of His sankalpa

(Divine Will). There may be any number of problems, but the project will be

completed by the date set by Him!”

Col. Joga Rao garlanding the president of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma during

the 70th Birthday celebrations of Bhagawan

“I have already received the highest honour….” – Sri Joga Rao

It was this unshakeable faith in Swami’s divinity that allowed him to take up

the implementation of Bhagavan’s project to supply pure drinking water to the

water scarce district of Anantapur in 1994. The depth of his devotion to Swami

can be understood from the fact that when he was offered a National Award to be

received from the hands of the President of India in recognition of his

services, he politely refused saying,

“I have already received the highest honour from the Lord Himself. It would not

be appropriate for me to even think of accepting any other award!" That is

truly Karma Yogi Joga Rao.

It was in these and many other ways that Joga Rao experienced the divine nature

of Swami. The greatest fortune conferred on Joga Rao by the Lord was to be His

friend and devotee when He is on earth in the human form. The wonderful

relation that this engineer enjoyed with the Avatar is unsurpassed for its

charming intimacy. He was privileged to be witness to that astounding incident

when Swami revealed His true form to a select group of devotees at Ooty, on the

day of Mahasivarathri in 1978.

On the previous Mahashivaratri in 1977, observing the difficulties of the

mammoth crowd of devotees surging forward to have a glimpse of the Lingodbhava

at Prashanti Nilayam, Bhagavan had announced that He would be cancelling

further public celebration of the festival and that the devotees could

celebrate the holy day in their own places from next year onwards. The next

Mahashivaratri was on Thursday, the 7th of March 1978 . Even as devotees were

wondering where He would be on that sacred day, He went away to Ooty during the

early hours of the morning of 4th March with a very small contingent of students

and devotees. He left Ooty on the 7th and proceeded to Mudhumalai forest, which

is on the way to Mysore . He broke journey at the guesthouse on the top of a

small hill in the forest.

After breakfast, Baba walked on to the beautiful meadow in front of the

guesthouse and posed for photographs with every member of the party. A Polaroid

camera was used by a student to click the photographs. The photos were given to

the members instantly. Finally, Baba asked the student to click His photograph.

 

The lower part of His orange robe had been caught in the twigs of a bush. Before

the camera clicked, Smt. Ratanlal rushed forward to set right the folds of the

robe. Everyone was astonished when Bhagavan shouted at her loudly, "Don't touch

Me!" and she retreated quickly. After the camera clicked, Baba held the photo

coming out of the camera and gave it to Joga Rao. As he held it in his palm,

the picture developed gradually. But what did he see?

In the place where he had expected to see Baba's form in orange robe, there

stood a young figure in the black and white photo. The form, which wore a white

flowing garment, had three heads and six hands!

Each arm was holding an insignia of Divinity. The lower left arm bent at the

elbow, was resting on the back of a majestic young cow. There were four dogs in

the background. The face in the centre was that of Baba! It was the form of Lord

Dattatreya as described in ancient Indian texts, the integrated form of the

Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara! That was His real form! After all eyes

had feasted on that incredible creation and all hearts had registered the rare

revelation, the photo vanished. Bhagavan confirmed while speaking to the

students at Brindavan the next morning that it was indeed His true form. He

also clarified that Smt. Ratanlal would not have survived if she had touched

Him then!

A Pair of Protecting Hands

Another instance, when Bhagavan revealed His Omniscience and Omnipotence to Joga

Rao was recounted to us by Dr. A. Sudhir Bhaskar, professor in the School of

Business Management, Accounting and Finance at Bhagavan’s University. Joga Rao

was returning to Prashanti Nilayam after visiting some officials at Anantapur.

But, even as they were hurrying back, they were caught in a heavy downpour.

But, Joga Rao was eager to apprise Swami of all that had transpired and he

prodded the driver on in spite of the reduced visibility. Just as they entered

the Sathya Sai Taluk, their car entered a ditch and to their horror they were

being swept away in the current onto one side of the road.

It was precisely at this moment they experienced as if there was a big tug and

the car was moving in the direction of the road as if being pushed from behind.

Joga Rao and another person seated in the back seat could see a pair of hands on

the rear windscreen pushing the car to safety. To continue the incident, the car

miraculously started and the party reached the Mandir safely and Col. Joga Rao

came to know that Swami had enquired about him before retiring for the day.

When the colonel went to “update” Bhagavan, Swami straight away said, “Joga Rao

you should not have instructed the driver to drive car in the overflowing road.

What would have happened if the car were to fall into the ditch?” The astounded

colonel could only mumble words of gratitude. Later that day he remarked to the

co-passenger “If you do Swami’s work perfectly, Swami will protect you”.

This protecting Hand of Bhagavan was to come to the Colonel’s rescue on many

more occasions. Once, Joga Rao developed severe chest pain with all the

symptoms of a heart attack. He was rushed to a reputed private hospital in

Bangalore, where he was kept in the Intensive Care Unit. Meanwhile, during the

afternoon Darshan at Prashanti Nilayam, Bhagavan told the students and a few

elders who had gathered in the portico of the mandir, "Joga Rao is not well. I

have to go to Bangalore and see him." The driver got ready with the car; His

departure to Bangalore was imminent. Baba went into His room, came out after

sometime and announced, "I went and saw Joga Rao; he is alright. I sat by his

side on the bed and he was upset that no chair was provided for Me!"

When Joga Rao's son-in-law went to see him late in the afternoon, Joga Rao told

him, "Swami came here and blessed me. He sat on my bed since no chair was

placed for Him." A few days later, after Joga Rao was shifted to a suite from

ICU, Bhagavan travelled to Bangalore and visited him in the hospital.

Another instance concerns his eldest daughter, who had to undergo a

hysterectomy. The doctors were contemplating removing one of her kidneys as

they had the apprehension that it may malfunction. Joga Rao went to Prashanti

Nilayam and met Bhagavan. Even before he could utter anything to Baba, He said,

"Joga Rao, there is no need for removing the kidney. Be assured that everything

will go well."

He also materialised Vibhuti for his daughter and gave it to him. When he went

to meet his daughter in the nursing home the next morning, she was beaming with

smiles; she said, "Father, please give me the Vibhuti. Swami came here last

night and said that my kidney would not be removed and that He would send

Vibhuti for me!" Needless to say, everything was alright thereafter.

The Simplicity and Large Heartedness of Col. Joga Rao

Colonel Joga Rao’s lively and charismatic personality and the close

relationships he formed with those around him are the stuff of legend. Dr.

Narendranath Reddy, Chairman, International Medical Committee, had these words

to say about Col. Joga Rao:

“He had child-like simplicity. Even though he was physically close to Swami, he

would heartily talk and laugh with a child or old man, a millionaire or a poor

servant, a scholar or illiterate with the same gusto and tempo. Even after

having sumptuous lunch or dinner with Swami, he would not hesitate to invite

himself for a tasty dish with devotees. His favorite was “pesarattu” (pancake

made with whole green gram) from my mother. He used to joke ‘I eat and Swami

digests for me.’ His favourite hobby was to feed his guests sumptuously with

tasty dishes. He retained this zest for life even when he was physically ailing

and bed-ridden and had to be physically away from Swami. Even then he would

welcome devotees come to pay him a visit and regale them with his memorable

experiences with Bhagavan.”

The Singularly Fortunate…Sri Joga RaoOn 31st August 2005, Colonel Joga Rao shed

his mortal coil to be one with his beloved Swami. Bhagavan lovingly sent a silk

dhoti to drape over his body on its final journey. Many are the tributes that

have been paid to this blessed soul. Sri C. Sreenivas who has for years been on

the council of members of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, said of him,

“The Grace, kindness and love showered and shown by Bhagavan to Shri Joga Rao in

his long association will remain unparalleled. To be a recipient of Grace is a

Blessing and good fortune. To have been a recipient like Sri Joga Rao was so

rare and privileged that the Divine singularly chose to confer. His life will

remain a memorable saga.”

In His discourse to the public on the occasion of his 70th birthday, Bhagavan said,

“There should be many more karma jivis and karma yogis like Joga Rao in Bharat

in the coming years. Everyone should become a karma yogi. That Karma gets

transformed into Dharma. That Karma will sanctify human life.”

His life will always be a source of inspiration to all of us to dedicate our

lives in the service of the Lord sincerely and selflessly.

- Hari S and The H2H Team

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